The 12th annual MASHOUT took place on August 27- 29 at Chuck and Helen Popenoe's place in Rocky Gap. 200 people gathered on their property for a weekend of homebrews, food, and good company. Registration had to be limited to 200 people because the site, although large, is not infinite.

Chuck flew over the site in one of his small planes as folks arrived on Friday, and then the volatile mountain weather brought heavy rain and thunder as people pitched their tents. However, that didn't dampen spirits. Attendees festively congregated under communal tents almost as if it weren't raining at all. Later in the day it cleared up and it was hard to tell that it had even rained. The rest of the weekend featured very warm, partly sunny weather with some beautiful cloudy mists.

Saturday had many goings-on. Wild Willie Winter (aka Walking Crow) gave demonstrations of tomahawk throwing and black powder musket shooting, and even let others have a try at it. Yours truly threw the tomahawk, and witnesses can tell you that I did absolutely horribly. Actually several men failed, and were then totally humiliated as women and children hit the target. Some people went bike riding, and others hiked. The traditional water balloons were fired on tent sites, landing with small and harmless splashes. A representative from Deep Creek Beer Works showed up with a keg of stout and a beer made with several kinds of berries. The wheat beer contest had 17 entries; congratulations to winner Dave Belman.

The famous "Keg Row" filled with many kegs of homemade brews, not just beer but soda as well. It seems that the making of root beer, cream soda, ginger ale and other soft drinks at home is becoming more popular. Several breweries donated kegs too: DuClaw Brewing had a keg of witbier and a keg of pale ale; Sisson's Brewing offered a pale ale; Brewer's Art brought a witbier; and Capitol City Brewing tapped their kolsch.

Many homebrew clubs were represented, and a few had signs at their tent sites. Food, as well as homemade beer, wine and mead (not to mention Jell-O shooters) was shared among everyone as strangers became friends. Folks tossed around frisbees, horseshoes, footballs, trap balls and foxtails during the day. At night the campfire saw guitars, fiddles, harmonicas and other instruments, as well as many people relaxing and/or dancing to the music.

The Saturday night feast featured various cooked meats by T.R. James Catering (Jim Tyndall and Jim Rorick), plus salads, homemade salsa, potatoes, brownies, cakes, pies, and other dishes brought by attendees. After night fell, the band Barrelhouse Brawl played Dixie music in the barn under the full moon.

Bill Prewitt brought "Leanne", a 20 inch f5 truss tube altazimuth-mount telescope, through which many of us got to view the remnants of an exploded star and other heavenly bodies. Folks once again gathered around the campfire, and the festivities continued until the wee hours.

Sunday morning a breakfast of eggs, pancakes, bacon, potatoes, coffee and fruit helped people on their way as they packed away their tents and other belongings, already looking forward to coming back next year. Many thanks to Chuck and Helen for once again providing a great site for the biggest and best homebrewing event in the mid-Atlantic area.