The purpose and goals of the Brewers’ Guild is to foster the knowledge and practice of brewing meads, ales, wines, ciders and beers.
Membership at the Novice and Apprentice levels is available to any person who:
a) Is a member in good standing of sé Geleafawær Fyrnsida.
b) Contributes towards the goals and supports the activities of the Guild, and,
c) Communicates with the guild officers on a regular basis, either in writing or via personal communications. (Minimum acceptable communication is once every six months.)
Membership at the Journeyman or Master levels is available to any person who:
a) Is a full member (gesiþ) of sé Geleafawær Fyrnsida.
b) Fulfills the basic Guild membership requirements.
Any member who has not yet progressed into the several ranks as described below shall be known as a NOVICE.
Members may advance through the various skill levels of the Guild by Accomplishing and documenting the following tasks for each level:
APPRENTICE. Introductory projects are emphasized at this level.
a) Brew three distinct meads, ales, ciders, wines or beers of drinkable quality.
b) Document the process used for brewing each of the above products and submit the documentation to the Covenant Guildmaster for approval. (A member of a scir may submit documentation to his local guildmaster.)
JOURNEYMAN. Diversity and skill is emphasized at this level.
a) Satisfy all requirements for Apprentice level.
b) Design a project of your choice related to the craft of brewing. Some ideas for this include but aren’t limited to; setting up a hive and harvesting your own honey for mead, researching early English brewing techniques and practices, growing and harvesting your own herbs for metheglins, building a cider press, etc. Submit documentation of the project to the Covenant Guildmaster for approval. (A member of a scir may submit documentation to his local guildmaster.)
c) Brew a mead, ale, cider, wine or beer of good quality. This must be approved by the Brew Master.
MASTER. Specialization and proficiency is emphasized at this level.
a) Satisfy all requirements for Journeyman level.
b) Brew three meads, ales, wines, ciders or beers of one type (for example, a cyser, a metheglin and a melomel as three varieties of mead), all of good quality. These must be approved by the Brew Master.
c) Demonstrate a knowledge of brewing to a panel of guild members. At least one of these must be a master brewer. The presentation shall include a master work, a brew of superior quality, which must be approved by the panel.
COVENANT GUILD OFFICERS
a) Covenant Guildmaster. He will maintain a record of members and reference files, and will report guild progress and activities to the Dugað. In the absence of any master level brewers in the guild he will serve in that capacity. The Guildmaster must be a full member (gesiþ) of sé Geleafawær Fyrnsida.
b) Assistant Covenant Guildmaster. He shall substitute for the Guildmaster as needed, and handle any monies as required. The Assistant Guildmaster must be a full member (gesiþ) of sé Geleafawær Fyrnsida.
c) Both the Guildmaster and Assistant Guildmaster shall be elected annually by a vote of all gesiþas who are active members of the guild.
LOCAL GUILD CHAPTERS
a) Any scir may create a local chapter of the GFS Brewers’ Guild. An active local chapter must have three or more members, at least one of whom has taken the siþcund oath.
b) The local chapter must elect a guildmaster. Only gesiþas (full members) may be elected to this position. As on the national level, local guildmasters are elected for one year terms.
c) The local guildmaster will notify the Covenant guild officers of any documentations or projects he approves.
