Blow off from the Prez
Well, it is official! The 16th Annual Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff is complete! We did it!! All 316 entries have been judged and scored. The BOS Panels have met and rendered their decisions after lengthy debate. We also managed to squeeze in some great events including the 2nd annual Commander’s Call Mini FL Beer Fest on Friday night, featuring beer from every Florida brewery we could lay hands on, and amazing food from The Broken Barrel Tavern. And of course Saturday Night’s Commander SAAZ Splash Down Party and awards extravaganza was a huge success again this year!
As usual there are many folks to thank. Because without the support of a great team there is no way we could pull this off time and again…..
Our sponsors. These folks provided prizes for the winners and the raffle, and without them we could not do this event. They also provided the beer for the FL Mini Beer Fest. Please remember, these folks support homebrewers so please support them back.
I will let you check the website for more details, but I want to mention Chris McCall, Chet and Sonya Sparks, my wife Anne, Glenn and Dani Exline, Matt Backus, the Bennetts, Ron and Paula Sup, Mac Monroe, Jack Bragg, Kip Cadoret, Kevin Dion, Billy Kendrick, Joe Kintyhtt, John Baldwin, Jen Folsom, Drew Thaller, Aaron Guittar, Lynn Seelos, and Dave Webb. I know there are several I am forgetting, but you know who you are and we could not have done it without you! See you at the SAAZtoberfest!
The Results are posted on the Commander SAAZ link to the left. Just click on the link “2010 Winner.” Thanks again to all who entered, and attended and congratulations to all the winners!
http://www.saaz.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=86
Cheers,
Sean
Next Meeting (SAAZtoberfest Party)
It’s time for our Annual SAAZtoberfest!! This year’s event will be October 23rd at Rotary Park. This is a family friendly event so bring the kids, parents, or your neighbor Ted! Set up starts at 10:30 with the food and festivities kicking off at Noon.
The cleaning deposit has increased with Brevard County Parks and Rec., so we need to make sure we get it all back!!! This means keep your cigarette butts off the floor, keep your empties stowed back where they came from (you brought em, you can take them home). As a side note, Karen Kendrick collects labels for decopage, so you may give bottles to her
As always the event is free to club members and their families. Guests are more than welcome at $5 each. The club will provide brats and sodas as well as some of the left over kegs from the Commander’s Call mini FL beer festival. So what will you need to bring?
• Side dishes (salads, desserts, etc.)
• Beer
• Ice
• German Potato Salad
• Ice
• More Beer!
We will try to perform the “Annual” German Potato Salad contest. However, I don’t really care for potato salad, so I won’t be judging. If we can wrangle together the judges, we will, or if everyone brings enough, we will make it a popular vote from the attendees. We’ll figure it out when we get there.
Directions:
From I-95:
Exit 191 (CR-509/Wickham Road)
Wickham Road East 3 miles to Suntree Blvd.
Turn left onto Suntree Blvd.
Cross US 1 into Rotary Park @ Suntree
From US 1:
Rotary Park @ Suntree is on the river at the intersection of US 1 and Suntree Blvd. in Melbourne
Next Next Meeting (MEADing)
I’m not sure if the next newsletter will make it out with enough warning time, so here’s your official notice! November’s meeting, on November 6th, is the MEADing! We have a new venue for this year, so take note. It will be at SAAZ member Dave Webb’s honey house. The address is 21777 SR 50, in Orlando. It’s not really in Orlando, that’s just the post office that delivers out in that neck of the woods.
Setup will be around 3, with festivities at 4. The honey house will still be open for business at that time, so please be considerate of customers when parking and leave room in front of the store. Dave is arranging for an educational demonstration of the honey extractor. There is also an observation hive where you can see the bees at work. I think this will be a real treat for everyone.
The club will provide food on the grill, but please bring a side dish. At this time, we are not planning on bringing the beer engine, but we will have the leftover meads from Commander SAAZ. However, it’s always good to bring an extra bottle or two to share.
So what will you need to bring?
• Side dishes (salads, desserts, etc.)
• Lawn chairs for lounging
• Water, important since mead w/o Food = BAD, mead w/o Hydration = WICKED HANGOVER
• Mead
Directions:
The honey house is about halfway between SR 50 and SR 528 on SR 520 on the east side of the road. It looks like there are at least 4 different ways to get there depending on where you come from, so I would suggest typing it into google maps or your Garmin.
Learn to Homebrew Day
Learn to Homebrew Day (formerly known as Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day) was established by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) in 1999 to enable people interested in beer and homebrewing to learn how to brew. Learn to Homebrew Day occurs annually on the first Saturday in November, when homebrewers around the world are encouraged to learn how to brew or teach someone how to brew.
This year’s event is November 6th and will be at Sunseed Food Co-op in Cape Canveral. Setup will begin around 9am, with the water hitting the grain at 10am (in theory). We will have Matt Backus demonstrating an all grain batch, and Sean Gregg demonstrating an extract batch. We are aiming to be done so everyone can make it to the MEADing on time!
Sunseed Food Co-op
6615 N. Atlantic Ave
Cape Canaveral, Fl 32920
For more information, check out http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/events/learn-to-homebrew-day
Dues:
Since it is now October, you may pay your dues now for next year. Tell your interested friends if they join now, they get the rest of this year, and next for the low, low prices listed below!
Individual Membership = $15
Couple’s Membership = $25
Lifetime Membership = $150
Dues can be paid to the Treasurer at any club meeting or online at www.saaz.org via PayPal (it’s on the right side of the homepage!)
You don’t want to miss out on the benefits of membership!
BJCP Education:
One of our members reminded me that I once asked if anyone is interested in taking the BJCP exam. Well, now that Commander SAAZ has come and gone, we are considering a series of classes followed by an exam. Right now, the absolute earliest the exam would be is August 2011. This is a good thing, because there is a LOT of studying that goes along with this exam. We will be discussing this at the next officer’s meeting, so please let me know via email or at SAAZtoberfest, if you are interested. There will be a fee for the classes, and there is an exam fee ($50 for first time takers). SAAZ has worked to help people with the cost, because we know we will be getting the help back at our own competition!
Tree Decoration
The Junior League of South Brevard, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
Last year, SAAZ donated a decorated tree to their Festival of Trees, and we will be doing it again this year. We are asking for six to ten volunteers to come over to our house to help make decorations out of beer paraphernalia (coasters, bottle openers, etc.). It will be November 5th, sometime in the early evening. The following weekend, the tree will be set up at the festival at the King Center and auctioned to help JLSB with their charitable purposes. Last year was a great time and the tree was auctioned for over $150!
For more information, please go to
If you are interested, please email Sean or Anne Gregg, srgregg@earthlink.net or annecgregg@earthlink.net
CFHB Sunshine Challenge
Entry Deadline: November 7th at Hearts Homebrew Supply. We are arranging for the Homebrew Railroad to get your beer to them, so stay tuned for details.
Pre-Judging: November 12th (5pm – 9pm), 13th (9am – 6pm) and 14th (9am – 6pm).
Main Judging: November 19th (9am – 6pm) and 20th (9am – done).
Pre-Judging Location:
Kathleen Hicks House, 1461 La Paloma Cir, Winter Springs, FL 32708 (http://maps.google.com/maps?li=rwp&q=1461+La+Paloma+Cir,+Winter+Springs,+FL+32708)
Hotel Location (Same as last year):
Holiday Inn Universal Studios – www.hiuniversal.com – 407-351-3333 – Special room rate of $79 will be held until October 25th.
Raffle
Do you have some homebrew supplies that you don’t use anymore? Maybe you upgraded or maybe you prefer another product? Consider bringing your dusty supplies to the next meeting for the raffle. We have brewers of all experience levels, so I am sure we can put any brewing supplies to use!
October Birthdays
Karen Beale
Lisa Baldwin
Will Judd
Clayton Gilmore
Dani Exline
Michele Ellis
Charlie Hughes
Local events
Florida Wine and Spirits
For those who have a taste for Bourbon, FW&S is pleased to announce that Joe Dixon from Jim Beam will be giving a class on Thursday, October 21st. Joe gave a class earlier in the year and it was a huge success. Joe will also be at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. He will be promoting his “Newest to the Market”, Maker Mark 46.
The cost for this class will be $25 which you will get back at the end of the evening with any purchase of the products that were sampled.
Saturday, October 30th from 4:30 – 7:30, there will be a free sampling of Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila, New Crown Royal Black and Captain Morgan Lime Bite. Everyone is invited for this event.
Be on the lookout for beer tasting classes from Brooklyn, Lagunitas, and Boston Beer (Sam Adams). If you aren’t on their email list, sign up now! They send emails when they have a new class, and they sell out fast!
All these events are at Viera Store located @ 5410 Murrell Road
WOB
Tuesday, October 26th, Ron and Paula Sup will be back to teach another mead class. Learn how to make this beverage right in your home. The mead that was made in the last class will be brought in to sample.
On October 22nd and 23rd, come celebrate Oktoberfest at WOB. Free admission to get in the best party in Brevard County. They will have a great selection of Oktoberfest beers on draft as well as new releases for the weekend. They will also have live music all weekend and complimentary food on Saturday afternoon! Come dressed in traditional Oktoberfest outfits and receive a free Oktoberfest draft. Don’t forget to bring in Das Boot!
It’s a monster mash at WOB. Come dressed in your favorite costume and compete for beer money. First place wins $150 gift card! They will have live music, beer specials and a pumpkin carved contest (pumpkin must be carved before the party). Party starts at 7 pm. It’s less than 2 weeks away. Mark your calendar for October 30th and hangout with the WOB ghouls this Halloween.
Have you registered for the best golf tournament you will ever played? Don’t wait because the spaces are filling up. On November 13th, 2010, they are holding their first annual charity golf event – the World of Beer Great American Golf Tournament, in benefit of Nana’s House children’s charity. You will get to play 18 holes at the beautiful Duran Golf Club. Also you will get to enjoy great American craft beer at 9 different holes. What are you waiting for?
Cocoa Beach Brewing Company
CBBC is pleased to announce that they have unveiled another brand new recipe – SAAZ member Matt Backus’s English IPA. This traditional English style IPA rings in at 8.1 % Alcohol by volume and 70 I.B.U.s. A spin off from Matt’s ESB, it is brewed with Maris Otter, Biscuit, and Caramel Malts. Make sure you get some before it’s all gone!
***Beer News Beer News Beer News***
Beers, Beers, Beers
Well it is fall now; I know it is still hot as ^% here in Florida but the rest of the country is starting fall season. So with fall coming upon us we are starting to see the beers of the season, like the hop harvest fresh hop beers and the cool weather stouts.
Wet Hop Beers
Harpoon 100 bbl series #33 is their Glacier Wet Hop Ale. This beer uses Glacier hops that are fresh and not dried.
Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere and Estate Harvest Ales are Here!!!!!!
These great beers also use fresh hops that are not dried. The Northern Hemisphere only uses hops grown north of the equator, while the Estate Ale only uses hops grown at Sierra Nevada Do not miss out on these great beers while they are fresh, some of the best in the business.
Terrapin So Fresh, So Green Green is the last of the fresh hop beers to come in and it is the first time Terrapin has brewed one. This is a very tasty beer and limited in the area. Get it while it is SO Fresh.
Stouts
Well if you are a stout lover and a Bells lover then you have hit the jackpot this month.
Bells Stouts are here!!!!!
Bells has sent four lovely stouts for our cool and crisp nights here in Florida (hahaha).
Cherry Stout is the first which is a rich stout that uses Michagan cherries in it to give it a little fruit tartness.
Double Cream Stout This is a rich creamy double stout that is most enjoyable and surprising it has no lacto sugar in it even though it is a cream stout. So for those of you who are not big cream stout fans (ME) you can now enjoy one that is very tasty.
Java Stout if you are a coffe and beer lover then this is the one for you, and you are in luck it is being brewed for the first time in 2 years. Another rich Bells stout that uses coffee to make it more complex. Just to let you know this ages very well.
Expedition Stout Yep this is the grand finally of Bells stouts. This Big Russian Imperial Stout is just awesome. If you have not had this beer yet you really need to this year. One of the best made in my opinion and this will keep for quite a few years.
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. Again this year Brooklyn has graced us with a wonderful chocolate stout. This big 10% stout is easy drinking and chocolate goodness, also it has a great price of $2.00 or less a bottle, so you can enjoy this one over and over again.
Anniversary Beers
Bells 25th Anniversary Ale yea believe it or not Bells is 25 years old and if there is any left out there they have brewed a beer for this. Bells 25th is a big Pale Ale in Bells style ringing in at about 8% abv and a nice smooth hop flavor.
Cigar City Sea Bass Ok this is not an official anniversary beer bit it can be. Yep Cigar City is open and for this weekly release they have given us a new treat. Sea Bass is a dark, funky, tart Belgian farmhouse ale. Enjoy everyone.
Big News
Victory is here there are a few spots around with draft already and next week bottles will be at Sunseed Food Co-op. Get the Prima Pils while it is Fresh, Fresh, Fresh.
Education
This month’s wonderful bowl of knowledge is brought to us by our great sponsor HOP UNION.
Hops, an Introduction. For all intents and purposes hops have only one main use–that of making beer. Hops give beer flavor and aroma, act as a preservative, and help in head retention. Leaf hops can also act as a filter bed. While minor, hops have been used as an additive in hop pillows and tea; as a flavoring agent in breads and cheese; and as a cleaning agent in shampoo.
The use of hops for beer production has been documented back to 736 AD in south central Europe. They were introduced into the United States in 1629 by the colonists. Today virtually all commercially grown hops are found in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Hops are perennial plants that can be male or female. Male plants are used in breeding and have no use in the brewing of beer. The female plant on the other hand produces a hop cone which contains the chemical properties that are used in the brewing process. This material is described as hop lupulin.
There are basically two types of hops. The aroma hops are typified by low alpha acids, higher levels of beta acids, and an oil profile associated with good aroma. These hops would generally be used as a finishing or conditioning hop. Bitter hops have a much higher level of alpha acids than beta acids. These are generally used in the boiling process to extract bitterness. There are some varieties considered dual-purpose, such as Perle, Cluster and Northern Brewer that can be used in both parts of the process.
There are a number of ways to use hops in the brewing process. Whole hops are the natural hop cones that have been dried and baled. It can be argued that this form is the most inconsistent, bulky, poorest storage, and inefficient way to brew of all product forms. Still a number of the world’s brewers use the whole hop claiming they prefer the all natural product.
Hop pellets are basically whole hops that have been ground through a hammer mill and then pressed together through a pellet die. The ground hops are kept together as a compressed pellet by the hops natural resins. No additives have been put into a standard type 90 pellet. This product is then put into a vacuum foil package. The major advantages are less storage space, better consistency, and enhanced utilization. The disadvantage is that the crushing of the cones changes the behavior of the hops to some extent that can result in different beer flavor.
Many breweries around the world use a liquefied form of hops called hop extract. Basically this process removes the resins from the vegetative hop matter. There are many types of this product. Advantages are consistency, less storage space required, minimal deterioration, and greater utilization. A disadvantage is that the hop has been changed in character.
Some other products are hop essential oils and essences. As the beer industry changes, many of these later products are gaining predominance.
Also check out these great links for the differences in hop pellets and whole leaf hops.
http://hopunion.com/education/wholehops.html
http://hopunion.com/education/hoppellets.html
Well that is it Ihope everyone had a great summer and are ready for some fall drinking and brewing.