In this edition:
- Blowoff from the Prez
- Secretary’s Report
- Birthdays
- SAAZ Discussion Forum – NEW – Bottle Trading
- Next Meeting It’s a Party – SAAZtoberfest!
- Upcoming Competitions – CSAAZ 2011!
- Local Events
- Beers Available in the Area
- Equipment For Sale
- Beer Education
- SAAZ on Facebook
- Raffle
- Feedback
Editor’s Note
As many of you know, the SAAZ Homebrew Club puts on some great events throughout the year. These events almost always involve fantastic gifts and prizes as well as exceptional commercial beers to share with attendees. As you are probably aware, nearly all of this is made possible through our club sponsors. These sponsors contribute in a variety of ways and it’s through this help that the club is able to survive as a non-profit organization (despite the many expenses throughout the year).
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for being there and supporting us. It’s through their great products and services that we all help grow the homebrew community in our area. Thank you very, very much!
Please support our sponsors, as they support us!
SAAZ Platinum Sponsor
Blow off from the Prez
Welcome to the October edition of Blow Off from the Prez. It feels like I’ve been talking about the Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff for the last eight months, but here we are, and it is finally upon us. First, the vital stats. This year we have 549 entries. For those of who who haven’t passed out from reading that, last year we have about 325 entries. I don’t have the official records in front of me, but from everyone’s memory we’ve concluded this might be the biggest Commander SAAZ ever! So, we will be knocking out as much early round judging as we can. I am even typing this as I sit in Robert’s kitchen overlooking three flights being judged right now! If you can, please try to make it to the pre judging this weekend at the International Palms Hotel. The address is in the newsletter, and don’t forget to reserve your room at the discount rate ASAP. Also, we must turn in the final headcount for the splashdown dinner on Sunday October 9. After that tickets will not be available for sale. So, buy yours now or at the early round judging October 7 thru 9.
With all of the goings on with the Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff we can’t forget about our SAAZtoberfest the following weekend on Saturday October 22. We ask that if you can help, please show up around 11:00am to help unload the beer engine and supplies. The Bennett’s will be out of town, but to borrow one of their sayings, “many hands make for light work.” We will have all of the left over competition entries in the raffle as well.
I have to return to the chaos of running the competition databse now, but on a final closing note: I’d like to ask the members to start thinking about running for an office next year. Nominations will begin at the SAAZtober fest and elections will be held at the Holiday Party. We all enjoy the fun of the meetings and parties, but it wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the officers (and the friends and families of the officers too). So, if you’ve had a good time in the club, please consider running for office.
Cheers,
Sean
Secretary’s Report
Last September the monthly meeting was held at the Cocoa Beach Brewing Company. The new outside beer garden was open and has expanded the facility so you can enjoy a nice cold brew outside. Attendance was good for the meeting and several dozen members took advantage of the beer garden from the start. Our fearless President, Sean Gregg, gave a presentation to prepare all interested members for Stewarding at the Commander Saaz Homebrew Competition (in case you didn’t know it’s in October). Special Thanks to Cocoa Beach Brewing Company for allowing us to have your meeting at their facility on a day they are typically closed! The beers featured were cold and exceptional! Hopefully you enjoyed the event’s festivities!
-Alex
October Birthdays – Happy Birthday!
Karen Beale
Lisa Baldwin
Eric Shepherd
Will Judd
Adam Grisdale
Alex Hansen
Dan Lynch
Dani Parris-Exline
Michele Ellis
Charlie Hughes
SAAZ Discussion Forum
A new topic has been added to our online forum for people wishing to initiate a bottle trade. There you can post your haves and wants, and hopefully find a matching trade. The forum requires a login, but you don’t have to be a Club Member to use it.
Head on over to the SAAZ Discussion Forum at http://www.saaz.org/forum. If you haven’t yet registered for a login to the website, you will be prompted to do so.
Next Meeting It’s a Party – SAAZtoberfest, Oct 22nd (Saturday)
It’s that time of year again! Our annual SAAZtoberfest party will be held Saturday October 22nd 2011 at Rotary Park in Suntree.
For more info check out the SAAZtoberfest 2011 webpage.
Upcoming Competitions
Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff 2011
Final judging, Splashdown Party, and Awards Ceremony: October 14-15
The LAST day to buy tickets for the Awards Ceremony is this Sunday October 9th.
International Palms Resort and Conference Center in Cocoa Beach. Join the event! Just call the reservation line at 321-783-2271.
For more info check out the Commander SAAZ 2011 webpage.
Local Events
Oktoberfest at Broken Barrel – October 7th and 8th
After a long day of helping with the early round judging at the hotel, you can unwind with a beer and Brat at the Broken Barrel’s 3rd Annual Oktoberfest Oct 7th & 8th. They will have live entertainment, a free kid’s zone on Saturday, authentic German & American craft beers, authentic German cuisine, and free giveaways. For more details and directions visit their website.
WOBtoberfest – Oct 14th and 15th
Come celebrate Oktoberfest WOB style. On October 14th and 15th, World of Beer Viera will have a great selection of Oktoberfest beers on draft, along with live music that includes Oompah and traditional German music. The Lakin’s are back serving complimentary bratwurst, kraut and German potato salad on Saturday at 2pm until it is all gone! Click here for more details on this two day event.
Left Hand Brewing Night at WOB – Oct 18th
Brewery Spotlight feat. Left Hand Brewing Co.! On Tuesday, October 18th, World of Beer Viera will be spotlighting Left Hand Brewing Co. They will have a great draft line up including a special keg that they have been saving since they opened.
SAAZtoberfest – Oct 22nd
SAAZ Homebrew Club will hold their annual SAAZtoberfest event on Oct 22nd. Click here for more information.
Scotch and Bourbon Classes at Florida Wine and Spirits – Oct 25th & Nov 1st
Florida Wine and Spirits in Viera is at it again. They had such tremendous success with their spirits tasting that they having two more classes in the near future. The evening of October 25th they will be hosting a small batch bourbon class, and on November 1st they will be hosting a single malt scotch class. There is a fee for each class, but a portion will be given back in a gift certificate good for any of the spirits featured that evening. These classes filled up fast the first time, so be sure to call and reserve your seat today. Call the store at 321-504-7588 for more details.
AHA Learn to Homebrew Day – Nov 5th
Save the date! We will be hosting another Learn to Homebrew Day on Saturday November 5th. Learn to Homebrew Day was established by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) in 1999 to encourage people to start homebrewing. This year we are working with Brock’s Homebrew Supply to hold a brewing demonstration at the store. We are still working out the details, but we hope to see you there!
Beers Available in the Area
Sunseed Food Coop (Cocoa Beach) – website
- A bunch of great beer!
World of Beer (Viera) – website
New Bottles:
- Abita Andygator, 8% (Louisiana)
- Ayinger Octoberfest, 5.6% (Germany)
- Bell’s Octoberfest, 5.8% (Michigan)
- Cigar City Good Gourd, 8.5% (Florida)
- Erdinger Octoberfest, 5.7% (Germany)
- Florida Beer Conchtoberfest, 5.6% (Florida)
- Fullers 1845, 6.3% (England)
- Fullers Honey Dew, 5% (England)
- Innis & Ginn Original, 6.6% (Scotland)
- Innis & Ginn Rumm, 7.4% (Scotland)
- Summit Octoberfest, 5.8% (Minnesota)
- Weihenstephaner Fest Bier, 5.8% (Germany)
New Drafts:
- Abita Pecan, 5% (Louisiana)
- Florida Beer Conchtoberfest, 5.6% (Florida)
- Harpoon Oktoberfest, 5.5% (Massachusetts)
- Victory Lager, 5.2% (Pennsylvania)
- Warsteiner Octoberfest, 5.5% (Germany)
- Weyerbacher Romeo, 8% (Pennsylvania)
- Weihenstephaner Fest Bier, 5.8% (Germany)
- Widmer Oktoberfest, 5.5% (Oregon)
Beer Education
HOPS!!! From the sun-soaked volcanic soil of Washington’s Yakima Valley and Idaho’s Treasure Valley, to the lush landscape of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, U.S. hop growers produce a wide range of aroma, bittering, and super-alpha hops. Did you know that there are 41 different hop varieties that make up approximately 99% of commercially available U.S. hop acreage. They are grown in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho – including some American-grown European varieties. The quality, consistency, and versatility of American-grown hops are unmatched. The Hop Growers of America encourages you to sample the diverse selection of premium hops grown in the United States.
Read more about these US hop in this Hop Growers of America Variety Manual (PDF).
Also, don’t forget to head over to Northern Brewer for their HOP SALE!
Equipment For Sale
SAAZ Platinum Sponsor
SAAZ on Facebook
Check us out on Facebook! We’re just getting things rolling there but Like our page and stay tuned for exciting things to come. Check it out here.
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!
Feedback
We need your help! We are very interesting in improving the club and we’d like to hear what you think. If you have comments or suggestions about the Newsletter, Website, Activities, or the Club in general, please send an email to editor@saaz.org.
All feedback is welcomed! For example you can:
- Share a topic for Beer Education
- Share your Review of a Beer
- Correct something in the newsletter or website
- Express a criticism about anything related to the club
- Offer a suggestion to improve the club