2024 Commander SAAZ
Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff

August 17th, 2024

Quick Links

REGGIE – Register your competition entries.

JUDGE or STEWARD AT COMMANDER SAAZ – Register to join the mission team.

RESULTS – See the winners from past years, and this year once the competition is completed.

LIVE FEED – Can’t make it? You can still watch the debauchery online. The livestream of the awards ceremony will begin a 7Pm on August 17th.

If you have any questions, feedback, or pictures to share regarding the Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff, please email the Mission Commander through REGGIE or at info@saaz.org.

General Information

Judging for the 2024 Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff follows the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines. If you are not familiar with the BJCP, please read the guidelines for your entry styles, as all required information must be provided, and all criteria must be met. Most judges will be BJCP certified and any non-BJCP judges will be paired with an experienced BJCP judge. Our goal is to provide the best feedback possible for your entry. Judges are encouraged to enter the competition but will not be allowed to judge any category in which they have entries.

The Commander also offers a special competition category called Rocket Fuel (Category 99) that does not abide by the BJCP Guidelines. By the name you can guess that these entries are not for the faint of heart. Contestants can register for both Rocket Fuel and the Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff. Entry requirements for both the Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff and Rocket fuel are outlined below.

Entry Scope/Qualification

This competition is open only to amateur brewers; commercial or brew-on-premises beers will be disqualified. Brew-on-premises is defined as wort boiled and fermented in a commercial brewing facility on the commercial equipment with assistance or done by a professional brewer.

Entries derived from a wort share are permitted. A wort share typically involves a base wort created at a commercial brewery, which is then distributed to homebrewers for subsequent modification, boiling, and packaging. This is essentially a form of mini-mash or extract brewing. Both are common brewing techniques for homebrewing and competitions.

All contestants must use the on-line REGGIE system for registration. AHA paper entry forms are not allowed. Payment will only be accepted through PayPal within REGGIE’s on-line system. No refunds will be permitted after a registered entry is paid for. All entries must be properly labeled using the labels produced by REGGIE. Be sure that you choose the appropriate BJCP category for your entry. Entry categories cannot be changed once registration closes.

Prohibited items include: (1) entries containing any form of cannabis, THC, CBD, illegal, or dangerous substance, (2) Grolsch-style flip top bottles, (3) 22 oz bombers, (4) 750 ml bottles, (5) plastic bottles or containers, and (6) cans not meeting the specific packaging requirements listed below. Any such entry will be DISQUALIFIED and will NOT be judged.

Entry Limits

Maximum of four (4) entries per brewer/brewing team.
Maximum of two (2) entries per sub-style.
An entry consists of three (3) bottles or cans meeting the packaging requirements listed below. If you choose to submit fewer bottles/cans, you must mention the quantity provided in the comments when registering. Submitting less than three bottles/cans may make the entry ineligible for Best of Show.

Entry requirements for the Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff

Each entry shall consist of three (3) glass bottles or aluminum cans. Cans are allowed for beer entries only. Brown glass bottles are preferred. Green and clear glass bottles are allowed but strongly discouraged (refer to Light-struck in the BJCP’s “Beer Fault List”).

Entry volume and packaging requirements:

Beer: 10 to 12 oz glass bottles or 11-12 oz aluminum cans. Cans not meeting this size/volume requirement are prohibited.
Mead: 6 to 12 oz glass bottles
Cider: 6 to 12 oz glass bottles

All commercial and homemade labels must be removed.

All entries should be free of home-made identifying marks. Raised markings (e.g., brand names, manufacturing codes, and no deposit markings) are acceptable when reusing commercial bottles.

Bottle caps must be unmarked crown caps or have any markings completely blacked out. No logos or print allowed. Plain gold or silver caps are preferred.

All entries must have labels attached by rubber band, preferably around the bottle neck – no glue or tape.

For entries containing lactose, please note this in the comments when registering (see the “Comments (optional)” box above the “Save new entry” button). This does not bar you from competing. We will simply pair lactose-tolerant judges with your entry.

Non-prohibited entries that do not meet these requirements will be judged and feedback provided, however they will NOT be eligible for medals or Best of Show.

Rocket Fuel (Category 99)

Rocket fuel is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it is for the warped, twisted, and truly extreme brewers! This category is specifically designed to determine which homebrewer has the rocket fuel it takes to send the Commander into orbit!

Entry requirements for Rocket Fuel:

ABV must be 10% or more for each entry.
Entries may be beer, mead, cider, or any combination.
Entries are not required to meet BJCP style guidelines.
Entry must be fermented and not concentrated, distilled, or fortified in any manner other than in accordance with BJCP guidelines (e.g., Eisbocks are acceptable, but adding spirits to the entry to increase ABV is not).
Each entry consists of three (3) glass bottles or aluminum cans. Cans are allowed for beer entries only.
For entries containing lactose, please note this in the comments when registering (see the “Comments (optional)” box above the “Save new entry” button). This does not bar you from competing. We will simply pair lactose-tolerant judges with your entry.
All entries should adhere to the rules listed under the entry requirements for the Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff.

It’s that easy. If the entry qualifies as any other BJCP style (e.g. Russian Imperial Stout), it may be entered as both, but would require two separate entries, one for the Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff and a separate one for Rocket Fuel. Rocket fuel tends to be for more esoteric and extreme (think DFH 120 min IPA or Avery Mephistopheles). Rocket Fuel has its own category (and trophy). Rocket Fuel is NOT eligible for Best of Show.

Shipping Awards following the Competition

Shipping costs have gone up substantially. It is preferable to distribute medals and prizes in-person at the awards ceremony. An attendee from another club can serve as the designated point of contact (POC) for collecting and distributing their club’s medals. Of course in-person attendance is not always possible. To reduce costs (as well as future entry fees), SAAZ will combine medal winners from a club into a single package for shipping, when appropriate. The package will be sent to a POC named by that club. Only medals will be shipped (no swag or promotional items will be mailed).

Important 2024 Dates and Judging Information

Competition and awards ceremony: August 17

Registration window: June 10 – July 25

Delivery window: July 8 – July 25

Judge and volunteer registration: June 10 – August 17

In-person deliveries: Please email the Commander through REGGIE or at info@saaz.org to coordinate in-person drop off to a SAAZ Representative in Brevard County.

Shipping: Bugnutty Brewing Company, 225 King St. Unit B, Cocoa FL 32922.

Please email the Commander through REGGIE or at info@saaz.org to ensure prompt pickup of your entries from the shipping location. No in-person deliveries are allowed at the shipping location.

Sorting and flighting: July 28
Location: Contact the Commander for details on location and time.

First judging weekend (in-person): August 3 and 4
Location: Hell n’ Blazes Brewing Company, 1002 E New Haven Avenue, Melbourne FL 32901
Saturday hours: 11AM – 6:30PM
Sunday hours: 11AM – 6:30PM

Second judging weekend (in-person): August 10 and 11
Location: Beachfly Brewing Company, 513 Barton Blvd, Rockledge FL 32955
Saturday hours: 11AM – 7PM
Sunday hours: 11AM – 6PM

Final judging session and awards ceremony (in-person): August 17
Location: Front Street Civic Center, 2205 Front Street, Melbourne, FL 32901

8:00 AM Setup
8:30 AM Judging commences
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM BOS Judging
5:30 PM Awards Dinner
7:00 PM Awards Ceremony
10:00 PM Clean Up

The awards dinner will be catered by One Oak of Hemingway’s Tavern. The menu will be diverse with a largely Cuban/Caribbean theme. Vegetarian items will be included on the menu. The cost per person is $30. Advance payment can be made via PayPal. Send your payment to saaz@saaz.org and be sure to note “Awards Dinner”.

Commander SAAZ pub crawl: August 16

We are also planning a pub crawl for Friday evening. We will meet at the Hotel Melby lobby at 6 PM. We then amble forward to the Mansion, Hell ‘n Blazes, and Iron Oak Post (locations subject to change).

Accommodations:

We have a block of rooms reserved at the Hotel Melby for a rate of $129/night plus tax. The Hotel Melby is located at 801 East Strawbridge Ave, Melbourne FL 32901. The hotel is centrally located in downtown Melbourne and is an easy walk to the Front Street Civic Center. Please visit the hotel website for more information and to book your stay (www.hotelmelby.com). Alternatively call 1-800-HILTONS for reservations. The group name is SAAZ. The cutoff date for booking is August 2.

There are other hotels in the Melbourne area that are close to the Front Street Civic Center. A list of the closest ones is provided below. For those who want to combine judging with a beach vacation, consider hotels in the Melbourne Beach area (across the Melbourne Causeway, US 192).

Super 8 by Wyndham Melbourne, 1515 S Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, 321-723-4430 (0.5 miles)

Residence Inn Melbourne, 1430 S Babcock St, Melbourne, FL 32901, 321-723-5740 (1.8 miles)

Hilton Melbourne, FL, 200 Rialto Pl, Melbourne, FL 32901, 321-768-0200 (2.3 miles)