December 2011 Newsletter

In this edition:

• Blowoff from the Prez
• Secretary’s Report
• Birthdays
• 2012 Dues
• Next Meeting – Holiday Party! Dec 10th!
• Upcoming Competitions – SAAZ Spring Fling!
• Local Events
• Beers Available in the Area
• Education
• SAAZ on Facebook
• Raffle
• Feedback

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SAAZ Platinum Sponsor

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Blow off from the Prez

Welcome to the last Blow-off of the year and what will be my last edition as your 2011 President.  In looking over the last couple of years, it has really been fun. In the past two years we’ve seen 65 new people join the club (WOW!); we’ve had our largest Commander SAAZ competition EVER with 549 entries; we’ve also established some great relationships with local craft enthusiasts like Broken Barrel, World of Beer, and Vintage 56.  We’ve also seen many friends move away, and even pass on.  I think that with the plethora of new faces and energy, they club has a lot of momentum to move in the right direction!

As 2012 quickly approaches, I want to reach out the membership and ask everyone to lend a hand, an idea, or an experience.  The club is only a Tax ID number and a checking account.  It’s the members that volunteer their time to lead a monthly education topic, it’s the members who help sort 1,600 bottles of beer, and it’s the members that truly make the club run.  As president for the last two years, and secretary a year before that, I have enlisted the help of a lot of people (some volunteered, and some were volun-told).  I know that each and every member brings something unique to the club, and it’s been a great two years to get to know so many new people.  I hope everyone will volunteer to help the club in some way and share those traits with the membership.

Next year has a lot of great things already planned.  Get to brewing now so you have entries ready for the Best Florida Beer Competition in February; our Spring Party will be the club’s 20^th anniversary; and we are holding a SAAZ club-only competition in April to lube the chassis and get prepared for next year’s Commander SAAZ Interplanetary Homebrew Blastoff!

I look forward to seeing you all at the Holiday Party – don’t forget to show up in time to vote, and bring a bottle for the bottle exchange if you feel so inclined.

Cheers!
Sean

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Secretary’s Report

The month of November means two things: Changing leaves and Mead. The tradition seems to be that November’s Meeting is actually a MEADing. Last month’s meeting was no different. If you missed it, the meeting was at Webb’s Honey on 520. Dave Webb was extremely gracious in allowing our club to visit the honey house and see the honey extraction equipment in operation. The Meading was even topped off with Mead tastings and a quiz on Mead. The event was topped off with a Bon Fire. A big Thank-you to Dave Webb for allowing the club to enjoy the location by hosting the Meading at his business.

-Alex

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December Birthdays – Happy Birthday!

Curt Glemser
Rick Strayer
Rich Abbruscato
Chris McVicker
Thomas Mayer
Larry Vita
Anne Beyette
Stephen Martinello
Victor Iesalnieks

Don’t see your name on here?  It could be that SAAZ doesn’t have a completed membership form from you.  Look for Anne or Alex at the next meeting to complete one.

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2012 Dues

Since it is now December, you may now 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 (Anne Gregg) at any club meeting or online at our website via PayPal Click here to pay.

You don’t want to miss out on the benefits of membership!

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Next Meeting – Holiday Party Dec 10th (Saturday)

It’s time again for the annual SAAZ Holiday Party!  It will be at Jill and Larry’s in Titusville (next door to the Sparks’ aka Summer Party).  Jill and Larry will provide the turkey and ham, so bring your best fixings!

Please bring:
• Side dishes (salads, desserts, etc.)
• Lawn chairs for lounging
• Ice for the beer engine
• Kegs for the beer engine
• A wrapped 22oz or 750mL bottle for the bottle swap (optional)
• More beer

Directions:

Directions will be emailed to the membership and interested peoples. You can also email for directions.

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Upcoming Competitions

1st Annual SAAZ Spring Fling with Smoked Wings – April 1st 2012

This is an all new SAAZ club only competition! Bring your entries to the Spring Party on March 10th. Entries are $3, with a three bottle submission. There is a 4 entry max per brewer and the categories are limited to the following:

• 10 – American Ale
• 12 – Porter
• 13 – Stout
• 14 – India Pale Ale
• 64 = (20+21+23) Fruit/Spice/Herb/Vegetable/Specialty

Judging and awards will take place at Broken Barrel on April 1st 2012 in conjunction with our monthly meeting. Better get brewing!!

Urban Knaves of Grain, Dark Lager Competition – Feb 18th

Entries are due February 10, 2012 and judging will be held February 18, 2012.  Entry fee is $7. Make checks payable to American Homebrewers Association.

Hosted by the Urban Knaves of Grain (UKG) club of Batavia, IL, this competition covers BJCP category 4. Dark Lager subcategories are:

• 4a Dark American Lager
• 4b Munich Dunkel
• 4c Schwartzbier

Entry Shipping:

AHA COC
c/o Doug Newberry
1215 Burnham Ln.
Batavia, IL 60510

For more information, contact Doug Newberry at doug.newberry@att.net.

Upcoming Club Only Competitions – 2012

Check out the homebrewers association website for a list of the 2012 club-only competitions on the schedule.

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Beers Available in the Area

Sunseed Food Coop (Cocoa Beach) – website

Bottles:

• Hofstetten – Granit Eisbock
• Spike and Jerome’s – Collaboration of Spike from Terrapin and Jerome from BFM – Barley Ryne
• Thornbridge Hall Bracia – Dark Honey Ale
• Schneider and Sons – Nelson Sauvin
• Weyerbacher – Tiny Belgian Imperial Stout
• Christian Drouin poire – Peary
• BFM – La Dragonne

Coasters Pub (Indian Harbor Beach) – facebook

Draft:

• On Cask – Erie Brewing’s Misery Bay IPADogfish Head – 90 Minute IPA
• Dogfish Head – Palo Santo
• Dogfish Head – Burton Baton 2010
• Dogfish Head – Burton Baton 2011
• Dogfish Head – India Brown Ale
• Dogfish Head – 60 Minute IPA
• Dogfish Head – My Antonia
• Dogfish Head – Immort Ale
• Dogfish Head – Olde School
• Dogfish Head – Life & Limb
• Dogfish Head – Red & White
• Dogfish Head – Sah’tea
• Dogfish Head – Hellhound Ale
• Dogfish Head – Chicory Stout
• Dogfish Head – Punkin’ Ale
• Dogfish Head – Chateau Jiahu
• Dogfish Head – Raison D’Etra
• Dogfish Head – Midas Touch
• Dogfish Head – Theobroma
• Dogfish Head – Black & Blue
• Dogfish Head – Festina Peche
• Dogfish Head – Faithfull Ale

World of Beer (Viera) website

Draft:

• Look for a bunch of Rogue beers for Roguepalooza!