Ahoy Brewers
First off it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mac Monroe on Saturday, September 21st 2024. He will certainly be greatly missed by his loving family and friends. He had been experiencing health problems all year, but he was happy and actually pretty stable, even recently, so this was a surprise to many. He passed away painlessly due to natural causes. He was 87. Mac was one of the very first SAAZ members and our hearts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.
A Celebration of Life service will be held in Melbourne, FL on Sunday, October 20, 2024 from 12:00pm-3:30pm EDT, followed by a final toast and libations in honor of Mac at Coasters Pub and Biergarten. They are working on the possibility of offering a livestream link of the formal part of this event from 12:30-1:30pm EDT for those that cannot travel to the ceremony.
There will be Facebook events created for both the in-person and the livestream events. Morgan asks that if you are planning to attend in person, please respond as “going” so that they can get a head count and order enough food for the event. Also, please feel free to share the event with everyone in your friends list that knew Mac. This celebration of life is for family, friends, friends-of-friends, employers, employees, locker partners, or anyone else who has a good story about their time together with Mac!
September meeting at Bugnutty Brewing Company was a really great time!!! We learned off flavors and enjoyed some awesome Bugnutty beers and grub!! We also gained two new members!!! Welcome to Paul and Will!!!
Orlando Ale line pub crawl was a great way to see many Orlando breweries!!! SAAZ will invade the bus again soon with discounts for paid members next year!!!
Space Coast Brewfest was an amazing event and our club beers and Mead were a big hit!!! Thank you to all who brewed, volunteered and attended this fabulous event!!! Hopefully everyone is now re hydrated and not too sunburnt!!
Things that are about to happen:
Sadly Pirate Night at Cafe Paradiso has been canceled as the venue has decided to make this a paid event so we have elected to change our Oct happy hour to a different day and location:
10/10 October Happy Hour!!!! (Depending on weather) Thursday 6-8pm Hardware Store Brewing Company 305 S Washington Ave, Titusville.
10/19 SAAZtoberfest!!! Rotary Park at Suntree, 6495 US-1, Rockledge, FL 32955, 2-5pm, we will be making brats!! Bring your favorite side and brews to share. Inkbird items and beer equipment will be raffled off during this October party.
11/02 Woof Wag and Wiggle!!! Wickham Park 11am-3pm, beer will be poured, games will be played, raffles will be raffled and money will be raised for Coastal Boxer Rescue!!!
11/04 National Learn to Homebrew Day!!! It’s on a Monday (ugh) so Celebrate with your favorite homebrewers on the Saturday before at Woof Wag and Wiggle!!!
Nominations for 2025 board positions in SAAZ are coming up!! Would you like to get more involved in our local club shenanigans? A board position is the perfect way!!! If you are interested in a board position, nominations are coming up in November with elections to be held in December!!! Consider a seat on the board to make a larger contribution to our club. Pres, VP, secretary, treasurer, events coordinator, communications and education are the current officer positions, if anyone would like to be nominated or nominate another worthy of such a position please contact info@saaz.org.
11/09 MEADING, (get it?), 5-9pm at Jon and Melissa’s, 3311 SW Tarragon St, Cocoa, FL 32926, USA . Bring any Mead (other brews/homebrews also welcome), a side or dessert and a chair. We will have a fire, food and good times!!!
11/16 Rocky Water Brewfest!!!! SAAZ will be pouring!!! Thank you to those who have volunteered their kegs, we may still need volunteers to pour and set up day of the event, more info soon!!!
12/14 SAAZ Christmas Party, 6pm – 11pm at The Wormes!!!
Other super fun stuff:
Listen up brewers!!! SAAZ is pleased to announce our members only brewing competition:
Irish Spring Intraclub Homebrew Competition 2025
The theme is Irish with entries delivered at the March meeting and subsequent awards at the April meeting.
The winner will receive a $50 gift card to Total Wine. We will also have a People’s Choice award at the April meeting.
Competition rules:
The competition is limited to members who are current in their dues.
One entry per person, with 3 bottles provided per entry. Entries are limited to the following categories:
15. Irish Beer
29A. Fruit Beer
29B. Fruit and Spiced Beer
30A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
32. Smoked Beer
33. Wood Beer
Beers in the specialty categories 29-33 MUST have a noticeable Irish base. Judging will follow the 2021 BJCP Guidelines. The cutoff date for entry delivery is the March meeting. Judging will take place over the month between the March and April meetings. The winner will be announced at the April meeting.
This is a great time to pay your 2025 dues!!! Pay dues here. Paid members receive many benefits such as paid entry to national beer competitions, entry into our club competition, discounts on fun outings, attendance to our club parties and so much more. Your support is both necessary and appreciated to help us continue to educate, celebrate and support our local home brew community!!!
Competitions:
10/6 Sunshine Challenge, FULL, judging on Oct 6, good luck to all entrants!!!
11/2 Best Florida Beer 2024, registration window 9/16 – 10/01, all entries have been delivered, good luck brewers!!!
11/2 Treasure Coast Homebrew Fest – registration window 8/20 – 10/14, delivery window 10/14-10/18 at Frazier Creek Brewery and Distillery
Beerfests:
11/16/24 Rocky Water Brew Fest 1pm – 5 pm, Eau Gallie Square, Melbourne
1/25 Science on tap!! Get your geek on so we can science it up beer style!!!
2/1/25 Cocoa Village Brewers Bash!!!! 1pm – 5pm, 401 River Edge Dr, Cocoa
See you all soon!!!!