Hey everyone! Happy Novembrrrr!!! Time for serious meadings, elections, turkey day and more parties!!!
Things that just happened:
October meeting at Intracoastal was a valuable learning experience from our CSAAZ entries and good times and beers were had by all!!!
Nominations for officers have begun as of the October meeting! Email your votes 11/9 -11/16 to prez@saaz.org or vote this weekend at the meading!!
Current potential board for 2026 (Anyone in club may nominate themselves or others for any of these positions but these are some current possibilities/nominations, write ins welcome!!):
Sean Gregg, President
Melissa Mierzwa, Vice President/Commander SAAZ
Don Deis, Secretary
Don Russ, Treasurer
Ed Worme, Education
Paul Brabson, Communications officer
Events coordinator is still up for grabs!!
Events coordinator (currently Anita) is the other position we really need filled. There is generally an unofficial events committee (Anita and Claire will likely be volunteers for this committee next year along with several other members who have done it for many years) and we will meet up once or twice a year to plan the year. The events we plan include our club meetings, parties and happy hours. The larger events such as CSAAZ and BUBR are generally organized and led by the commander and Anne respectively with events coordinator and the committee as support. Most of our events and meetings have been established in terms of basic dates and locations for a long time as we have so many awesome members willing to host parties so the coordinator and committee just have to nail down and confirm dates and locations and help communications get the information across to all the members via newsletter and facebook. Monthly meetings and happy hours have to be fully nailed down as well but there is an overall outline and schedule already in place for most of these things. It is another great way for a member to get to know SAAZ and what we do each year and contribute to our fabulous club.
Please email your votes asap, results in December newsletter!!!
IN BJCP NEWS:
Continued best wishes to our BJCP tasting exam participants!! One day we will get the results (one day), may the odds be ever in your favor!!!
Hogtown in Gainesville will be hosting a tasting exam on January 10th for those of you working towards BJCP certification!!! You must pass the multiple choice exam to sit for a tasting exam but if you have/are interested contact hogtown@webreflections.com to inquire on availability to sit for the exam.
Happy Hour at Coasters Pub and Biergarten in Satellite Beach was not well organized. Sorry guys there was a lot going on in October and this one got lost in the shuffle.
Space Coast Brewfest hosted by Hydrosaurus was a roaring success and while we did not win the prize Paul Brabson entered an amazing stout on behalf of our club and represented us well. This beer along with our other SAAZ beers and meads were well received and enjoyed by all. Thanks to everyone who donated brews and time to attend this fabulous event!!!!
Woof Wag and Wiggle at Wickham Park was excellent!!! The weather was amazing and the turnout was great, thanks again to all who brewed and poured for this event!!! We helped raise money for a really good cause and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to help out boxer rescue!!!
On that note, PAY YOUR DUES FOR 2025 or get a jump on 2026, whatever you haven’t paid yet please!!! Dues allow us to continue to organize these fun events and support the local craft brew and home brew community. Along with this, paid members also receive discounts on entry to home brew competitions and other events!!! Pay your dues here: www.saaz.org/cms/join-saaz/pay-dues/
Things that are about to happen:
11/8 5pm Meading at Jon and Melissa’s, It is going to be a taco party!!! Bring, ideally, a taco related dish or dessert, a chair, mead or other beverage and a tent if you wish to camp out overnight (big property). There will be a fire/food and beverages!! It is always a fabulous party so prepare for it to “Mead” and exceed your expectations!!!
11/15 Rocky Waters, we still need volunteers to brew, set up and pour for this event!! Sign up sheet at the meading this weekend or email president@saaz.org if you wish to help out with any of these tasks
11/23 10:30am Plant Shack Sunday Brunch (our November happy hour is a brunch yay!!). The Plant Shack is located at 5800 US1 Cocoa/Port Saint John and is a very cool plant store wine/beer/cbd beverage bar with an awesome food truck that make a great brunch on Sundays. They also carry locally created art, jewelry and lotions/honeys/coffees/etc for sale. It’s a cool little local place and we’re gonna get brunch there as a club because it’s fabulous. We do need a vague headcount to ensure they have enough brunch on the truck for everyone to get what they want so please RSVP to Claire at ccaruana81@gmail.com by 11/16 so I can give them an idea how many to expect.
12/6 Craft Brew Hullabaloo in Sebastian, we still need volunteers to brew, set up and pour for this event! email president@saaz.org if you wish to help out with any of these tasks
12/13 Christmas Party at Casa Bessette, 5-9PM
SAAZ will hold its annual Christmas/Holiday Party at Casa Bessette on December 13, starting at 5PM. The address is 879 Woodbine Dr, Merritt Island FL 32952. Happy hour will commence at 5PM followed by dinner, which will be served around 6PM. We will provide the main course. Please bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert to accompany the meal.
There will be a gift exchange. If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift valued in the $20-25 range. Please make it a nice gift (no gag gifts, especially not reclaimed slippers). We will also hold a contest for the best Holiday headgear. Yes – that is headgear, not a sweater. We live in Florida to avoid wearing sweaters. Decorate any way you please from the neck up. A prize will be awarded for the best headgear.
SAAZ Competition winners!!!!
Sunshine Challenge 2025 so many winners!!! Ryan Robinson, gold, Czech lager; Greg Bessette, bronze, Dark British Beer; Sean Gregg, bronze, wood beer; Sean Gregg, bronze, Fruit beer; Ryan Robinson, silver, Hazy IPA; Greg Bessette, bronze, smoked beer
Best Florida Beer 2025 winners!!! Sean McCoy, Silver, International/Czech Lager, “Not a Helles”; Bronze, Fruit Beer, “I’m the Keymaster”;Chris Baum, Silver, Strong European Beer, “Doppel Penetration”; Greg Bessette, Silver, Saison, “Saison du chateau”
Comp de L’Abbaye Normale winner!! Greg Bessette bronze, Saison
The only current posted Fl competition for 2026 on reggie so far (not in circuit):
1/17/26 Brewers Best Friend, entry window 12/1/25-1/3/26, Tallahassee Fl
Keep an eye on reggie as next years competitions will hopefully be posted as they become available, https://reggiebeer.com/ReggieLogin.php
Save the Date:
BUBR 6/6/26 It’ll Be An Irish Theme Next Year, get ready to get Lucky!!!
Upcoming Brewfests:
November 15th Rocky Water Brewfest in Melbourne
December 6th Craft Brew Hullabaloo in Sebastian
January 24th 2026 Science on Tap in Orlando
February 2026 Cocoa Village Brewers Bash
February (late) Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest, Vero Beach
See you all real soon!!