Please remember that the deadline for the first round of the AHA national competition is approaching. Let's try to mail our entries in together to save on shipping...
The Sunshine Challenge is also coming up on us. I've made arrangements to deliver entries to this competition. Please contact me if you'd like your entries delivered, or if you need entry forms, etc..
Congrats to Peter Buschbaum! Peter won two bronze medals at the Hurricane Blowoff: one for his oatmeal stout and one for his Bavarian dunkelweizen. Way to go, Peter!
Well another month is almost gone. 'Tis the month of Saint Patrick and I hope all you Saints and Non-Saints will join me this Friday (March 17th) at the Titanic to celebrate this festive occasion. From what I hear they will be having plenty of Guinness, Harp and Kelly's cider on tap to go along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage. If you're not busy come on down for a few.
I want to thank Scott Graham for helping me out with last month's President's message. We are still bouncing back and forth between the hospital and home. As most of you know from the last board meeting, our daughter was back in the NSICU (Neuro Surgery Intensive Care Unit) at Jackson Hospital with some breathing problems. We saw two Doctors on Monday who say that this problem should pass in time. It seems that the brain has to reset or adjust itself to its normal activity again. She had surgery back on Jan 28, 2000, but has had a few setbacks since then. She now has a feeding tube in her stomach because she is still unable to swallow. We do not know how long she will have these problems, but we do know that she needs constant care 24 hours around the clock. We do have our hands full and the situation has taken an emotional and physical toll on both of us. I do appreciate everyone's help in running the club during this time of stress.
Well, it's official. The Swede is soon to be off to the west coast and a new job. We will miss a good friend and fellow brewer. Don't be a stranger, Mark. Keep in touch.
Our next meeting is March 29, 2000 at the Thai Orchid. The club competition for March is Oatmeal Stout. See ya all there.
— Bob Beard
The Palm Beach Draughstmen are hosting the 5th annual Hurricane Blowoff homebrew competition at the end of the month. Entries are due no later than March 25th at the Homebrewer's Outlet in West Palm Beach. If anyone is interested in volunteering, they are looking for judges and stewards. The awards ceremony will be held during a big party on April 1st. For complete details, go to the competition website. If anyone needs a printout of the entry forms, please contact me. If anyone would like to volunteer to make a trip up there to drop off beers, please post to the MASH list.
The latest issue of Zymurgy showed up in the mailbox this week. National Homebrewer's Day is Saturday, May 6th this year. We usually have a picnic that day, so please try to free up your calendars...
A more accurate listing of the beers for the AHA Club Only competitions was also published in this issue. Please see the Competitions page for the details.