2002 Florida State Fair

Congratulations to Bob Beard for taking a third place in English Bitters and Pale Ales at the 2002 Florida State Fair homebrew competition!

2002 Coconut Cup

Many thanks to all who helped to make the 2002 Coconut Cup a great success. Special thanks to all of those who took the time and effort to enter beers. We especially want to acknowledge the members of the Palm Beach Draughstmen who sent their beers and Andy, Jan, and John, who drove down to help judge in the competition. We deeply appreciate their strong support of a fellow Florida homebrew club. We hope that more clubs take up the challenge next year.

The Miami Area Society of Homebrewers retained the Coconut Cup for the third straight year.

President's Message

Hello to all and a Hoppy New Year! Sorry for the tardiness of this message, the last few weeks have been quite hectic for me, but I digress.

First, I would like to say thanks to Scott Ross for his service as President last year, as well as all the other officers and committee chairs. Despite the national and international weirdness of the last four months of 2001, we had a great year as a club: Seven of our members got their BJCP exam scores, with six getting "Recognized" or higher ratings, defended our holding of the Coconut Cup, had a great "Big Brew" day with Jamie at the Titanic, introduced a Summer Solstice party, had another great Winter Solstice party, gained a couple of new members and, through the year many members took medals at AHA sanctioned competitions.

As I write this, the Coconut Cup is just over two weeks away. I'm sure that we will have plenty of MASH entries, and that everyone will step up to the plate to make this another highly successful event. Please all contact Jake with what part(s) you can play. I also encourage everyone to invite friends, co-workers and neighbors to the Coconut Cup as part of our Club Mission to promote home brewing and encourage new brewers; we want more people to realize and appreciate the great diversity and quality available in the beer world, both commercially and home brewed.

I see no need for any big changes in the nature or direction of the club, but would certainly like to get members' input on any events or programs to add. One event I would like to see us discuss is some level of club participation in AHA's "Teach a friend to Homebrew Day" as an addition this year, we've got plenty of time to consider this, as the date is November 2, 2002. We will discuss Big Brew Day (May 4, 2002) at this month's meeting.

Thanks for your faith in electing me president. As our national, state and local political leaders have been encouraging us, let's get back to normal activity as best each of us can. For us, that means get brewing, and stimulate the economy with your purchase of grain, hops, yeast and all other appropriate supplies and equipment!

Finally, let me close with my 2002 brewing resolutions:
1. Promote beer and brewing appreciation in as many people as possible.
2. Put together my wort chiller and move from partial mash to all-grain (for at least some batches).
3. Be more timely in submitting my next eleven President's Messages to our Web Lackey.

Keep those airlocks popping!
Pete Buschbaum

Best Florida Beer Championship

Please check out the Best Florida Beer Championship web site, even though they decided to clash dates with the Coconut Cup this year. Entries will be picked up February 1st at the Titanic. Good luck to everyone who enters!

Big Bend Brewoff

Congratulations to Bob Beard for taking a second place for his witbier and to Scott and Denise for taking third place with both their imperial stout and their classic american cream ale at the Big Bend Brewoff.