July 2017

MASH Agenda​​ 

July 2017

I. Call to Order

• Welcome 3 New Members

II. Review of Previous Minutes

 WAIVED

III. Treasure's Report (Dave Kirsten)

 We have money

IV. Current Business

• Sunshine Challenge 2017 (Orlando) - Results

  • Michael Moussa - Silver - Belgian Tripel

  • Ruben Sabater - Bronze - DIPA (first medal)

• First Coast Cup (Jacksonville) - Registration Period: Closed; Judging; August 4-5

• Commander Saaz 2017 (Cocoa Beach) -​​ Registration Period: July 10-August 21; Judging September 15-16

• Florida Homebrew Circuit - 5th place

• BJCP Tasting Exam - Scheduled for December 2017 (Dave Kirsten)

  • First Come/First Serve - Must pass the online exam prior to securing a spot for the tasting​​ exam

  • Scott Graham will be setting up practice sessions starting in September

Motion by Dave Kirsten for MASH to cover cost of in person BJCP Tasting Exam
Seconded by Jay Fonte
Voted on and motion passes

V. New Business

• Upcoming Competitions

  • BestFlorida​​ Beer 2017 (Tampa) - Registration Period: August 13-September 10; Judging October 7

• Upcoming Events

  • Wynwood Beer Festival @ Wynwood: August 26

  • Grovetoberfest @ Coconut Grove: October 14

• Optimist Club “Home Brewers Brawl”, Saturday, July 29, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

  • Prizes – Judged by popular vote

    • $150.00 - 1st Place

    • $50.00  ​​​​ - 2nd Place

    • $25.00  ​​​​ - 3rd Place

  • Contact Karl Bithorn at (305) 318-6995 or Paul Bithorn via email at pbithorn@plumbers519.com with any questions and to enter the competition.

• Beerland on Viceland​​ is looking for a local brewer to showcase on the show. ​​ Looking for something uniquely Miami.  ​​​​ Jorge “Mo” will follow-up with email to distribution list for anyone looking to enter.

• Call for new business

  • Josh Hubner met the folks from​​ Great Circle Coffee, a local coffee roaster and they donated beans to the Club for making coffee beers! ​​ Contact him if interested in free beans to experiment with.  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

  • Don’t forget about MASH on Social Media. ​​ Tag us! ​​ 

    • Twitter: ​​ @MASH_FL

    • Instagram: ​​ @miamihomebrewers

    • Facebook: facebook.com/groups/miami.homebrew

VI. Education

• Shipping Beer for Competition (Dave Kirsten) ​​ 

  • Entry

    • Enter competitions for OBJECTIVE Feedback and shiny medals.

    • Enter competitions based on what the beer TASTES like. ​​ Not what it intended to be. ​​ 

    • Make sure you are sending your best batches – freshly grinded grains, fresh new hops.

    • Make sure bottles are clean and carbonation levels are good. ​​ Judges first impressions are of the bottle.

  • Packaging

    • NO USPS, it is illegal

    • Recommend beer shippers from Ebeaver. ​​ https://www.ebeaver.com/product/beverage-shipper/

    • Geoffrey to follow up on obtaining pricing for bulk purchases

    • Packing Peanuts and lots of bubble wrap is discouraged

  • Final tips

    • Enter as much as possible. ​​ One beer can score very differently between competition.​​ 

    • Take feedback seriously, but not personally

VI. BotY

• Jul: Amber & Brown American Beer

  • 1st​​ Place: John Bankston Sr., Blonde Ale

  • 2nd​​ Place:​​ Rene Castillo, American Pale Ale

  • 3rd​​ Place:​​ Chris Lopez, American Pale Ale

• Aug: Belgian Ale/Trappist Ale

• Current Standings:

  • Intra-Club: John Bankston

  • Inter-Club: Bob Billany & Dave Kirsten

  • BotY 2017: too close to call

VIII. Adjournment and Next Meeting

• Next meeting: August 24, 2017, Lincoln’s Beard Brewing​​ Company.​​