Matt Hunsworth
Brewers Anonymous – February 2025 Meeting Recap
The Brewers Anonymous Homebrew Club gathered for its February 2025 meeting at Ivanhoe Park Lager House, bringing together homebrewers for an evening filled with camaraderie, competition results, upcoming events, and exciting club updates.
Florida Cascade Century Research Challenge
The club kicked off its first inter-club challenge of the year with a unique research project: brewing pale ales using Cascade hops grown by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). The goal? To explore how different brewing techniques and recipes highlight the hop’s characteristics while providing valuable data to the university.
The competition saw 10 entries, and the winners were:
🥇 Eric Rodriguez – First Place
🥈 Ian O’Keefe – Second Place
🥉 Chris Neuber – Third Place
As a special prize, winners received custom 3D-printed tap handles featuring the Brewers Anonymous logo, courtesy of club member Ross Williams. These sleek tap handles will also be featured on the club’s festival jockey box setup, further cementing the club’s reputation as one of Florida’s top homebrew communities.
Homebrew Competitions
The Florida homebrew competition circuit is in full swing, and Brewers Anonymous members are gearing up for several big events:
- Coconut Cup (March 15, Miami) – Entries have been submitted, and the club eagerly awaits results. A live-stream watch party will be hosted via Discord for those who can’t attend in person.
- NHC Regionals (March 8, Tampa) – Club member Graziani has volunteered to transport entries for the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) Regionals. Members should check Discord for logistics and meet-up details.
- Hurricane Blowoff (April 26) – This competition hit its 125-entry cap quickly, with Brewers Anonymous contributing over 27% of entries! A driver is still needed for beer transport—volunteers, step up!
- Hogtown Brew Off (May 24, Gainesville) – Registration opens on March 31. Blackadder Brewing hosted last year’s judging and may do so again this year.
- Hot & Humid Homebrew Competition (June 28, Orlando) – Brewers Anonymous’ signature competition is set to be bigger than ever! Ivanhoe Park Lager House will host judging and the awards ceremony, a welcome change after last year’s brutal outdoor heat. New surprises are in store for judges, including potential incentives—stay tuned!
Want to judge? Virtual judging will be available from June 1–22 for those unable to attend in person.
Festival Highlights
Brewers Anonymous has been an undeniable presence at recent festivals, drawing huge crowds and plenty of praise for its craft brews.
Science on Tap was a major success, featuring the ever-popular “Guess the Hop” game, where attendees sampled a single-hop beer and identified its characteristics. Club member Christie was even interviewed by local news!
Brewers Bash saw yet another festival where people kept asking, “Where can I buy your beer?” (A good problem to have, right?) The club’s setup looked fantastic, complete with a tent, tap system, and long lines of eager beer lovers.
Looking ahead, Brewers Anonymous will be pouring at multiple festivals in March and April:
- Hamlin (March 29, Winter Garden) – The club’s biggest festival presence yet, featuring a variety of fermented beverages, not just beer!
- Pints & Paws (March 29, Sanford) – Running two festivals in one day is no small feat, but thanks to member support, Brewers Anonymous is making it happen!
- Brews Around the Zoo (April 12, Sanford) – Sign-ups are open on Discord for brewers and pourers.
BJCP Certification
With the BJCP Tasting Exam scheduled for July 19, the club continues its training efforts for aspiring beer judges. Members are encouraged to practice score sheets and beer evaluations regularly, as the entrance exam must be passed before taking the tasting exam.
Judging opportunities at Coconut Cup and Hurricane Blowoff will give members a chance to gain real-world experience evaluating homebrew in a structured competition setting.
Club Merch
The long-awaited club merch store is finally here! Hosted through Spreadshirt, the store offers customizable Brewers Anonymous gear in multiple styles and colors. Tip: The “Premium T-Shirt” option is a breathable poly-cotton blend that’s perfect for Florida’s heat.
To check out the merch, visit brewersanonymous.org and click on the Merch tab or directly at: https://brewers-anonymous.myspreadshop.com/.
Final Notes
Membership renewals are due! Club dues and the Hot & Humid competition fund Brewers Anonymous’ activities, so renewing your membership ensures the club can continue hosting events, competitions, and more. To renew, visit: https://brewersanonymous.square.site/.
Stay in the loop! The club has launched a Linktree for easy access to all club resources, including Discord, the website, social media, and merch store.
Next Meeting: March 20 at Homestate Brewing – See you there!
Cheers to a Hoppy & Successful 2025!
Brewers Anonymous is off to a strong start this year, with exciting competitions, festival appearances, and club improvements. Whether you’re brewing, judging, pouring, or just enjoying great homebrew, there’s plenty to look forward to in the months ahead!
Cheers!
Presentation Slides:
Video Recap:
