Matt Hunsworth
April brought a burst of brewing energy, exciting wins, and important updates for the Brewers Anonymous Homebrew Club in Orlando. From club competitions and major festivals to a sneak peek at the much-anticipated ot and Humid competition, here’s everything that went down during our April meeting at Ivanhoe Park Lager House.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We kicked things off with a shoutout to our generous supporters:
- Ivanhoe Park Lager Houses
- Home State Brewing Company
- American Homebrewers Association
- Tactical Brewing
Our motto remains: Strength through unity, unity through zymurgy.
April Challenge: Braggots & Honey Beers
The April Interclub Challenge featured honey-forward beers, with four entries that offered impressive balance and creativity. Congratulations to the winners:
- Matt Hunsworth – 1st Place
- Eric Rodriguez – 2nd Place
- Chris Nubar – 3rd Place
These results also affected the Brewer of the Year rankings, but Eric Rodriguez continues to dominate with 84 points.
Hot and Humid: Gearing Up for Our Biggest Year Yet
Hot and Humid 2025 is shaping up to be our largest and most exciting competition to date. Here’s what you need to know:
- Entry registration opens: May 5
- Delivery window: May 17 – May 30 at Ivanhoe Park Lagerhaus
- Entry limit: 300 total entries (3 per brewer, 3 bottles per entry)
- Bottle sort date: Sunday, June 1 (new date)
- Judging weekends: June 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22
- Awards Ceremony: June 28 at Ivanhoe Park Lagerhaus
This year, judges will receive exclusive gift bags, including a specially brewed Saison by last year’s Brewer of the Year, Bill Carley. Other surprise gifts are in the works—more on that soon.
Vote on Sponsorships
Members voted to approve permanent sponsorships for:
- JJ Ocampo’s homebrew supply shop
- Hyperbolic Brewing, the in-development brewery from Max Furth
This ensures their continued support and presence at Hot and Humid for years to come.
Competition Circuit Updates
The club is still awaiting the Hurricane Blowoff results, with a Discord watch party planned (pending a stream link). Hogtown Brew-Off is next, with entry delivery coordinated by JJ on April 28 at Sun Creek from 7–10 p.m.
After Hot and Humid, we head into the First Coast Cup (450 entry limit). Brewers are encouraged to double up their batches to enter both contests. This is CASK’s home competition and could be a major points earner for them—let’s stay competitive.
Festival Wins and Lessons Learned
Hamlin Craft Beer Festival
Brewers Anonymous once again claimed People’s Choice, with an impressive showing of 17 taps and eight volunteers. While successful, the club decided that future festivals will feature rotating taps to ease setup and teardown without sacrificing variety.
Brews Around the Zoo
Word about our beer spread fast—so fast that we had two lines at our tent and ran out of beer by 7:15 p.m. Plans are underway to bring more kegs next year while keeping tap count manageable.
Sanford Pints and Paws
Held the same day as Hamlin, this festival was another big success with seven taps and long lines. The club even earned Second Place for Best Tent. Across both festivals, we ran 24 taps with 13 members pouring—a milestone in club growth and commitment.
Smash Festival: We’re In
After years of trying, we’ve been invited to participate in the Smash Festival on Saturday, May 31. Brewers will create a unique beer using:
- Malt: Regenified Southern Select from Riverbend Malt House
- Hop: 2024 Azacca from Yakima Quality Hops
- Yeast: Brewer’s choice
- One adjunct allowed
Only one Smash entry is permitted, but we’ll also serve three additional beers. Volunteers interested in participating should coordinate via Discord.
BJCP Training & Evergreen Resources
The July 19th BJCP tasting exam is full, but a waitlist is open. The club’s Learn to Brew Anonymous online program remains available and effective, with participants from as far as Sweden and California passing their entrance exams using the content. The program is evergreen and will remain useful until BJCP guidelines change.
Merch Shop Reminder
Our Brewers Anonymous Merch Shop is live. Shirts, hats, dog bandanas, and more are available in multiple colors and styles. Visit brewersanonymous.org and click “Merch” to shop.
Next Meeting: Friday, May 16 at Homestate Brewing Company
We’ve got more competitions, festivals, and fun coming soon. Until then, keep brewing, keep sharing, and keep the camaraderie alive.
