Member Mugshots

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  I was born a poor brew child, evolving from my early days in Miam-uh to the echelon of the Palm Beach Draughtsmen in 2013.

I survived a stint as club president for a few years, and have been focusing more recent years on improving my lager brew skills.  Tasting great and still learning!

I prefer brewing meads and ciders, but I will sometimes brew a beer or assist as co-brewer when Dale D. is brewing.  

I started brewing in 2003 after moving from New Jersey to Florida.  Before I left New Jersey, I went to a brew shop with a friend and it all seems like magic to me.  I was very interested!  This friend gifted me a thin book on mead making, it contained the basics to get started, and lots of recipies in the back.  

I have only entered competition with a couple of my brews, a ginger/cinnamon cider, and a well aged mead.  No medals yet, but I amstill brewing!

I joined the Draughtsmen in 2018.

I like brewing IPAs because I enjoy experimenting with all of the different hop varieties. I am working to perfect my brew processes and branch out into different styles. I have had a few successful batches of spiced cider. I have a small background in science, so I love finding ways to incorporate that into my brewing. 

I started brewing in the early 2000s during my college years, focusing mostly on Meads and Wines. After a lengthy hiatus, the home brewing bug bit me during Covid time with a small beer kit. Years later I have almost taken over the garage with my brewery. 

I have yet to enter anything in a brewing competition, but it is a new year (2025) and I have some stuff in the works!

Like many homebrewers, I began my tenure of endless brewing expenditures with a beer brewing starter kit. Some lovely people gifted that to me in 2012 and I soon realized I would need better equipment, more education, and a dedicated brewing budget to hone my craft. Thankfully the Palm Beach Draughtsmen were there when I joined in 2013. 

More than a decade later, I continue to brew six to eight times a year on my 10 gallon three vessel HERMS system. I love brewing new recipes and new styles every year. 

In 2023 I became a BJCP Certified Beer Judge and every year I look forward to our club’s annual Hurricane Blowoff homebrew competition. I also enjoy hosting a club brew day every year to make our famous “Deez Nuts” coconut Hefeweizen that we serve to the public at the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival.

Lenny’s brewing journey began when, in 2011, my wife surprised me with a Mr Beer kit. Little did I know that this simple kit would lead me down an exciting path of homebrewing. I started with the 2-gallon kits and gradually expanded my setup to a 5-gallon extract system. From there, I invested in a pot and cooler method and eventually transitioned to kegging. My current setup includes a 3-vessel HERMS system, which allows me to brew a variety of beers.

I brew between 7 to 10 times a year, experimenting with both my favorite flavors and new styles. There’s nothing quite like sharing my homemade brews with friends and family at events. Watching people sample my creations and providing positive feedback is incredibly rewarding.

Although I haven’t entered many competitions yet, I’ve managed to win the NOBO Fan Favorite vote twice. This achievement allowed me to brew my beer on their state-of-the-art system, which was an incredible experience.

 During the Covid pandemic, like many others, I sought a new pursuit while confined at home. As a former chef, I had already explored the majority of my cookbooks and had baked and cooked through all my culinary aspirations. I was in search of a fresh and stimulating challenge. Having always been a passionate enthusiast of craft beer, I had visited numerous breweries throughout the southeastern United States. One day, I discovered a brewery in St. Petersburg that also served as a homebrew and hydroponics shop. After engaging in conversation with the owner and head brewer, I decided to embark on the journey of homebrewing. 

A co-worker, who was a member of a local homebrew club, had mentioned it to me, and in 2021, I joined the Palm Beach Draughtsmen. Not long after  I entered my first beer competition with a mango Hefeweizen. Although my performance was not exceptional, I did not finish in last place, which ignited my passion for brewing. 

Since then, I have progressed from using buckets to stainless steel conical fermenters with temperature control, and I now mash in a water cooler equipped with a RIMS tube. I typically produce 7 to 9 batches annually and have recently ventured into mead-making as well. Currently, I am pursuing BJCP certification and thoroughly enjoy judging competitions. 

I like to brew...

I started brewing...

I have won these medals...