Jax Brew Bitch: Beaches Summer Fest for MDA 2012

Last night (Saturday, Sept 15) provided a departure from the usual focus of my Prowls since the evening had finally arrived for the Beaches Summer Fest 2012 at the Courtyard Marriott in Jacksonville Beach. Proceeds from the event would benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and in an earlier blog post, I mentioned that although I had heard of Muscular Dystrophy, I had never genuinely endeavored to learn much about it. I now realize how truly horrible neuromuscular disease is and companion and I are both grateful for our newly-acquired awareness.

Jamie & Mindy Gillis. Thanks to
Woody with Jacksonville.com
for capturing this great shot!

I had been alerted to the event by Jamie Gillis (a very talented homebrewer) and learned more about it when we met Jamie and his beautiful wife Mindy (also a very talented homebrewer) at Poe's one evening. Jamie and Mindy founded The JamMin Movement – a creative collaboration on a mission to inspire, connect and pay it forward … they are motivated to help and their focus this evening was Muscular Dystrophy.

Our friend from Orlando (Mad Dog) had purchased a ticket online last week so that he could join us and had traveled up to Jacksonville Thursday evening. Since I was going to blog about the event, Jamie had asked me to attend the Orientation Meeting at 4:50 pm, so Mad Dog graciously provided his rather new vehicle as transport across town.

The boys dropped me off in the portico of the hotel and went to enjoy a beer at a nearby bar until it was time for the event to begin.

Chef Zach and Keegan with Brewer's Pizza
and Pinglehead Brewing Company

After the Orientation Meeting, I circled around all the rooms reserved for the event, taking pictures and making note of what each vendor had brought to share at this charitable function.

Companion and I were able to text back and forth as the event began promptly at 6:00 pm. I was not surprised to learn they had quickly focused on some tasty beer being provided by Keegan Malone of Pinglehead Brewing Company, the Landslide Double IPA and the Moon Dance Oatmeal Stout and sample cups of their amazing and popular Gator Burgoo and Crab & Shrimp Bisque prepared and served by chef Zach from Brewer's Pizza.

The Tree Hugger by
On the Fly Sandwiches & Stuff

I joined them and noticed in the same room that On the Fly Sandwiches & Stuff were set up and offering slices of The Tree Hugger – a wrap of fresh hummus, homemade pickles, On the Fly Sauce, lettuce, tomato and Bermuda onion nestled in a flour tortilla. Hubba Hubba Hummus! … this was fantastic!

Decadent delights by Alley Cakes

The other vendor in the room was Alley Webb, owner of Alley Cakes – with a scrumptious-looking display of dessert goodies, including Red Velvet Cupcakes, Oatmeal Cookies, Caramel and Pecan Brownie, Mini Apple Pie Empanadas and Key Lime Pie Pops! … be still my heart … so decadent! The beautiful table display was done by Adair Currie owner of Dairing Events

Preben and James from
Grassroots Natural Market

While we sat and enjoyed what all three vendors were providing, companion told me he and Mad Dog had already made a tour of the Silent Auction room where Mad Dog had made the opening bids on a few items. In THAT room, Preben Olsen and James Garrison of Grassroots Natural Market were providing an incredible selection of cheese including a knock-yer-socks-off salt crystal Gouda and an impressive bleu.

Across the room from Grassroots was Bold City Brewery with Susan and John Miller volunteering their time and pouring their delectable brews, the 1901 Red Ale and the Rhino Pale Ale.

Mr. Miller serving Bold City Brewery's 1901

Adjacent to the Millers was Mark Stillman of Green Room Brewing slinging some of their mean brews, as well - the Cherry Key Limeade Wit and the Pablo Beach Pale Ale!

Silent Auction items included impressive art, a neat cruiser-style bicycle, wooden lifeguard chair, wooden beach chair, cooler, kayak, surfboard, hotel stays, swag bags, growlers and beautiful jewelry. Mad Dog eventually won a growler and t-shirt from Pinglehead Brewing Company – and he was quite the happy boy with both!

Firewater Tent Revival

The other room was situated to provide room for the band, Firewater Tent Revival, and for dancing for those so motivated. The band was phenomenal and was certainly a big hit for the event!

Next to the band a table was set up where David Rigdon and his wife Susan were pouring Intuition Ale Works I-10 IPA and their Belgian Trippel.

Luch with Engine 15 Brewing Co.

Also in that room was Eric Jankowski of Micro Man pouring Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Beer.

Adjacent to Eric of Micro Man was Engine 15 Brewing Company where Luch Scremin and Sean Bielman were holding down the fort pouring their incredible brews including E15’s Old Battle Axe and the JamMin Jasmine Saison for which Jamie and Mindy Gillis won 9^th place in the Samuel Adams Longshot Homebrew Contest facing roughly 1000 other challengers!

Chipotle & Strawberry BBQ Baby
Back Ribs by Perfect Pear Catering Co.

Adjacent and perpendicular to Engine 15 was chef Michael and Rachael Deremer, owners of The Perfect Pear Catering Company. REMEMBER THESE SEVEN WORDS: Chipotle and Strawberry Barbecue Baby Back Ribs (yes, I know you just moaned with delight) … and the other incredible menu item they were providing was Shrimp and Grits with Chorizo. Simply outstanding!

Ocean 60 Restaurant

Ocean 60 Restaurant, Wine Bar and Martini Room was situated next to The Perfect Pear where Owner and Executive Chef Daniel Groshell was providing an impressive and popular Grouper Ceviche with some homemade Sundried Tomato Tortilla Chips – paired with a Grapefruit Martini infused with Basil.

Paxton and Mike Duo

Out on the deck, the ambience was being enhanced by the cool acoustic duo of Paxton and Mike and there were some impressive breweries being represented outside:

Saint Somewhere Brewing Company from Tarpon Springs, FL – Saison Athene and Lectio Divina being poured by Owner Bob Sylvester and his beautiful and intelligent wife, Ann.

Ann & Bob Sylvester
from Saint Somewhere Brewing Co.

Three Palms Brewing from Tampa, FL – Ruby Pogo Hoppy Red Ale and Queen of Wheat Hefeweizen being poured by Randy and Mike. Note: this brewery just opened in August!

Swamp Head Brewing from Gainesville, FL – Stump Knocker American Pale Ale and Midnight Oil Ale with Coffee being poured by Brown Distributing Company's Carolyn Lindsey Graham and Zach Schuster.

Kevin, Randy & Mike with
Three Palms Brewing

Distributors involved in the event included Champion Brands's David Rigdon accompanied by his beautiful wife Susan, North Florida Sales's Scott Russell, Brown Distributing Company's Carolyn Lindsey Graham, Zach Schuster and Micro Man's Eric Jankowski.

As an update to this blog post, in the future I will post the list of those who so graciously donated items and swag for the Silent Auction and total amount of donations raised for this event.

with the most gorgeous Brewer in Jax,
Susan Miller of Bold City Brewery

I was so excited I got to mingle with so many people and I was honored to be able to step in and pour Intuition Ale Works beer for David Rigdon. Also, I was pleased and honored to do the same for the Miller's with Bold City's brews and for Mark Stillman when I briefly poured Green Room's tasty beer.

An entire evening of fine brews, chews and tunes provided by a collection of charity-minded business owners – all volunteering time, talent, money, food, beer and items for the Silent Auction. Well planned and executed, the event could also serve as a primer for those interested in learning how to put on a charity event – the right way.

Amazing art created and graciously
donated by Adam Brett

The most exciting part of the evening was the growing awareness that Courtyard Marriott Jacksonville Beach and all the vendors and volunteers had supplied the space, an enormous amount of their time, swag, delicious food, tasty beer and items for the Silent Auction at NO COST to the event. Every dollar raised through ticket sales, donations, and Auction proceeds went directly to the cause! … these offerings from these people and their organizations represent a sacrifice “from their first fruits” - especially significant during a period with a beleaguered overall economy. From the smallest Auction item to the use of the rooms themselves – from the bites of cheese to the ribs and beer – from purchasing a ticket to giving up an evening to volunteer – ALL these gifts were so very important to make the evening a success from both entertainment and charitable considerations. Each dollar raised now gets to go to work immediately for those who need the help – each dollar is now “in uniform” with a mission to defeat this illness which attacks so many of our fellow human beings.

The precious faces and gentle
reminder for this evenings event.

For those of you who believe in the power of prayer, please “lift these soldiers up” in your next prayer, asking that each dollar invested from this magnificent event will yield the highest possible return in the fight against neuromuscular disease.

To Jamie and Mindy Gillis, I personally thank you for the opportunity of learning more about Muscular Dystrophy and the MDA ... I, as the Jax Brew Bitch, also thank and applaud you both for being such effective and wonderful role models for beer-enthusiasts everywhere. The Greater Jacksonville area is indeed lucky to have you.

Courtyard Marriott which is located
on beautiful Jacksonville Beach, FL.

A standing ovation for management and staff of Courtyard Marriott in Jacksonville Beach for providing quality space and service for the event.

Finally, to those of you who attended, to you who planned, managed, set up, volunteered and provided (and bid on) Auction items, to you who performed, to you who provided delicious brews and chews – a sincere, heartfelt thank you for stepping to the plate to “pay it forward” and for caring enough about those affected by Muscular Dystrophy to make the Beaches Summer Fest 2012 a most memorable, successful and blessed event.

To view more photos from Beaches Summer Fest 2012, please visit the link below ...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354464891305793.84915.181100418642242&type=1

Muscular Dystrophy Association

http://mda.org/

The JamMin Movement (Jamie and Mindy Gillis)

www.facebook.com/thejamminmovement

Beaches Summer Fest

https://www.facebook.com/beachessummerfest

Courtyard Marriott – Jacksonville Beach

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/jaxjv-courtyard-jacksonville-beach-oceanfront/

https://www.facebook.com/jaxbeachcourtyard

Pinglehead Brewing Company

http://www.pinglehead.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Pinglehead