The Saratoga Thoroughbrews is a club of dedicated home brewers whose mission is to educate and inform its members in brewing techniques, tasting, and judging beer. As a club, we engage in enjoyable social activities focused on brewing and the appreciation of beer.

Our club meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of every month from 7:00 PM to around 9:00 PM at the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company tasting room on 131 Excelsior Street in Saratoga Springs, NY. Following a discussion of the club business and upcoming events, we hold our monthly competition where members can enter their home brewed beer to win a glass, mug, or stein with the Saratoga Thoroughbrews logo. Members are also welcome to bring beer just to share with the rest of the club.

Members may enter their home brewed, hand crafted beer in our monthly competition held during the club meeting where it is tasted and judged according to the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) beer style guidelines. Club members will give the brewers feedback on the quality of their beer and conformance to the style guidelines using the BJCP beer score sheet. The score sheet has space for comments on five different beer characteristics: Aroma (12 pts), Appearance (3 pts), Flavor (20 pts), Mouthfeel (5 pts), and Overall Impression (10 pts). A perfect beer will score 50 pts. Comments are made in each of the areas to help the brewer improve his or her beer.

In addition, several times each year, a beer of a specific style will be selected for entry into the upcoming AHA Club-pnly Competition. These styles are listed on the News and Events page.

Of course, members are always welcome to bring any beer they want to share with the other club members.

Most of our members are pro-active brewers who enter their craft beers in BJCP/AHA sanctioned homebrew competitions in the hopes of winning prizes and to have the honor of brewing an award winning beer. There are many club brewing dates during the year for members to socialize, brew great beer, and learn about brewing techniques and equipment.

Some of the winners of the monthly club competition will earn the right to put their beer on tap at the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. For those who wish to take advantage of this, they can provide five gallons of their award winning beer for sampling by the patrons of OSB. The Olde Saratoga Brewing Company is famous for their craft brewed beers. Look for the Saratoga Thoroughbrews tap all the way to the left side of the bar the next time you are visiting the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company.

An annual bus trip is scheduled to breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars in a selected area to sample craft brewed beer. Historically, there has been a special meeting that emphasizes the Belgian Beer style. The club has met at a local resturant that serves Belgian beers and food that complements the beer.

There are typically two parties scheduled each year. There will be at least one summer party and one holiday party in December.

It is a day of brewing with the Saratoga Thoroughbrews members at the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. Brewing demonstrations include: extract, partial mash, and all grain brewing. There is food, beer, raffles, and brewing all day. Fun and prizes for all.

The Saratoga Thoroughbrews Homebrew Club holds its annual homebrew competition on the second Saturday in November. The Knickerbocker Battle of the Brews is held at The C. H. Evans Brewing Company in Albany, NY. This is a BJCP/AHA sanctioned competition. Entrants will receive expert commentary on their homebrew on official score sheets prepared by judges recognized by the Beer Judge Certification Program.