If you plan on entering a beer in the National Homebrew Conference Contest the registration is now open. There were over 1000 entries in the first 15 minutes so you don't want to wait.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Yep, done, although I hesitated this year because of the hike in entry prices!!! The one thing they should have done IMO is, instead of raising the number of judging centers and entry prices (therefore increasing revenue cosiderably), they should limit the number of entries by participant. I believe it is common for second round winners to have dozens of entries, giving them a lot more chance to do well compared to your regular small scale homebrewer (like me) who typically enter just a couple.
What is the price per entry?
I am sure this information can be easily found, but I am sure others reading this thread will have the same question.
About 3,400 entries already. I bet the Portland judging location completely fills up by the end of the day.
The Internet has caused these types of things to get a bit too crazy. I can never get tickets for anything anymore. Everything sells out in 5 seconds.
Yep, done, although I hesitated this year because of the hike in entry prices!!! The one thing they should have done IMO is, instead of raising the number of judging centers and entry prices (therefore increasing revenue cosiderably), they should limit the number of entries by participant. I believe it is common for second round winners to have dozens of entries, giving them a lot more chance to do well compared to your regular small scale homebrewer (like me) who typically enter just a couple.
If your beer is more to style, it'll (likely) win.
I don't believe that increasing the number of entries per person inherently gives you better odds of placing. If anything, it gives you better odds against an off first round judge or two. It's hard enough to advance no matter how many you send. If it also judges well in the second round, you didn't beat the odds due to flooding. You beat them by brewing a better beer.
I agree that the price per entry is insane.
I think a lot of people tend to forget the fact that first and foremost, this is a competition. The bottom line for NHC is that people enter to win. If you are shooting to win, you need to do everything you can to do so. It's all about entering the highest number of high quality beers to improve your odds. I you were to limit the number of entries, you would arguably be unfairly handicapping the best brewers in the country who have the skill to consistently brew quality beers time and time again. It takes an extreme amount of dedication, time, and energy to consistently win in competition. I think this often gets overlooked when people start complaining about those with a lot of entries. They tend to overlook the vast amount of skill and work that was put forth. That being said, when the beers are at the judging table, your beer is on the same ground as the guy who put in 40 entries. If your beer is better, it'll (likely) win.
I'm personally somewhat split on the entry fee price point. On one hand it limits the number of entries by ensuring people think twice before entering a beer and only putting forth their best efforts. On the other hand, it is somewhat unfair since many of the people who enter could throw several hundred dollars away on entry fees without a second thought.
All in all, I don't think there is a perfect system that will make everyone happy. That being said, I think the AHA does a pretty damn good job.
I think you said it all, wonderbread23, allow me to quote you again: It's all about entering the highest number of high quality beers to improve your odds.
Yes, the number of entries counts, a lot!
Improve your odds of what?
I am not entering - I'm too much of a newbie, and since homebrewing is technically illegal in my state, I'm probably disqualified, anyway.
That being said, $10-$15 for a national competition seems very reasonable to me.
Maybe I just don't understand.
Revvy will continue to disagree with me, but homebrewing these days = hipster.
bierhaus15 said:After last years Saratoga fiasco, I won't be entering any beers this year. Their prices are wayy too high for what you get and just the thought of giving the AHA more of my money makes me sick. I'd rather spend the $$$ supporting my local beer clubs and competitions.
I'd still like to know what it cost gordon strong and the other "big names" for all their entries. Are we to believe they had to send their beers out via snail mail too?
After last years Saratoga fiasco, I won't be entering any beers this year. Their prices are wayy too high for what you get and just the thought of giving the AHA more of my money makes me sick. I'd rather spend the $$$ supporting my local beer clubs and competitions.
I'd still like to know what it cost gordon strong and the other "big names" for all their entries. Are we to believe they had to send their beers out via snail mail too?
Wayne, isn't mazer cup this weekend?
Being judged right now, I believe. I judged meads, cysers and ciders last weekend at Dredhop. I would be at Mazer cup but I needed a bit of a break to actually brew something this weekend.
I'd still like to know what it cost gordon strong and the other "big names" for all their entries. Are we to believe they had to send their beers out via snail mail too?
Just a heads up. San Francisco dropped to 745 entries, so there's now 5 open spots there.
If you don't pay in 24 hours your entries are cleared and it opens up spots for new entries.
Keep refreshing the page over the next couple of days and you may be able to get into some of the filled regions.
One thing that could be cool is if there was an individual award analogous to the Gambrinus award for clubs. Something like having the highest ratio of medal placers to entries for individuals who entered say 5 or more beers. I think that would be a pretty telling award.
Isn't that the Ninkasi Award??
At any rate, I got 4 of my beers registered and paid for in Chicago! Whoo! :rockin:
Ninkasi is based on the total number of points (for beers placed in second round) a brewer accumulates. This is why you see people enter a bunch of beers. What I propose would be to take this total number of points and divide it by the number of beers that individual enters. Say someone enters 5 beers and 2 of them place. That means on average 40% of this person's beers placed. Then say you're going against someone who entered 30 beers and 7 or them places, a 23% average. The second brewers would have come out ahead in the Ninkasi standings, but the first brewer would win the fictitious award I was mentioning.
There would have to be additional weight for you system. Because someone could then just submitted one of their beers that has been deemed closed to a 50 by everyone who trys it, and gets first place...they would be 100%
One thing that could be cool is if there was an individual award analogous to the Gambrinus award for clubs. Something like having the highest ratio of medal placers to entries for individuals who entered say 5 or more beers. I think that would be a pretty telling award.
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