Anybody ranting about the results from the National HB competition yet?

[SwampassJ]

Yes, I have my scoresheets that I received 3 days after the judging was finished, but there is absolutely no information about whether or not any of these beers advanced to the Second Round. Your comment about my being on crack is not useful to the discussion about certain individuals in certain regions getting advance notice that specific entries have advanced, thereby giving those people weeks of advance time to rebrew those styles that are less suitable to extended time in the bottle.

Remilard resorting to insults without even being in a debate? Yeah that doesn't sound out of character.

 

[Wayne1]

smp1,

In reading over the rules and regulations of the AHA NHC, I DO NOT see anything that forbids any judging center director from releasing the information as to who is going on to the second round. The only formal wording in the rules and regulations relate to the final time the entrant must be notified.

"The Judging Center directors will strive to mail score sheets with judges’ comments to entrants by May 27, 2011.

If any of your entries qualify for the Final Round judging, the AHA will mail you notice by the third week of May with instructions on how, when and where to send entries [three (3) bottles per qualifying entry] for Final Round judging.

Contestants are advised to refrigerate or properly store potential Final Round entries to minimize changes in character. RE-BREWING recipes of entries advancing from First Round IS PERMITTED"


There is a note on the AHA website:

NOTE: In order to be fair to all entrants of the National Homebrew Competition, the winners lists for all 10 competitions will be posted simultaneously. If there are competitions which are still being judged, no winners can be posted. The competitions run through April 30th, so the winners lists will be posted on NHC Winners during the first week of May.


Again, there is nothing in writing that forbids informal notification by the judging directors to entrants that their beer will be going on to the second round.

At least two judging centers have notified entrants that their beers will be going on. Ft. Worth and Denver.

Just because you entered a judging center that chooses not to notify entrants is no reason to get bent out of shape because some others are willing to let entrants know their status. You might want to consider this information if you choose to enter the competition next year to decide where you wish to enter.

 

[Ender]

yeah, they have to be able to announce them at the judging sites. I mean come on, give the judges a little bit more than a pat on the back and a thank you. remember this is all fun..

 

[remilard]

Yes, I have my scoresheets that I received 3 days after the judging was finished, but there is absolutely no information about whether or not any of these beers advanced to the Second Round. Your comment about my being on crack is not useful to the discussion about certain individuals in certain regions getting advance notice that specific entries have advanced, thereby giving those people weeks of advance time to rebrew those styles that are less suitable to extended time in the bottle.

Actually the cover sheet contains the information you seek. None of your entries advanced (if "Place Awarded" is blank on each).

I know several people who advanced out of Seattle this week, they know they advanced because their beers placed and the place was indicated.

 

[remilard]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/2011-aha-nhc-whatcha-got-232987/index9.html

Start at post 83 in that thread if anyone still believes that Seattle is keeping information about advancing entries under "lock and key". Like I said before, people in Seattle had this information BEFORE any other region. I am amazed that this issue is taking so long to settle.

 

[Bokonon]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/2011-aha-nhc-whatcha-got-232987/index9.html

Start at post 83 in that thread if anyone still believes that Seattle is keeping information about advancing entries under "lock and key". Like I said before, people in Seattle had this information BEFORE any other region. I am amazed that this issue is taking so long to settle.

I also had a "1st" for one of my entries. On contacting the judge I found out it was 1st from that flight and no connection to the mini-BOS results. I also had an IIPA that scored 44 but there was no mention of it making it to the mini-BOS round. Though some of my other scoresheets did indicate beers advancing to mini-BOS round. I suspect some placements were filled out on the cover sheet but the majority were not.

I talked to the judge director from the region and the registrar wasn't sharing that info with anyone even him.

 

[remilard]

I also had a "1st" for one of my entries. On contacting the judge I found out it was 1st from that flight and no connection to the mini-BOS results. I also had an IIPA that scored 44 but there was no mention of it making it to the mini-BOS round. Though some of my other scoresheets did indicate beers advancing to mini-BOS round. I suspect some placements were filled out on the cover sheet but the majority were not.

I talked to the judge director from the region and the registrar wasn't sharing that info with anyone even him.

If the cover sheets were filled out on that basis, they were filled out incorrectly.

In any case, it really doesn't seem like Seattle has the results under lock and key since, based on what you are telling me, they performed no quality control on the coversheets. Presumably there were one or two judges there that knew what they were doing and therefore one or two entrants that got their correct results.

In any case, all I wanted to do was dispute the absurd notion that Seattle went to heroic efforts to hide the results that no other region did. It seems like we are coming to agree that was not the case.

 

[mattldm]

Whats going on in New York!? Why is it taking them so long to complete their first round judging?

 

[doctorRobert]

Well Dallas is completed but I still don't have a score sheet.

 

[user 21663]

Whats going on in New York!? Why is it taking them so long to complete their first round judging?

Janis Gross just got an email from the organizer this morning and hopes to have all results posted by tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

I sent 3 entries to Saratoga

 

[remilard]

Well Dallas is completed but I still don't have a score sheet.

They were all mailed Saturday (those that weren't emailed previously). I got mine in KC yesterday. I think you'll probably get yours tomorrow.

I had some heartbreaking losses in mini-bos, including a couple of beers that have medaled damn near every time they have been entered. A Cali Common with a 45 didn't get through (miraculously, that was a small category in Dallas, some mini-bos judge hated it I guess).

I won't complain though. Overall did very well.

 

[mattldm]

So the results are now posted...

I wonder who did the judging in San Diego!? About 90% of the winners are from the same club! Interesting!

 

[bob1852]

About 90% of the winners are from the same club! Interesting!

Yeah, because judges see the club name and brewer name at the same time they judge the beer. :fro:

 

[smp1]

Actually the cover sheet contains the information you seek. None of your entries advanced (if "Place Awarded" is blank on each).

Incorrect.
In fact, all of my beers that advanced had a blank in Place Awarded, and the "Advanced to Mini-BOS was not checked.

The one scoresheet that did have a place awarded did not advance.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Yeah, because judges see the club name and brewer name at the same time they judge the beer. :fro:

"OK everybody here's the deal: All submitted bottles must be New Belgium bottles, all way over-filled, all with the exact same O2 barrier cap, and with no markings on the cap. It won't guarantee that every over-filled NB bottle with an unmarked O2 cap on it is from our club...but it'll be close enough."

I'm totally not sayin'...just sayin'.

I think everybody occasionally gets conflicting comments on two scoresheets of the same beer. One judge says it's too light-bodied and another says it's too full-bodied...or whatever. It happens, it will happen again. Ever read the 'calibration' beer reviews they have in every Zymurgy? Those guys are highly ranked and even they sometimes write conflicting statements about the exact same beer. I know I can taste the same beer on two different days and be left with a very different perception.

 

[Beerrific]

Incorrect.
In fact, all of my beers that advanced had a blank in Place Awarded, and the "Advanced to Mini-BOS was not checked.

The one scoresheet that did have a place awarded did not advance.

So did the beer that advanced not place? And the beer with the place indicated, in fact, not place?

Sounds like the judges screwed up filling the sheets out.

 

[wonderbread23]

So did the beer that advanced not place? And the beer with the place indicated, in fact, not place?

Sounds like the judges screwed up filling the sheets out.

For what its worth, I had a beer with a '2' in place awarded that did not go on. Three other beers however with no information did go on. Maybe they were just f'n with us

 

[Beerrific]

"OK everybody here's the deal: All submitted bottles must be New Belgium bottles, all way over-filled, all with the exact same O2 barrier cap, and with no markings on the cap. It won't guarantee that every over-filled NB bottle with an unmarked O2 cap on it is from our club...but it'll be close enough."

That is why (most) rules say no bottles with raised lettering or any other identifying marks. Judges are also asked to not judge beers if they can identify the brewer of certain beer.

Could it be done? Sure. Was it? Highly doubt it.

Sounds like said club is excited to be hosting the NHC and is bringing it strong. They want to hear their names called to accept the awards in person.

 

[Beerrific]

For what its worth, I had a beer with a '2' in place awarded that did not go on. Three other beers however with no information did go on. Maybe they were just f'n with us

So what I am asking is did the beer not actually take 2nd place? If so, sounds like an judge or steward did not know that they have to wait until after miniBOS to fill in box. You might have been 2nd in that judging pair.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

That is why (most) rules say no bottles with raised lettering or any other identifying marks. Judges are also asked to not judge beers if they can identify the brewer of certain beer.

Could it be done? Sure. Was it? Highly doubt it.

Sounds like said club is excited to be hosting the NHC and is bringing it strong. They want to hear their names called to accept the awards in person.

Yea, I was just playing devil's advocate that it could happen. To say I highly doubt it would be an understatement.

Bottles with raised lettering have been acceptable in the NHC for at least two years. One of my scoresheets from this year even noted 'in New Belgium bottle'.

 

[mattldm]

So I entered one beer, it scored 35, made it to the mini-bos, but didnt advance. Im happy with my results. First time entering the NHC didnt expect to do as well as I did...

However, is it just me or does it seem a little "questionable" that 40% of the beers advancing from so cal all came from the club sponsoring the first round judging?

 

[ChrisKennedy]

So I entered one beer, it scored 35, made it to the mini-bos, but didnt advance. Im happy with my results. First time entering the NHC didnt expect to do as well as I did...

However, is it just me or does it seem a little "questionable" that 40% of the beers advancing from so cal all came from the club sponsoring the first round judging?

It should be just you.

QUAFF is a big competition club, so they encourage their members to enter lots of beers. QUAFF was the hosting club, so there was no shipping involved, they could just drop them off, making it easier to enter. QUAFF is full of great brewers so they brew good beer which helps them win.

All of these things combined can easily lead to QUAFF winning that many awards.

 

[Fat_Bastard]

So I entered one beer, it scored 35, made it to the mini-bos, but didnt advance. Im happy with my results. First time entering the NHC didnt expect to do as well as I did...

However, is it just me or does it seem a little "questionable" that 40% of the beers advancing from so cal all came from the club sponsoring the first round judging?

what was the name of the club?
maybe their club is like mine and has at least one bjcp nationally certified judge.That helps alot in evaluating which brews should do well before the contest.

 

[mattldm]

It should be just you.

QUAFF is a big competition club, so they encourage their members to enter lots of beers. QUAFF was the hosting club, so there was no shipping involved, they could just drop them off, making it easier to enter. QUAFF is full of great brewers so they brew good beer which helps them win.

All of these things combined can easily lead to QUAFF winning that many awards.

That is all true im sure, however im just sayin... the title of this thread is "anybody ranting about the results..." so I was just keeping it on topic!

what was the name of the club?
maybe their club is like mine and has at least one bjcp nationally certified judge.That helps alot in evaluating which brews should do well before the contest.

Probably true also.
The reason that I enter my beers in competitions is to get feedback and help me make better beers. If I had access to a BJCP judge on a regular basis im sure mine would be better competition beers. However a strict style fitting beer is not always the one that you want to drink everyday.

 

[Indyking]

So, the results of first round winners is available:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.o...-competition/winners/2011-first-round-winners

Looking at my judging center, the vast majority of the winners belong to brew clubs! Is this a joke? I thought individual homebrewers were judged separate from club members? How in the world do they think this is fair?

 

[wonderbread23]

So, the results of first round winners is available:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.o...-competition/winners/2011-first-round-winners

Looking at my judging center, the vast majority of the winners belong to brew clubs! Is this a joke? I thought individual homebrewers were judged separate from club members? How in the world do they think this is fair?

Everyone is judged against everyone. Judges don't know if you're in a club or not. Not sure how you could get much more fair than that.

 

[Indyking]

Everyone is judged against everyone. Judges don't know if you're in a club or not. Not sure how you could get much more fair than that.

So, the judges don't know? So, you are telling me that over 90% of the winners being members of homebrew clubs is just a coincidence then?

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

So, the judges don't know? So, you are telling me that over 90% of the winners being members of homebrew clubs is just a coincidence then?

Correct. And sometimes the 'club' is HBT or The Brewing Network.

BTW, what is a Classic Amber Pils? (in your OP)

 

[wonderbread23]

So, the judges don't know? So, you are telling me that over 90% of the winners being members of homebrew clubs is just a coincidence then?

I would guess that a high percentage of individuals that sent in entries are affiliated with a club. Clubs tend to encourage members to compete ... also, perhaps club members tend to be the most enthusiastic/knowledgeable home brewers.

 

[Indyking]

Correct. And sometimes the 'club' is HBT or The Brewing Network.

BTW, what is a Classic Amber Pils? (in your OP)

OK then. Comparing the results from 2010 and 2011, I noticed that a good number of clubs show up repeatedly... not very encouraging for someone brewing independently, is it? Wonder if the judges make their evaluation in a blind fashion, i.e. without knowing the name of the brewer. Very interesting.

A classic amber pils is the name the judge gave to my beer submitted as Classic American Pilsner. I was as surprised with the term as you. Go figure!