Bells Brewing Homebrew Expo 2011

[mors]

Congrats. My beer turned out alot more tart than I planned. Not expecting an email.

 

[AdamWiz]

I also got an email saying I made the final table. Now I can't wait for Sunday!

 

[HopRodGR]

I also got an email saying I made the final table. Now I can't wait for Sunday!

What'd you make? I did a Black RyePA and used Belgian yeast instead of my old IPA standby Cal Ale.

Edit: I just saw you answered that question 6 weeks and 5 posts ago. Did you end up using the Jager or did your Nelson SMaSH make it?

 

[AdamWiz]

I actually didn't end up using any oak chips at all. I made a smoked brown ale fermented with Irish ale yeast, and it turned out really tasty so I didn't want to mess with it any further. The Nelson SMaSH turned out well too, but I thought the smoked brown had a better shot in the competition. It seems to me in this competition they want not just a good beer, but an interesting one too. See you there Sunday, hopefully one of us has a reason to celebrate! Even if it's only one of the runner up prizes - brewing my beer at Bell's would be a dream, but a gift certificate to the store wouldn't be too shabby either.

 

[HopRodGR]

I actually didn't end up using any oak chips at all. I made a smoked brown ale fermented with Irish ale yeast, and it turned out really tasty so I didn't want to mess with it any further. The Nelson SMaSH turned out well too, but I thought the smoked brown had a better shot in the competition. It seems to me in this competition they want not just a good beer, but an interesting one too. See you there Sunday, hopefully one of us has a reason to celebrate! Even if it's only one of the runner up prizes - brewing my beer at Bell's would be a dream, but a gift certificate to the store wouldn't be too shabby either.

That was the exact mindset I had, a good beer might win a comp with style guidelines, but you probably need to think outside the box a bit to win a comp like this. I thought combining three different IPA styles (Black, Rye, Belgian) would be fun to try and I thought it turned out pretty good, though I feel lucky that it actually worked. Glad they thought so too. Good luck to you, I'm rooting for you to come in second!

 

[AdamWiz]

Just got back from the Bell's store on a supply run. I was told only 10 beers made it to the final table.

 

[HopRodGR]

I really wonder how many entries they had. I'd guess 250ish signed up based of the line but I guarantee a good chunk of them never turned in their entry since there is no fee and the wort is free. I suppose if you thought you had something worthwhile, most would make the effort to drop some bottles off.

 

[AdamWiz]

Yeah, a good portion of those who get wort don't end up turning anything in. I think I remember hearing last year that only 90 or so turned in beers out of over 200 who got wort. Some people just want the free wort, but I think a lot more just don't turn them in if their beers don't turn out that well because either (A)a lot of people try strange and crazy things that don't end up well, or (B)they came from a ways away and don't want to make the trip to drop off if they know their beer is not worthy of winning.

 

[boostsr20]

Got the email as well. Almost didn't enter because I wasn't totally happy with the end product. Who says you can't make a decent sour in a month

 

[HopRodGR]

Got the email as well. Almost didn't enter because I wasn't totally happy with the end product. Who says you can't make a decent sour in a month

Wow, must be pretty good if it got chosen when it was this young. What'd you strain did you use to sour it?

 

[Dinomyte]

Congrats on making the top finishers guys!

I ended up doing a Rye Saison with a touch of Citra in the late addition, but I used 3724 and it stalled out around 1.030 for nearly a month. Pitched some Notty to try to finish it out. Didn't finish until October 22nd so it had only 4 days to carb. Put 6 bottles on a heating blanket and crossed my fingers. Came out fairly well carbed and it tasted great to me so I entered it. Hoped for a top 10 but no email unfortunately. Will just have to try again next year!

 

[boostsr20]

Wyeast lacto in primary with a small amount of s04 so it'd drop clear quickly.

 

[boostsr20]

Anyone making the trip to bells?

 

[AdamWiz]

Congrats to HopRodGR, his Belgian black IPA took the grand prize. I came in third, and got a 50$ gift card. Hard to complain about that , but it still kinda hurts to be so close and not come out on top. All I've wanted for so long has been to win a comp. where the winner gets to brew on a commercial system. I was runner up at Arbor brewing Co. earlier this year, now 3rd in this.

 

[boostsr20]

Congrats! Heard from a buddy that I took 2nd. Super stoked! Anyone know what 2nd place was worth?

 

[HopRodGR]

Thanks for the congrats Adam. It's pretty humbling to come out on top in a field that I know included a lot of very good brewers. It's still sinking in but I'm pretty excited for the brew day to come. I don't know specifics yet but sounds like it will get brewed late this year and put on tap early in 2013.

 

[mors]

Congrats guys. Good job.

 

[nathon]

congrats! Cant wait to try it.