Competition

[BaylessBrewer]

What do you consider a good score on a beer/cider that you enter into a competition ?
I've been brewing for exactly 1yr this month and I'm very pleased with the beers I've been turning out. I brew BIAB and find that I enjoy the simplicity of the process.
So I entered my first competition a couple weeks ago. This was a AHA/BJCP sanctioned competition. I entered a ESB brewed with EKG and wlp013. This beer scored 34 and didn't place. Both judges knocked me for it being woody/earthy. I contribute that to the yeast as that is a listed character of 013. Both said it was a very good easy drinking brew.
The second brew I entered was a common cider that I threw together for my wife and her friends to enjoy at a party we hosted. Very simple cider brewed with fresh pressed cider a little pectic enzyme and S-04 yeast. I stabilized it once fermentation was over and added a couple cans of apple juice concentrate prior to kegging. I actually found myself pulling the tap on this one quite often. Anyway it scored 38 and placed 3rd. Grand master II judge said it was a very pleasing cider and that it was excellent.
Overall I'm very pleased with the notes and recommendations the judges gave me. I'm just wondering what some of you that compete look for (other than a win) in your score sheets?

 

[Homercidal]

Frankly, anything over a 30 is a good beer. I know it doesn't sound like a high score, but if you look at the scoresheets, that should be considered a good beer.

Anything in the high 30s and low 40s is really good. Don't' expect to hit the high 40s. nobody is going t0 score a 50, and mid-high 40s is pretty much a fantastic beer.

More than anything, I look for ways to improve the beer. The process of brewing has a lot of variables, and it's hard to make sure EVERYTHING is just right at the right time for a competition, but submitting to several comps at the same time is more likely to give you a better idea of how your beer did and what you might do to make it better.

And as always, take judges comments with a grain of salt. They are just people and they all vary in their skill level and experience, and it's entirely possible to have a bad tasting at any given time. That's why it's best to submit a few times and compare, looking for consistent comments.

After a while you will have recipes and process down that will consistently score you low 40s range.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

What your saying makes sense. I have a couple beers I'm getting ready to brew that I would like to enter in competition so I'll look for more than one to enter before I drink it all!
I do know that everyone that drank the ESB was blown away at the fact that I made it in a bucket in the corner of the basement! Lol it really was a easy drinking beer that left you wanting another

 

[FarmerTed]

Those are definitely good scores; I'm not sure why being earthy or woody would be bad in an esb, because a lot of English hops have that character (e.g. Fuggles). Beyond looking at the score, I am most interested to read if there are any flaws in the beer (either in fermentation or packaging), and if the beer hits/misses on key style points. In my experience, the scores can be pretty hit or miss. A beer that scores a 42 in one competition can easily score a 31 a week later in another competition. I also always find that my favorite beers score lower than ones I'm not so in love with, so it's a good idea to temper expectations.

 

[treacheroustexan]

It could vary. I have had my signature pale ale score as high as a 41 a few months ago, and then 30 at a different competition, with the 41 saying the hops needed toned down, and the 30 saying it needs more hops. Had another beer score high 30s in one competition, and low 20s in another. I don't go and alter my recipe based on one judges notes. Like stated above, enter the same beer in lots of different competitions if you can.

 

[Homercidal]

IMO it's not that hard to make decent beer. BUT, there are many pitfalls that can prevent a REALLY good beer!

Go to the AHA website and see what comps are coming up. Check with brewing clubs near your region to enter into. Try to hit several with the same beer at the same time.

Don't be disappointed in scores. A high score means you only may need to tweak one or two things (such as water, or adjust hops level, maybe fermentation temps) and a low score should provide you with a fairly easy indication of what you can can do to improve all your beers.

The only frustration thing is when judges sometimes seem to contradict each other. It happens sometimes.

 

[Oginme]

I am (almost) never disappointed with the scores I get. I am sometimes disappointed with the feedback, but judges are only human. I usually try to enter any one beer in at least 2 competitions and find that the feedback can vary greatly.

One of the things to look at is the position of your beer in a flight, especially when it is an IPA or a stout. I had an IPA that scored 40 in one competition (2nd of 5 in flight) and then scored 32 (5th of 7 in flight) at a competition held only a week later. Would it have scored better if it were higher in the flight? Maybe. The feedback on the second comp cited a lack of strong hop presence in the finish on one sheet, which if it came after tasting several strong resinous, piney IPAs I could definitely understand.

The good news is that I ended up with five scoring sheets and that gave me a chance to line them all up and look at the commonalities in the feedback. That was the key piece of information that I was seeking.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

http://stlbrews.homebrewcomp.com/stlbrews/sheets/1637033604-457.pdf
http://stlbrews.homebrewcomp.com/stlbrews/sheets/1637033604-509.pdf
Here are the score sheets. I don't understand the lack of hop presence in the ESB. It had 112g in it with 50g @ 60min and the rest split between 10& 5min.

 

[IkeKrizzule]

Reading the comments neither judge docked you for the woody / earthy. the 2nd one didn't care for it as much but could have just found it less enjoyable than other beers in the flight. Both mention alcohol in the flavour (likely in a too high level) and sweetness (possibly finished high). Neither mention fruity esters which are desired.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Reading the comments neither judge docked you for the woody / earthy. the 2nd one didn't care for it as much but could have just found it less enjoyable than other beers in the flight. Both mention alcohol in the flavour (likely in a too high level) and sweetness (possibly finished high). Neither mention fruity esters which are desired.

The beer finished right at about 6% ABV so a little high and yes FG was 1.018 and I fermented at a controlled 65*F

 

[treacheroustexan]

http://stlbrews.homebrewcomp.com/stlbrews/sheets/1637033604-457.pdf
http://stlbrews.homebrewcomp.com/stlbrews/sheets/1637033604-509.pdf
Here are the score sheets. I don't understand the lack of hop presence in the ESB. It had 112g in it with 50g @ 60min and the rest split between 10& 5min.

If posting score sheets I recommend not posting the judges name/info. White it out if you can.

 

[IkeKrizzule]

The beer finished right at about 6% ABV so a little high and yes FG was 1.018 and I fermented at a controlled 65*F

You made an ESB at the very top of the style or over for starting gravity, and it finished high because it isn't a high attenuating yeast. I'd say you scored well and got great feedback. Lower your OG and/or use a higher attenuating yeast.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

If posting score sheets I recommend not posting the judges name/info. White it out if you can.

I'll be sure to do that in the future. Thank you.
Is there a way I can edit the links I posted?

 

[BaylessBrewer]

You made an ESB at the very top of the style or over for starting gravity, and it finished high because it isn't a high attenuating yeast. I'd say you scored well and got great feedback. Lower your OG and/or use a higher attenuating yeast.

Yes I got better efficiency than expected and the yeast conked out at about 68-70% attenuation. I plan on trying a different strain next time around but keeping true to style