Homebrew Competition Etiquette

[Safa]

Thinking about entering competitions that are far away from me, because GA has sweet f*** all near it (was too late for the NHC), some questions:

• Is this common?
• How much do you guys typically pay for shipping? (UPS/Fedex?)
• How do the competitions typically get the score sheets back to you (seeing as I wont be there to pick them up)
• In the same vein, say by complete fluke I ended up winning a ribbon for being the worst beer there, how would I get that? (I assume they wont mail it to me?)
• What do you do with an out of classification beer? I have a brew that I'm pretty damn proud of that is a hybrid of two official styles, am I just screwed?

 

[brycelarson]

What do you do with an out of classification beer? I have a brew that I'm pretty damn proud of that is a hybrid of two official styles, am I just screwed?

#23 - Specialty Beer: This is explicitly a catch-all category for any beer that does not fit into an existing style category. No beer is ever “out of style” in this category, unless it fits elsewhere.

 

[Yooper]

It's very common for competitions to receive mail-in (UPS or Fed-ex) entries.

You won't win a prize for the worst beer, don't worry!

Scoresheets are supposed to be mailed out very quickly, and in my case they always have been.

Beers are judged strictly by the BJCP guidelines. http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php

If you don't match a style in the list, you can enter it as a "specialty beer" with some notes explaining why it fits in the specialty category. I entered an "Imperial amber" in the specialty category a while back, and it did quite well. It was too "big" for an American amber, so I made a note that it was a high OG amber and submitted it.

I think I've paid about $15 for shipping UPS for four beers (normally two entries).

 

[Darwin18]

Very common to ship out beer to competitions. I sent out beer a few years ago to a competition in Wyoming, because there was nothing going on here at the time. The competition will mail you your score sheets and any ribbons. Part of your "entry fee" is used to cover the shipping costs to mail your sheets and ribbons to you. I have seen competitions where the BOS prize is something ridiculous such as a conical where they state you either pick it up at the competition or pay for the shipping to your address.

 

[Safa]

Thanks everyone!

I think I might just find a competition and sign right up then!

 

[day_trippr]

Thinking about entering competitions that are far away from me, because GA has sweet f*** all near it [...]

For some reason that made me bust out laughing.
And I've actually enjoyed my trips to Georgia...

Cheers!

 

[TNGabe]

There a few comps in Georgia every year. Check the list on AHA. It's also worth signing up for a FedEx account online and printing our own label. I sent 10 bottles double boxed to Atlanta for $10.

 

[libeerty]

There a few comps in Georgia every year. Check the list on AHA. It's also worth signing up for a FedEx account online and printing our own label. I sent 10 bottles double boxed to Atlanta for $10.

How does it work if you don't have a scale? Do you estimate?

 

[Safa]

Thanks!

Agree about weight
+ Double boxed? Small box filled with bottles + paper/bubble wrap inside a bigger box also filled with bubble wrap/paper?
Is it necessary?

For some reason that made me bust out laughing.
And I've actually enjoyed my trips to Georgia...

Cheers!

Dont get me wrong, I love it here, just not many beer comps around! I live in a college town that had the number 1 party school in the nation a few years ago (I did undergrad at UGA/now at grad school here too), so you can imagine that its a **** load of fun

 

[duboman]

My experience is scores are usually posted within 24 hours of judging if not sooner. Score sheets and any ribbons are usually received within 2 weeks of the competetion.

For shipping I use the double box method as well. I pick up a wine box from my local liquor store, one that fits inside of another box with about and inch or so of space around it. I wad up newspaper in each bottle slot on the bottom, place each individually labeled bottle and then newspaper again on top. Seal up the inside box and then wad newspaper in the second box, place the smaller box in the bigger and wad up newspaper around the sides. Line the bigger box first with a plastic trash bag to prevent anything from leaking if a bottle breaks. Place entry documents in a zip lock bag. Place bottle label in a zip lock bag and rubberband around bottle. This way if one breaks they can contact you to let you know which bottle it was for sending a new one if time.

I sent 4 entries, 8 bottles to NHC and Fed Ex was $9.50, weight was around #13 from Chicago to Ohio. Recieved confirmation of delivery and nothing broke!

 

[Darwin18]

This might be helpful for you:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/tutorial-shipping-beer-93042/

 

[Safa]

Beautiful, thanks guys

 

[weirdboy]

My experience is scores are usually posted within 24 hours of judging if not sooner. Score sheets and any ribbons are usually received within 2 weeks of the competetion.

This really depends on the competition. Typically the winners are posted rather quickly (although not always within 24 hours, that is becoming much more common), but scoresheets and prizes can be anywhere from a week or two to months.

 

[nasty_rabbit]

Thinking about entering competitions that are far away from me, because GA has sweet f*** all near it (was too late for the NHC), some questions:


[*]Is this common?
[*]How much do you guys typically pay for shipping? (UPS/Fedex?)
[*]How do the competitions typically get the score sheets back to you (seeing as I wont be there to pick them up)
[*]In the same vein, say by complete fluke I ended up winning a ribbon for being the worst beer there, how would I get that? (I assume they wont mail it to me?)
[*]What do you do with an out of classification beer? I have a brew that I'm pretty damn proud of that is a hybrid of two official styles, am I just screwed?

You just missed Suwannee Beerfest about 2 weeks ago and Athens Beerfest is conning up.

 

[Safa]

You just missed Suwannee Beerfest about 2 weeks ago and Athens Beerfest is conning up.

Beerfest?
http://athensbeerfestival.com/ doesnt seem to be happening this year, and This one doesn't have a homebrew competition segment. Am I missing one?

 

[nasty_rabbit]

You were correct, it was "Suwannee American Craft Beer Festival" and the one in Athens is called "Classic City Brew Fest" and it does not have a competition but it is happening 04.07.2013 at Foundry Park Inn. Here are a list of several other "beer festivals" that may or may not have a competition but are worth looking at.


Sweetwater 420 Fest - 04.19/21.2013 - Candler Park Atlanta
Lake Lanier Music Beach and Brew Fest - 04.27 2013
Dunwoody Beer Festival - 05.11.2013
East Atlanta Beer Festival - 05.18.2013
Atlanta Summer Beer Fest - 06.22.2013
German Bierfest (Atlanta) - 08.24.2013
Grayson Blues and Brews - 10.05.2013 - Grayson City Park
Decatur Craft Beer Festival - 10.19.2013


These are a little further to drive but may be worth a look.

Macon Beer Festival - 08.24.2013
Savannah Craft Brew Fest - 08.26-09.21.2013
Rome Beer Fest - 09.21.2013
Euphoria, Greenville SC - 09.26/29.2013 - Downtown Greenville

 

[Safa]

Thanks, that's an awesome list. I'll check them out.

Nice to know about these things way beforehand, that way I can brew beer specifically for the competitions!

 

[50calshooter]

I don't enter any competition I can't attend. Mixing and mingling is part of the experience. Some of the best advice I have gotten came from brewers ( not all of it just some). I prefer receiving my information from the judges face to face.

 

[Safa]

I don't enter any competition I can't attend. Mixing and mingling is part of the experience. Some of the best advice I have gotten came from brewers ( not all of it just some). I prefer receiving my information from the judges face to face.

I'm afraid that's just not an option for me. Appreciate your POV but not all of us are lucky enough to have competitions close to us

 

[Safa]

So after downloading the classification guidelines, I'm uncertain which category to enter!

Anyone mind helping me figure it out?

5 gal Mini mash with following recipe:

Est. OG: 1.063
IBU: 25.29
SRM: 7.4

3lbs Pale 2 row
3lbs Munich 10L
4lbs Light DME

1oz Saaz @ 60
1oz Saaz @ 25
1oz Hallertau @ 5

WLP830 (German Lager)

OG: 1.064
FG: 1.014
ABV: 6.42%
IBU: 25
Colour: 7.4 SRM


I was going for a hybrid between a Vienna Lager and a Dortmunder Export, but now looking at the classification for a traditional bock I might fit in there apart from being too light. in the SRM dept. What do you guys think? Just hit the specialty beer category?

 

[Pappers_]

So after downloading the classification guidelines, I'm uncertain which category to enter!

Anyone mind helping me figure it out?

5 gal Mini mash with following recipe:

Est. OG: 1.063
IBU: 25.29
SRM: 7.4

3lbs Pale 2 row
3lbs Munich 10L
4lbs Light DME

1oz Saaz @ 60
1oz Saaz @ 25
1oz Hallertau @ 5

WLP830 (German Lager)

OG: 1.064
FG: 1.014
ABV: 6.42%
IBU: 25
Colour: 7.4 SRM


I was going for a hybrid between a Vienna Lager and a Dortmunder Export, but now looking at the classification for a traditional bock I might fit in there apart from being too light. in the SRM dept. What do you guys think? Just hit the specialty beer category?

Safa, rather than going off the recipe, I would suggest you base your decision on which category to enter it into on your nose and tastebuds. Ignore what you intended to produce and taste it. Whatever style you think it fits best in terms of aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel, enter it in that category.

At a competition two weeks ago, I judged the Amber Hybrids and the first place beer was a California Common and it was quite good. At the awards dinner, I learned who the brewer was and he told me that he had brewed it intending to make something else, but that it ended up as a really good California Common. You never know.

 

[Darwin18]

I would also recommend picking up a couple of the commercial examples listed under category, and then taste and compare to your beer. Is your beer closer to the commercial examples for a Vienna or a Dortmunder and then go from there.

http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php

 

[Safa]

Thanks Pappers and Darwin, really appreciate the advice

Pappers: read your behind the scenes look at a competition the other day, really liked it thanks.

 

[weirdboy]

You might try a commercial example of Maibock/Helles Bock to see how it compares.


Just reading the stats and recipe it sounds like it has potential to be there, although the hops additions don't really seem to fit. However it really depends on how well those hop flavors and aromas actually come out when you taste it.

 

[StoneHands]

Reading that recipe, that's a maibock/helles bock IMO. But, Pappers is right, taste it and read the descriptions for each of the categories. Choosing the proper category for a competition is just about as important as proper brewing practices - if you have a really good beer in the wrong category, it'll score poorly. Some people really dislike competitions because of this, and that's understandable. I think that competitions are pretty cool because it just adds another layer of complexity, not only do you have to brew a good beer, you have to brew a good beer that meets certain criteria.