Just about had it with competitions...

[Brewddah]

I entered a Belgian wit in a competition, and there was something unusual that happened with the judging in this category. They did not award a third place. When the winners were announced, and they said this, I assumed I must have really bombed it and got a terrible score. Isn't there a cut-off at 30 or 27?

Anyway, I finally got my score sheet back, and I had a 33. Not a bad score by any means, the comments were generally positive. Why did they arbitrarily choose to not award a third place? No other category did this. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

[mbbransc]

Have you asked the organizers?

 

[treacheroustexan]

How many entries were there for that category? If there was only 3 or 4 entries that could be why.

I entered a competition a few weeks ago, my beer scored a 39 and it still didn't place 1st 2nd or 3rd. Sucks, but it happens.

 

[Homercidal]

Comps are all a bit different. You need to ask them how the scores affected placing. Sometimes it's top 3, sometimes it's anything over a certain score, sometimes they combine flights and pick the top beers of different styles.

A 33 ain't bad, but I'm not sure it's award winning.

Only the organizers will have the answers you seek.

 

[Talgrath]

Usually if there were not enough entries for a particular style competitions will not award a third place, but it varies from competition to competition; you'd need to ask the organizers.

 

[Brewddah]

I got a response from the organizer and he was like, "oh, that can happen. It's just up to the judges discretion." Not the answer I wanted. I'm also not sure how many entries there were.

 

[Brewddah]

I entered a competition a few weeks ago, my beer scored a 39 and it still didn't place 1st 2nd or 3rd. Sucks, but it happens.

That exactly has happened to me as well. A real bummer!

 

[Qhrumphf]

Were I judging that, and gave the beer a 33, I would have given it the bronze. Hell, even a score in the high 20s I'll give a bronze. It takes something majorly problematic for me to refuse to award a medal, to the point where even in small comps with lackluster competition, I've never had to do it. If that's that they did (and they're allowed to so), then I'd say that's harsh, but it is what it is.

Is it possible that categories were combined? Is there another category missing a 1st and 2nd? I know that some smaller comps will sometimes combine different categories for judging but list them separately. For example, you may get the Standard American Beer and International Lager combined into one judging category, but the results may show them split. So the Standard American Beer may show only 1st and 3rd, and International Lager only shows 2nd. It's confusing, but I've seen it quite a few times. Most comps that combine list the categories as combined (I judged this exact combined grouping a couple weeks ago, and it was just listed as "Light Lagers" on the awards list).

 

[Brewddah]

It wasn't combined with another category. I agree, it is a bit harsh.

 

[Phunhog]

Same thing happened to me a few months ago....got a 3rd but they didn't award a 2nd place. I thought it was and is a bunch of bs! Even talked to the comp director who made it seem like some of the judges were a bunch of a-holes.
I almost fired off an angry email to the head judge calling him out but decided not to since he did comment "well brewed beer". Still upset though because it was the difference between getting a medal vs. getting a medal and a prize.

 

[madscientist451]

If you are going to complain about a competition, why not put the name of the competition in here?

 

[jwelch1103]

if you are going to complain about a competition, why not put the name of the competition in here?

+1

 

[treacheroustexan]

It does suck, but don't let it discourage you. All competitions are different. I have had lots of great experiences but also bad ones.

 

[Spartan1979]

I run a competition and I want to give out medals for all three places. I'm hoping it encourages some people. The judges have to have my approval to not award a place. I'd probably award a bronze to a third with a 25, but I don't know if I'd go much lower than that. Fortunately, it hasn't been an issue.

 

[tgmartin000]

I run a competition and I want to give out medals for all three places. I'm hoping it encourages some people. The judges have to have my approval to not award a place. I'd probably award a bronze to a third with a 25, but I don't know if I'd go much lower than that. Fortunately, it hasn't been an issue.

So you run the champion of the pint contest?

Sorry, couldn't resist! I organized a comp once and walked away with BOS. The judges said they tried really hard not to pick my beer.

 

[treacheroustexan]

So you run the champion of the pint contest?

Sorry, couldn't resist! I organized a comp once and walked away with BOS. The judges said they tried really hard not to pick my beer.

They shouldn't have known it was yours

 

[tgmartin000]

They shouldn't have known it was yours

My comp isn't a bjcp contest. It's actually more like a homebrew festival. I invite local homebrews in to serve beer to the public. There is a people's choice and a judges choice award, with the winners brewing their beers at local breweries. It's actually a ton of fun, but in no way is it a bjcp comp. All proceeds to a local non profit.

 

[Brewddah]

If you are going to complain about a competition, why not put the name of the competition in here?

Just trying to remain anonymous. On the off chance that one of the judges is on here and sees it. Call me a wimp, or whatever you will. My point of making this post was not to seek out the people who organized it or judged it, but to find out if my issue was a common occurrence. That's all.

 

[Spartan1979]

So you run the champion of the pint contest?

Sorry, couldn't resist! I organized a comp once and walked away with BOS. The judges said they tried really hard not to pick my beer.

Yeah. It was the first time in four years of running it that I entered a beer. I was just looking for feedback. I never dreamed I would win BOS. It was a bit embarrassing winning a comp I was running. The other beer I entered took 2nd in IPA's.