My score cards just arrived in the mail from my first competition!

[kingmatt]

I entered 3 beers into the "Malt Madness" competition last month, Irish Red, Raspberry Red, and Grand Cru, and just got my score cards back in the mail today

I went into the competition not expecting to win as I am still a noob, but was looking more for some experience feedback from the judges.

My "Irish Red" scored a 33/50 and received some really nice comments, my favorite was "Great beer. I would pay money for it repeatedly" from a National BJCP certified judge! Most of the judges thought it was a little too hoppy for the style however, and should have been entered as an "American Amber".

I scored a 30/50 on my "Grand Cru" which I entered in the Witibier category because it didn't quite fit any of the other categories IMO. The judges thought it was a little too dark for the style and recommended more of a citrus flavor/aroma.

My "Raspberry Red" scored a 34/50 and was one I brewed based on the "Requiem Raspberry" that eschatz posted here on HBT. This beer scored the highest for me but the feedback was probably the worst in terms of constructive criticism. All the reviews felt it was well balance and the raspberry added a welcome dimension to the typical Irish red. One judge thought it was a tad dry and could use more malt.

On the whole I didn't score that well but I am really proud of my entries (as you can tell from this rambling post) and cannot wait to enter some more brews in the next competition!!:rockin:

 

[maxamuus]

Those are pretty impressive scores for a new brewer and first time competition. Congrats!

 

[dwarven_stout]

All your entries at 30 or higher is scoring pretty well for any competition, much less your first. There are very few beers that crack 40, and a 35 can often win a category.

Congratulations!

 

[tvtoms]

Congrats on the good feedback!

 

[pericles]

Well done!

 

[StrangeDog]

Awesome job man - keep up the great work!

 

[likwidbliss]

What would the early brewer of Medeivel times score? Congrats. I am going to get mine judged.

 

[JebCkr]

Probably a nooby question, but the entries you well...entered. Were they all grain or did you follow an extract recipee?

 

[bierhaus15]

Congratulations! Those are very respectable scores for your first comp. Keep up the good work!

 

[Ziggybrew]

Congrats! You are inspiring me to enter something. No matter the score -- it would be like getting a brew-pro lesson. LOL

 

[kingmatt]

Probably a nooby question, but the entries you well...entered. Were they all grain or did you follow an extract recipee?

I brew extract.

 

[kingmatt]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys, I really appreciate it! Can't wait to start brewing up more entries

 

[pwndabear]

congrats! was this competition local to you or did you have to send stuff in? how did you find out about it?

 

[Homercidal]

Nice scores! Nothing to be ashamed of there. Read the descriptions of the scores and see that the 40 and above are outstanding. It's hard to get scores that high! 30s is a pretty solid beer.

 

[Sithdad]

I got my score sheet back from MM as well. My Saison (myfirst ever) scored 29 & 30. Both judges said it needed more hops flavor. I went easy on the flavoring addition since I was using Sorachi Ace and didn't want to over do it. One judge said to "cut back on whatever you used to get the sour flavor". Sadly I didn't use anything. I am thinking it might be coming from the yeast (#3724). I enjoy drinking this beer and I think it's going to be a regular around here so I'll make some changes and see what it does.

Congrats on your beers, btw.

 

[nordoe]

I am still waiting for my results from malt madness. I entered 3 catagories and it was also my first time entering a competetion. When I get my results, I will post them.

 

[likwidbliss]

Send in a commercial brew and let's the comments. I if like my beer as well as others then it is a good beer IMO. I am going to send in a beer or two in the future just for some S&G's.

 

[Blackgaurd_Brewing]

In my first comp i got a 17 and a 19, so your scores are awesome. However the feedback was incredibly useful, and my beers improved because of it.

 

[upperNY01brewer]

Great job !!!!!

 

[KevinW]

Congrats!
Competitions are a great way to get some good feedback!
Keep up the good work!

 

[Beer_Guy]

Congrats on the brews. As a judge you have to look at how well it FITS the Style. Some brews are VERY nice but badly placed in the wrong style. Next time give the style guildlines a good look before picking the style to enter them into. Heck, you might just get BOS (Best of Show) if it is in the right style..

 

[kingmatt]

Congrats on the brews. As a judge you have to look at how well it FITS the Style. Some brews are VERY nice but badly placed in the wrong style. Next time give the style guildlines a good look before picking the style to enter them into. Heck, you might just get BOS (Best of Show) if it is in the right style..

Yeah, most of my points off were because the beer didn't fit exactly into the style I entered it into, not because of off or bad flavors.

One judge commented that if I had entered my Red into the American Amber instead of Irish Red he would have given me a 46 on it instead of a 36!

There is another competition in November around here so this time I will really focus on trying to enter my beers in the correct style.

 

[SourHopHead]

Congratz!!!

 

[nordoe]

I got my results yesturday from the malt madness competition. This was also my first competition. I have been only brewing for 9 months and was pretty excited. I entered 2 beers and 1 cider. My Belgian Wit scored a 30 and my Summer Ale scored a 34. The cider, which was my first cider, got a 22.5. I was very happy with the scores and feedback. I was told in the feedback that i would have scored a lot higher on the summer ale but the alcohol content was a bit high for the style. You have to remember, if you are brewing for competition then you have to brew to style, but i brew for my approval.

 

[Biscostew]

Malt Madness was my first competition as well even though I have been brewing for close to five years. I was surprised to see that I won third place for the Saison Category and third place for the light hybrid category for my Nugget Wheat. I still have not reviewed my score sheet, or prize the suspense is killing me!!! Is anyone else still waiting for results from the competition?

 

[Paramecium]

I just got my first scorecards from my first ever all grain batch. Wasn't even planning on sending to a competition but it just so happened the pacific brewers cup was 3 weeks from when we bottled and we had a week left to enter so we threw it in to see how it would do. Got two judge cards and it got 31 and 36. It was BM's Cent Blonde. You are right about if fitting into the class though, both judges said it had a bit to much hop bitterness and could almost be a light pale ale.

 

[Ziggybrew]

From what I've read, the style you enter is almost as important as your brew. Is it ok to just save some bottles and resubmit it in another contest under the catagory the judges suggest? Or s there too much time between avalable contests?

 

[Beer_Guy]

From what I've read, the style you enter is almost as important as your brew. Is it ok to just save some bottles and resubmit it in another contest under the catagory the judges suggest? Or s there too much time between avalable contests?

Entering again under a different style is cool.

There are several comps all over staggered out throughout the year. Depending on where you are and how much you want to spend on shipping. We had entries from Ports Rico come to west Texas.

If you have a local club, they may know of ones close. What we do is bundle several entries together and save on shipping. We enter a lot into the Texas club challenge.

Here is a link to a list of certified Comps.
AHA/BJCP Sanctioned Competition Program

 

[Fletch78]

I entered 3 beers into the "Malt Madness" competition last month, Irish Red, Raspberry Red, and Grand Cru, and just got my score cards back in the mail today

I went into the competition not expecting to win as I am still a noob, but was looking more for some experience feedback from the judges.

My "Irish Red" scored a 33/50 and received some really nice comments, my favorite was "Great beer. I would pay money for it repeatedly" from a National BJCP certified judge! Most of the judges thought it was a little too hoppy for the style however, and should have been entered as an "American Amber".

I scored a 30/50 on my "Grand Cru" which I entered in the Witibier category because it didn't quite fit any of the other categories IMO. The judges thought it was a little too dark for the style and recommended more of a citrus flavor/aroma.

My "Raspberry Red" scored a 34/50 and was one I brewed based on the "Requiem Raspberry" that eschatz posted here on HBT. This beer scored the highest for me but the feedback was probably the worst in terms of constructive criticism. All the reviews felt it was well balance and the raspberry added a welcome dimension to the typical Irish red. One judge thought it was a tad dry and could use more malt.

On the whole I didn't score that well but I am really proud of my entries (as you can tell from this rambling post) and cannot wait to enter some more brews in the next competition!!:rockin:

Without recipes, these beers never existed.

 

[Beer_Guy]

Having served as a judge, my thoughts on the overall score goes like this:

0-20 = needs major improvement or is entered in a totally wrong style
20-30 = Misses the mark in two or more of the major points categories.
30-40 = Very drinkable but missed points on style somewhere
40-45 = Hit style well but needs improvement
45-50 = At this level the judges are getting REALLY picky

Here is a link to the style guidelines:
BJCP Style Guidelines