National Homebrew Competition

[EcuPirate07]

For folks who have entered before: How clean does the outside of the bottle need to be? I have a few bottles that still have some glue residue on them despite a long soak in PBW.

I would error on the side of "it needs to be clean" technically you could tell your judge buddy to look for the bottle that still has glue residue on the side with a unique mark that could be yours. Kinda like not being able to have unique bottle caps. I could be completely wrong but I would hate to be disqualified over a not so clean bottle.

 

[microbusbrewery]

For folks who have entered before: How clean does the outside of the bottle need to be? I have a few bottles that still have some glue residue on them despite a long soak in PBW.

I'd recommend making sure it's clean. The first thing judges do before they even open your beer is a bottle inspection. The judges check for proper fill and any signs of infection. It's not worth any points, but it's essentially the first impression of your beer. If they see that you haven't even taken the time to remove glue and labels, it could taint the judging of your beer as well. It's supposed to be as objective as possible, but we're still human so do anything possible to ensure your entry remains in a positive light.

 

[krebs119]

My 1st year entering too - I have 5 heading to NYC. I've entered a number of regional comps the past few years and have done well so I'm looking forward to it.

As I understand it, if you score a 25 or higher on a beer, even if it doesn't medal in the first round, you still receive some sort of certificate indicating your beer was decent? Can anyone with prior experience elaborate?

 

[Braufessor]

My 1st year entering too - I have 5 heading to NYC. I've entered a number of regional comps the past few years and have done well so I'm looking forward to it.

As I understand it, if you score a 25 or higher on a beer, even if it doesn't medal in the first round, you still receive some sort of certificate indicating your beer was decent? Can anyone with prior experience elaborate?

Yeah - I can't remember the exact cutoffs for the various certificates, but they do have that. They used to send them out, but now I believe you have to go in and print them off yourself if you want it.

 

[kingmatt]

You can print certificates for your beer (regardless of whether it actually places) if your total score is within the below ranges:

25-29: bronze certificate
30-37: silver certificate
38-50: gold certificate

Think big, go for the ribbon!

 

[krebs119]

You can print certificates for your beer (regardless of whether it actually places) if your total score is within the below ranges:

25-29: bronze certificate
30-37: silver certificate
38-50: gold certificate

Think big, go for the ribbon!

Thanks! And yeah, the ribbon is what i want! I have a few that I think are solid.

If I'm doing my math correctly, last year there were nearly 8000 entries, and they are anticipating the same for this year. There are 12 1st round competition places, meaning an average of 666 beers per place. I've placed in competitions in the past in the 700ish range of beers, so maybe it's not as daunting of a task as I thought? Guess I'll know in a few weeks

 

[barrooze]

Just paid my $14. And, I haven't even brewed the beer I'll enter.



Just wanted to be part of the thing.



My question, for those who've been involved with the process before is, do you get much useful feedback when you don't win? If so, the $14 is a bargain. If not, I guess I'll just have to brew a pretty killer beer.

To be honest, you don't get much useful feedback even when you do win.

 

[barrooze]

Also, don't go for the ribbon, go for the GOLD!!!

 

[microbusbrewery]

Also, don't go for the ribbon, go for the GOLD!!!

You gotta walk (ribbon) before you can run (medal...hopefully gold but I'd take anything).

 

[barrooze]

Best of luck to us all! What are you guys entering? I'm (rapidly) finishing up my APA for the Austin first round. Hopefully it'll do as well as last year! my 2nd entry will likely be a Black IPA.

 

[GJOCONNELL]

I am going for full world domination this year

 

[TandemTails]

Just dropped off my three entries at Fedex and they're on their way to Denver.

I entered the following:

* British Brown Ale (13B)
* Chocolate / Coconut Porter (30A)
* Blueberry melomel w/ oak+vanilla (37A)

Looks like Denver doesn't judge until the end of April which kinda stinks. At least my beers shouldn't really degrade too much over that time.

 

[microbusbrewery]

Just dropped off my three entries at Fedex and they're on their way to Denver.

I entered the following:

* British Brown Ale (13B)
* Chocolate / Coconut Porter (30A)
* Blueberry melomel w/ oak+vanilla (37A)

Looks like Denver doesn't judge until the end of April which kinda stinks. At least my beers shouldn't really degrade too much over that time.

Yeah, I always entered at Denver in the past. This year I decided to give Seattle a try since they tend to judge earlier.

 

[krebs119]

Yeah, I always entered at Denver in the past. This year I decided to give Seattle a try since they tend to judge earlier.

So the website says that April 25th the first round results should be posted. NYC is finishing their round on March 26th. Should I expect the NYC results prior to April 25th? Or do all 12 post at the same time?

 

[microbusbrewery]

So the website says that April 25th the first round results should be posted. NYC is finishing their round on March 26th. Should I expect the NYC results prior to April 25th? Or do all 12 post at the same time?

Assuming they do it the same as the last couple years, each site sends their results to the AHA after they've finished judging. The AHA will post them after they run them through a verification process. So the earlier ones tend to get posted first, later ones last.

 

[CrystallineEntity]

Sacramento address was unable to deliver by USPS. Azzholes.

Apparently USPS is not recommended.. I now see why.

 

[Braufessor]

Sacramento address was unable to deliver by USPS. Azzholes.

Apparently USPS is not recommended.. I now see why.

USPS is not recommended because it is illegal to send alcohol via USPS.

UPS and Fedex have "policies" in regard to alcohol, but it is not against the law.

Also - if they have a PO Box, that would be another reason USPS would not deliver to a street address perhaps.

 

[microbusbrewery]

USPS is not recommended because it is illegal to send alcohol via USPS.

My understanding as well. If you look at Entry Info on the competition site, it calls it out pretty clearly, "IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHIP ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES VIA THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE". Elsewhere on the AHA's site under the NHC section on How To Ship Beer, they specifically indicate "Do not use USPS". So not really even a recommendation, they're pretty much telling you flat out not to ship USPS.

That said, wasn't the AHA in talks with the USPS in regards to shipping homebrew for competition purposes? I swear I heard an interview with Gary Glass where he mentioned they were hoping to reach an agreement. I'm not sure if that's something the Postmaster General can change, or if it takes an act of Congress. UPS and FedEx have worked well for me, but I've heard of packages being rejected if you're totally honest and tell them it's homebrew.

 

[jdauria]

Myself and 3 other members of my homebrew club were able to meet at a friend's work warehouse and use his bulk shipping with UPS. Combined we shipped a full case of beer to the Philly site for $20, can't beat it. Entered only 2, Dry Stout and Schwarzbier.

 

[mbbransc]

Indianapolis should have completed judging this past weekend. Anyone heard how it went?

NY, StL and Tampa up next.

 

[mwilcox]

Indianapolis should have completed judging this past weekend. Anyone heard how it went?

NY, StL and Tampa up next.

Indy's best cider person was sick, so they were unable to finish one cider category on Saturday. That is all that is left and the organizer, who is on cider exam committee, will finish that this week.

FWIW I'm told every judge in Indy was BJCP
My friends and I did well; will wait for official word but apparently I can drink the rest of my ice cider bottles. It happens.

Cheers--
Michael

 

[mabmab67]

How long, historically, after judging do they post the results?

 

[Braufessor]

How long, historically, after judging do they post the results?

Last year, once the results from a region were complete and sent in, they were posted pretty fast. I want to say they were getting them up within 1 week of the regionals being finished last year.

If some comps have unfinished categories that they need to come back to, that will probably delay things until all results are compiled.

 

[mabmab67]

Great, thanks for the information @Braufessor

 

[mbbransc]

Status has chgd to "Verifying Results". And yes, save for TN last year, all were posted within a week.

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/national-homebrew-competition/

 

[krebs119]

Anyone know how this weekend went? I noticed that 2 of my entries have different time stamps than the other 3..... what does this mean?!?!??? Here's to hoping NYC posts their results this week!

 

[mbbransc]

A week later and Indy still hasn't posted results.

 

[Braufessor]

I noticed that 2 of my entries have different time stamps than the other 3..... what does this mean?!?!???

Are you talking about the "updated" column on the entry page? If so, I believe those are basically the last date/time that you updated an entry (selected the category, changed the entry name, etc.)

 

[krebs119]

Yes, but the dates are vastly different, and I didn't update my beers after I put them in. I have 3 that are within 5 minutes of this date 26/02/2017 at 9:39 AM, and 2 that are within 5 minutes of this date 09/02/2017 at 12:34 PM.

 

[microbusbrewery]

A week later and Indy still hasn't posted results.

Yeah, I've been watching that closely trying to gauge how long it will take Seattle's results to get posted. Looks like this will be an exercise in patience.