NHC 2014 - Limit of 6 Entries

[Qhrumphf]

I know a few folks who didn't get all their entries in. A couple got 4 out of 6, or something similar. I don't remember which centers they were for though.

 

[thatjonguy]

They changed the max entries to 4 when they ran the lottery.

 

[Qhrumphf]

That would make sense then, since I can't think of anyone who got more than 4 in.

Still haven't seen an email for me. Not in the spam folder, either.

 

[Braufessor]

Got mine for KC (1st choice), paid with no issues. Very relaxed compared to last year. I hope when it is all said and done that the 200 or so that did not get in on the lottery can pick up places that some others did not end up paying for. If so, and everyone/almost everyone gets in - I would have to say that the AHA's changes were a resounding success. Already a big success, really, compared to some of the problems in the past with the big increases in participation.

 

[coyote68]

Still waiting too... i chose zanesville and nashville.. no luck so far.

 

[RADMAD]

My first NHC - Any suggestions on when shipping should be done by. Looks like Judging is scheduled for end of March in KC.

 

[bob1852]

My first NHC - Any suggestions on when shipping should be done by. Looks like Judging is scheduled for end of March in KC.

I saw somewhere the shipping window was March 10th to the 17th.

 

[Brad2287]

I plan on shipping out mine on the 7 th or 10 th. Unfortunately I did not get Denver where I could of just dropped it off. Got my second choice of Austin.

Sent from my EVO using Home Brew mobile app

 

[coyote68]

Well i got my answer...one of the lucky members to get this email

Dear Joe,
Thank you for applying to enter the 2014 National Homebrew Competition. After two rounds of random lottery drawing, you are one of a small group of applicants that unfortunately did not get selected to enter the competition. The competition was able to accept 97 percent (all but 124) of an original pool of 3,557 total applicants.

The lottery system used for this year’s competition was intended to balance the goals of accommodating as many entrants as possible while avoiding wide variation in the number of entries per judge center, which would have created significant competitive advantages for those entrants in the judge centers with the fewest entries. See the NHC Registration Lottery story on HomebrewersAssociation.org for a complete explanation of the lottery process.

Ultimately, this year’s competition has around 3,200 entrants, compared to 2,187 entrants in last year’s competition, representing a 46 percent increase in the number of entrants competing. With more than 43,000 American Homebrewers Association members, it is simply not possible to ensure that every member will have an opportunity to enter the competition, but we will continue to strive to allow as many members as feasible to compete while ensuring the integrity of the competition.

Thank you.

Unlike the credit card membership doesn't have privileges!!!

 

[Darwin18]

I still wonder why they couldn't move one person down from 4 entries to 3 and give you 1 entry to a competition location. Maybe the software didn't allow for that flexibility but it seems a shame that people, including myself, were able to get the max entries in while a small number of people couldn't get any. I'd be willing to go from 4 to 3 if meant someone else get an entry in.

 

[coyote68]

As i'm not real happy i can at least take solace in the fact the the AHA screwed 123 other faithful members. at least i'm not alone.

ps Good luck to all who got a chance.

 

[AnOldUR]

I'd be willing to go from 4 to 3 if meant someone else get an entry in.

They're probably not willing to monkey with it now, but I wonder if writing to the AHA and saying we'd give up one entry would help get those 124 into the competition?


edit:
Just sent an email to Janis to find out. Let you know what I hear.

 

[bob1852]

I'd give up one of my entries as well.

I wonder how many people entered x number of entries hooking they'd get at least y, and all wound up with x?

Not in my case, but I could see it happening....

Hell, maybe I'll just have coyote ship his beer to me and I'll enter him as a co-brewer with one of my entries.

 

[pvault98]

Yeah i am one of the lucky 123. I don't mind the whole lottery idea if it has gotten to the point where there just isn't enough space to let everyone in, however once you get to the point of being able to accept 97 or 98% of the people, just let the other 100 or so in and make it work.

I have been meaning to join the AHA for a while and then I finally did several weeks ago so that I could enter the competition as well as to support them. I guess that backfired on the one front.

 

[Phunhog]

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out today that I actually get to send in 3 entries to my second choice of judging location. I really thought I was DOA.

 

[Darwin18]

Well i got my answer...one of the lucky members to get this email

Dear Joe,
Thank you for applying to enter the 2014 National Homebrew Competition. After two rounds of random lottery drawing, you are one of a small group of applicants that unfortunately did not get selected to enter the competition. The competition was able to accept 97 percent (all but 124) of an original pool of 3,557 total applicants.

The lottery system used for this year’s competition was intended to balance the goals of accommodating as many entrants as possible while avoiding wide variation in the number of entries per judge center, which would have created significant competitive advantages for those entrants in the judge centers with the fewest entries. See the NHC Registration Lottery story on HomebrewersAssociation.org for a complete explanation of the lottery process.

Ultimately, this year’s competition has around 3,200 entrants, compared to 2,187 entrants in last year’s competition, representing a 46 percent increase in the number of entrants competing. With more than 43,000 American Homebrewers Association members, it is simply not possible to ensure that every member will have an opportunity to enter the competition, but we will continue to strive to allow as many members as feasible to compete while ensuring the integrity of the competition.

Thank you.

Unlike the credit card membership doesn't have privileges!!!

Coyote - Post your thoughts on the AHA forum website. I know that there are essentially the same six to eight people who post in the NHC thread there who seem to think the AHA can do no wrong with this process. I think there is always room to improve and in your case it seems obvious that there an issue that can and should be fixed.

I've seen Janis post a few times there and she seems to keep up with it. Post how you feel about the process and your thoughts, otherwise the competition organizers are just going to keep seeing the same positive AHA can do no wrong comments from the same six to eight people....

This is why when I looked at the AHA governing committee candidates, anyone who said that they wanted to fix or improve the AHA in a specific manner or process were automatically put on my Yes/Maybe list and those who just talked about their homebrewing passion were put on my No list. I think there is a lot of room for improvement but I do think that this year is much better than last year. It is a shame that they couldn't, or wouldn't, fit the 3% especially given that all the competition sites are not filled. Hopefully this will be addressed and soon.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Another of the elite 124 here.

I'm trying to let it go. Just gonna keep telling myself that they kept the best out of the competition to let the rest of y'all have a chance to win :fro:

In all seriousness, good luck to those who get to enter.

And it would have been nice, if they really can't find room for 124 more folks amongst that 3200, that they at least give us a consolation prize of guaranteed entry next year (like they're doing for judges and stewards).

 

[NervousDad]

124 people??? Why wouldn't they just add them. I was lucky enough to get in and due to a winter freeze I'm only able to enter 2 of my 4 beers.

I should be allowed to release the other 2 remaining entries to someone.

I think they went about this all wrong and I think they'll have quite a few unhappy members..

 

[mattd2]

Another of the elite 124 here.

I'm trying to let it go. Just gonna keep telling myself that they kept the best out of the competition to let the rest of y'all have a chance to win :fro:

In all seriousness, good luck to those who get to enter.

And it would have been nice, if they really can't find room for 124 more folks amongst that 3200, that they at least give us a consolation prize of guaranteed entry next year (like they're doing for judges and stewards).

I would have thought that since they didn't fill all the locations that they would have included in the email that there was space available if you really really wanted to mail them further than originally stated.
And as Nervous says they could have also mentioned that once the time limit for the first round of registration/payment is compelte any spare spots will be allocated to those that missed out.

 

[TobyG]

I should be allowed to release the other 2 remaining entries to someone.

Or maybe those with spare entry spots could work out something with the 124? Did you pay for them?

 

[NervousDad]

I paid, but if anyone wants to submit an entry (Philadelphia) under my account they're more than welcome to, for free. I can't change the name, but I can add them as a co-brewer.

 

[Darwin18]

124 people??? Why wouldn't they just add them. I was lucky enough to get in and due to a winter freeze I'm only able to enter 2 of my 4 beers.

I should be allowed to release the other 2 remaining entries to someone.

I think they went about this all wrong and I think they'll have quite a few unhappy members..

Dude, I'd get in touch with the AHA pronto. From the NHC rules website:

"Failure to pay within three days of notification will result in dismissal from the 2014 competition and could be grounds for disqualification from the 2015 competition."

 

[NervousDad]

Dude, I'd get in touch with the AHA pronto. From the NHC rules website:

"Failure to pay within three days of notification will result in dismissal from the 2014 competition and could be grounds for disqualification from the 2015 competition."

I paid for 4. The beers that I had bottled to be submitted froze and busted in my garage. So I paid for 4 and I'm only able to submit 2.

 

[Darwin18]

I missed that - I'm sorry. Does that have any impact on your entries for next year or does the AHA not care so long as you're all paid up?

 

[NervousDad]

I missed that - I'm sorry. Does that have any impact on your entries for next year or does the AHA not care so long as you're all paid up?

I think they just care if you pay or not. Just sucks that they're going to waste.

 

[coyote68]

Another of the elite 124 here.

I'm trying to let it go. Just gonna keep telling myself that they kept the best out of the competition to let the rest of y'all have a chance to win :fro:

In all seriousness, good luck to those who get to enter.

And it would have been nice, if they really can't find room for 124 more folks amongst that 3200, that they at least give us a consolation prize of guaranteed entry next year (like they're doing for judges and stewards).

I had a great experience that that really helped me get over it. after reading the coments about my brews here
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f88/zuljins-secret-santa-haul-2013-a-446466/

i just laugh to my self and fugure it's thier loss. i value his thoughts more than tha AHA's anyway.

 

[coyote68]

here was the nice PR reply i got when i gave my responce to the AHA..

Hi Joe,

I am sorry to hear you were unable to get entries into the competition this year. With 43,000 members, we simply cannot guarantee that all can enter the National Homebrew Competition.

Last year’s competition was the first time there was any entry cap and that was 15 entries. The competition filled within minutes and many members were simply unable to enter because they were not available to register in that very narrow window between when registration opened and when the competition sold out less than an hour later. With this year’s registration system, we were able to accommodate 46% more entrants than last year, and I am quite certain that we had far fewer members who wished to enter but were unable to this year than last year.

For this year’s competition, the cap of a maximum of four entries per entrant was chosen after looking at caps both higher and lower. With lower caps, a few more entrants could have been accepted, but it created very wide variations in the number of entries per judge center, meaning entrants in one first round judge center would be competing against far fewer entries than those in another judge center. For the sake of the integrity of the competition it is important that the competition be relatively equal regardless of which judge center an entrant is assigned to.

With the growth of the hobby, it has been a huge challenge to manage events like the National Homebrew Competition and National Homebrewers Conference. While we on the staff of the AHA and the AHA Governing Committee strive to be as inclusive as possible with those events, the reality of events this size is that not everyone will be completely satisfied.

Beyond the competition, we provide a lot of benefits for membership and work hard to promote the hobby as well as the industry. We’ve worked to legalize homebrewing in all 50 states and continue to support efforts to bolster homebrewing rights in state legislatures across the nation.

We do very much appreciate your membership and appreciate you taking the time to express your concerns.

Thank you,

Anthony Orig
Member Services


i wonder if all of us lucky "winners" will get the same BS letter . aat least the addressed it to me personally..

 

[mattd2]

here was the nice PR reply i got when i gave my responce to the AHA..

Hi Joe,

I am sorry to hear you were unable to get entries into the competition this year. With 43,000 members, we simply cannot guarantee that all can enter the National Homebrew Competition.

Last year’s competition was the first time there was any entry cap and that was 15 entries. The competition filled within minutes and many members were simply unable to enter because they were not available to register in that very narrow window between when registration opened and when the competition sold out less than an hour later. With this year’s registration system, we were able to accommodate 46% more entrants than last year, and I am quite certain that we had far fewer members who wished to enter but were unable to this year than last year.

For this year’s competition, the cap of a maximum of four entries per entrant was chosen after looking at caps both higher and lower. With lower caps, a few more entrants could have been accepted, but it created very wide variations in the number of entries per judge center, meaning entrants in one first round judge center would be competing against far fewer entries than those in another judge center. For the sake of the integrity of the competition it is important that the competition be relatively equal regardless of which judge center an entrant is assigned to.

With the growth of the hobby, it has been a huge challenge to manage events like the National Homebrew Competition and National Homebrewers Conference. While we on the staff of the AHA and the AHA Governing Committee strive to be as inclusive as possible with those events, the reality of events this size is that not everyone will be completely satisfied.

Beyond the competition, we provide a lot of benefits for membership and work hard to promote the hobby as well as the industry. We’ve worked to legalize homebrewing in all 50 states and continue to support efforts to bolster homebrewing rights in state legislatures across the nation.

We do very much appreciate your membership and appreciate you taking the time to express your concerns.

Thank you,

Anthony Orig
Member Services


i wonder if all of us lucky "winners" will get the same BS letter . aat least the addressed it to me personally..

It didn't look like it actually meantion anything specific about what your coencerns may have been - more of a canned "we value your feedback and aim to please" response! Did you ask about if the unfilled spaces could be requested?

 

[coyote68]

no i didn't. i really didn't expect a reply. IMO tha AHA has gotten a lot like our big gov. they tell you this and Do that. and to top it all off they are raising the dues...

i think i'll just let it go. i am happy with my beers.... and that's what really matters.

 

[mattd2]

...i think i'll just let it go. i am happy with my beers.... and that's what really matters.

More for you

 

[Darwin18]

Take the NHC entry fees that you would have spent and use them on local competitions. You'll be able to enter at least double the contests and get much better feedback and swag.

 

[Qhrumphf]

My faith is restored in the AHA.

I just got an email saying that I could enter in one of the centers that wasn't full but wasn't on the list I'd chosen. So I'm getting my two entries in after all. Now I just need to choose which two I'm sending.

 

[mattd2]

My faith is restored in the AHA.

I just got an email saying that I could enter in one of the centers that wasn't full but wasn't on the list I'd chosen. So I'm getting my two entries in after all. Now I just need to choose which two I'm sending.

I think the AHA is watching us...

 

[ktblunden]

That should have been the response regardless. With so few people knocked out it's a no-brainer to offer them the chance to send to a farther judging center.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Home Brew mobile app

 

[Darwin18]

No-brainers and the AHA's handling of the NHC don't usually go hand in hand. Glad to see that they're doing the right (and commonsense) thing here.

 

[coyote68]

I got a chance too. in seatle washington. they must have read my post in the aha forum...lol

 

[pvault98]

Yup same here...kinda sucks I have to pay to ship the beers now instead of dropping them off though. Even a bigger kick in the junk is that coincidentally I will be visiting the city that they accepted me into for judging except I will be there the week after the drop off deadline otherwise I could have hand delivered them. Oh well on the plus side I am entered now

 

[Qhrumphf]

I could have hand delivered if I'd gotten my primary choice (Philly, in fact most of my club had Philly is primary choice, and one guy is dropping off everyone's beer), but the rest of my choices I would have had to ship to. However, Kansas City MO is one of the closer ones I hadn't already selected.

 

[Spartan1979]

For this year’s competition, the cap of a maximum of four entries per entrant was chosen after looking at caps both higher and lower. With lower caps, a few more entrants could have been accepted, but it created very wide variations in the number of entries per judge center, meaning entrants in one first round judge center would be competing against far fewer entries than those in another judge center. For the sake of the integrity of the competition it is important that the competition be relatively equal regardless of which judge center an entrant is assigned to.

The one flaw in this logic is that you're not competing against all the beers at a first round site, just against others in your category. There is still nothing that would prevent 50 Amber Hybrids in one location and only 10 in another.

 

[coyote68]

I decided to take the cards i was dealt and not enter. i rarelly didn't like my chances of shipping my beers accross the country to washington state, since my last few shipments via ups had troubles. besides the extra shipping made it not worth it. i'll try again next year. i wish all who entered the best of luck. I will send out a few "Beer It Forward" packages in place of competing, and be happy to make someone else happy.