NHC / NHBC 2020

[Rob2010SS]

Haven't seen anything on this years National Homebrew Competition. My wife bought me a membership to the AHA this year for Christmas so I'm able to enter the competition this year and I'm hoping to enter 2 entries.

This will be my first judged competition.

In this competition, do the judges look for the use of crazy ingredients or flavors or do they really look for examples that nail the style to a "T"? How do you guys brew for this comp?

My last brown ale I feel is a spot on example of 13B: British Brown Ale. It's delicious and quite frankly, one of the best beers I think we've made to date. So I'm thinking of entering it but while I think it's delicious and nails the style, I guess I'm just curious as to what others' experiences have been when it comes to the feedback they get in this competition.

 

[Oginme]

You mean other than this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/homebrew-con-2020-nashville.669521/#post-8759428

 

[Rob2010SS]

You mean other than this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/homebrew-con-2020-nashville.669521/#post-8759428

No that's homebrew con. Im talking about there national homebrew competition

 

[BrewMan13]

Nothing like making your first one what's probably the biggest in the country Anyway, competitions are always about fitting the style guidelines as close as possible.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Nothing like making your first one what's probably the biggest in the country Anyway, competitions are always about fitting the style guidelines as close as possible.

Awesome, thanks! I've been thinking about using my brown ale and questioning if I should make it more "interesting" to appeal to the judges by adding something like coffee to it or some maple flavoring or something, or keep it as a brown ale, true to style and see how it does.

Anyone know if there's a way to view previous years entries and see what made it through first round?

 

[BrewMan13]

Don't think you can see what made it past the first round, but you can see the winners on the AHA website. It has to be top notch though; I've seen posts on here of people not moving to round 2 even with a 40.

 

[TallDan]

I've not entered NHC, and in general, have not entered a lot of competitions, but I'd encourage you to enter some others, either in addition to, or instead of NHC.

Most homebrew competitions provide you with good unbiased feedback on your beer and some opinions from a certified judge on how to improve it. This is in the form of comments on the score sheet. My understanding is that NHC is different in this regard. They typically provide minimal feedback since their main goal is to identify the top beers for the homebrewer of the year and ninkasi awards.

So, you are likely to get more out of entering a smaller competition. A good place to start for regional competitions is the MWHBOY circuit:
http://midwesthomebrewer.com/Circuit.aspx

Interestingly, the Schooner isn't listed on there. That's a good one to enter.

 

[riceral]

Don't think you can see what made it past the first round, but you can see the winners on the AHA website. It has to be top notch though; I've seen posts on here of people not moving to round 2 even with a 40.

Yep. Past 3 years, scored 38, 38, 40 in the regionals. My 40 was pushed to mini-BOS but didn't advance beyond that.

I'm trying again this year though.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I've not entered NHC, and in general, have not entered a lot of competitions, but I'd encourage you to enter some others, either in addition to, or instead of NHC.

Most homebrew competitions provide you with good unbiased feedback on your beer and some opinions from a certified judge on how to improve it. This is in the form of comments on the score sheet. My understanding is that NHC is different in this regard. They typically provide minimal feedback since their main goal is to identify the top beers for the homebrewer of the year and ninkasi awards.

So, you are likely to get more out of entering a smaller competition. A good place to start for regional competitions is the MWHBOY circuit:
http://midwesthomebrewer.com/Circuit.aspx

Interestingly, the Schooner isn't listed on there. That's a good one to enter.

That's good advice. I think I will enter others in addition to the NHC. I really want to enter the NHC this year since it's now open to me. However, I do want the feedback so I think I'll take your advice and enter others.

 

[brewmasterbryan]

I've been thinking about using my brown ale and questioning if I should make it more "interesting" to appeal to the judges by adding something like coffee to it or some maple flavoring or something, or keep it as a brown ale, true to style and see how it does.

While there is nothing wrong with adding any adjuncts to this beer, just know that if you do, it is no longer to style as a brown ale. It would be a SHV beer (Spice, Herb, Vegetal), so you'd want to pop it in that category so that it could be judged appropriately.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Valid point. That would defeat the purpose of me entering this as a brown ale so I will not do that.

Thanks.

 

[brewmasterbryan]

Valid point. That would defeat the purpose of me entering this as a brown ale so I will not do that.

Thanks.

No prob! Comps are always subjective and it isn't always an exact science, but I definitely recommend checking out the BJCP guidelines to help analyze your brews. Helps give you a better idea of what category would match it best.

As for the feedback in NHC, don't expect a ton. Scoresheets are modified and use descriptors on a slider scale with minimal room for comments. Helps judges rips through beers faster since each judging center usually has 700+ entries to plow through in a weekend. Not ideal, but first round is usually for vetting beers for the finals. It's not to say that you won't get some feedback, but I've found it's much more condensed when compared to a regular comp you might enter throughout the year.

Anyway, enough of my rambling Good luck on your entries! I just logged into the site today and saw I got the 4 I requested in Minneapolis, which is great considering everything is already fermenting away. Third year entering and got one to the finals last year, so crossing my fingers for at least another one!

 

[lump42]

Nothing like making your first one what's probably the biggest in the country Anyway, competitions are always about fitting the style guidelines as close as possible.

I'm pretty sure it's the biggest homebrew competition globally. Last year there were over 9,000 entries.

 

[Braufessor]

Just got my e-mail.... looks like they are going out. You can go to your brewer profile and log in and see what you have in and where....
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/national-homebrew-competition/

 

[BrewMan13]

Yeah, I got my notification as well - glad to be able to ship within the same state.

 

[ba-brewer]

I did not see anything specific that I said I got my first choice judging location. Can I assume that I got my requested 1st choice?

 

[Braufessor]

I did not see anything specific that I said I got my first choice judging location. Can I assume that I got my requested 1st choice?

It says it in the e-mail. If you are logged into the profile page, click on entry info and look at the competition officials... that will show where you are at.

 

[ba-brewer]

Thanks @Braufessor, a little clearer in that section looks like a got center of choice, nothing in my email.

 

[Braufessor]

Thanks @Braufessor, a little clearer in that section looks like a got center of choice, nothing in my email.

Sometimes they go out over a couple days, but check your spam/junk folder too.

 

[ba-brewer]

I did get an email saying I was in and that I should pay but nothing about the judging location. I do see now that there is also a little thing at the top right corner under the login status that lists the region.

 

[treacheroustexan]

I did get an email saying I was in and that I should pay but nothing about the judging location. I do see now that there is also a little thing at the top right corner under the login status that lists the region.

Your judging location is listed in the acceptance email:

"Your 3 entry(s) have been accepted for submission to the "Indianapolis, IN", judge center. DO NOT USE A PHONE OR TABLET."

 

[ba-brewer]

Your judging location is listed in the acceptance email:

"Your 3 entry(s) have been accepted for submission to the "Indianapolis, IN", judge center. DO NOT USE A PHONE OR TABLET."

 

[treacheroustexan]

View attachment 665569

Super weird!!

 

[RGB Brew]

I hate to hijack the thread, but where does a New England IPA fit? I’m thinking as 34A - Clone Beer. Thoughts?

 

[treacheroustexan]

I hate to hijack the thread, but where does a New England IPA fit? I’m thinking as 34A - Clone Beer. Thoughts?

New England ipa is 21B. Specialty ipa: New England.

 

[RGB Brew]

New England ipa is 21B. Specialty ipa: New England.

New England isn’t listed as a choice under Specialty IPA

 

[treacheroustexan]

New England isn’t listed as a choice under Specialty IPA

https://dev.bjcp.org/beer-styles/21b-specialty-ipa-new-england-ipa/

I think you'll just have to select 21B and type in that it's a new england ipa. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but according to the BJCP site that's what you would do.

 

[RGB Brew]

https://dev.bjcp.org/beer-styles/21b-specialty-ipa-new-england-ipa/

I think you'll just have to select 21B and type in that it's a new england ipa. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but according to the BJCP site that's what you would do.

Thanks. But they sent out the 2015 guidelines to follow. This is 2018’s.

 

[treacheroustexan]

Thanks. But they sent out the 2015 guidelines to follow. This is 2018’s.

Ahh my apologies. I didn’t realize that.

 

[TandemTails]

I didn't get my first choice judging center so i guess i'll be shipping to Kansas, haha. Oh well, still looking forward to seeing how my beers do.