Your worst beer comp score

[MTate37]

Just got scores back from my first comp and the first legal homebrew comp in Alabama a couple of weeks ago. Lowest score was 26 on an imperial IPA that I can't even bear to drink. I was blown away to see how positive some of the comments were. I was expecting much worse but just wanted to enter it to find out what some experienced people though.

I was also blown away to get a 37 on an IPA. I'm shipping out beer for my second comp. Can't wait to get the results.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Same beer judged at the same time? Then that's a big issue as the judges are expected to be within a few points of each other.

MC

Well in fairness I should've pointed out it was a club competition, not a sanctioned event, and we have very few bjcp judges. It's pretty informal. That said, both scores got tossed as we toss the high and low and total the remaining scores. Nonetheless. I tend to give the 45 more credibility for obvious reasons.

 

[mtnagel]

Yeah judges should adjust to be w/in 5 points, that competition needs more supervision!

I've only entered one beer competition and never judged, but I have done many panels and seen the results from many panels for consumer products and I don't understand why the judges in beer competitions get to talk to each other. In the panels I've done, there is no talking allowed. You don't want anyone to influence anyone else's score. I don't see why beer judging would be any different.

 

[Darwin18]

I've only entered one beer competition and never judged, but I have done many panels and seen the results from many panels for consumer products and I don't understand why the judges in beer competitions get to talk to each other. In the panels I've done, there is no talking allowed. You don't want anyone to influence anyone else's score. I don't see why beer judging would be any different.

When I've judged it's usually paired with another judge, and we both analyze the beer, score it, and then discuss. I would say that 80% of the time we're usually within 5 - 6 points of each other and are able to adjust. Sometimes people are very sensitive to particular off-flavors like diacetyl while others are not. I'm definitely in the not sensitive category. Talking about the beer after you've assessed it, helps to ensure that both judges are in agreeance and the entry is scored accordingly. You don't really want to get a score sheet back with scores like a 35 and 21.

 

[RiverCityBrewer]

I've only entered one beer competition and never judged, but I have done many panels and seen the results from many panels for consumer products and I don't understand why the judges in beer competitions get to talk to each other. In the panels I've done, there is no talking allowed. You don't want anyone to influence anyone else's score. I don't see why beer judging would be any different.

In any BJCP comp I've ever judged, you don't talk to each other during scoring for those very reasons you mentioned. After we are each done we will confer with each other, usually just checking scoring, to make sure we are in the same range. If scoring widely differs, only then will we talk it out to see if someone else is picking up something that others might have missed.

 

[PintoBean]

In any BJCP comp I've ever judged, you don't talk to each other during scoring for those very reasons you mentioned. After we are each done we will confer with each other, usually just checking scoring, to make sure we are in the same range. If scoring widely differs, only then will we talk it out to see if someone else is picking up something that others might have missed.

This is what I've experienced as well. If you're off each other by more than 5 points, it needs discussion, if not, move on.

 

[mtnagel]

I guess I can see what you are saying, but it's human nature that we don't want to be different or stand out (in general). I can see one judge not detecting any off flavors and the other judge (the one with the more forceful personality) saying they detect it and then suddenly the other judge tastes it to, not wanting to be different. I've seen it in a focus groups before.

I know it wouldn't happen, but if I were setting up beer judging, I'd have more judges all judging blind and alone. That way you can see if it's just one judge picking up something that isn't really there.

 

[PintoBean]

I guess I can see what you are saying, but it's human nature that we don't want to be different or stand out (in general). I can see one judge not detecting any off flavors and the other judge (the one with the more forceful personality) saying they detect it and then suddenly the other judge tastes it to, not wanting to be different. I've seen it in a focus groups before.

I know it wouldn't happen, but if I were setting up beer judging, I'd have more judges all judging blind and alone. That way you can see if it's just one judge picking up something that isn't really there.

I agree. I'm not saying what I've experienced is correct. It should be blind between the two judges (or 3, 4, etc). I'd love to see the differences if they weren't allowed to discuss.

 

[Indytruks138]

Discussing and debating is how novice judges learn.

 

[mtnagel]

Discussing and debating is how novice judges learn.

You can still do it, just don't change the score. Or make it so there score doesn't count.