New England Regional

[Crazy Climber]

Got my entries submitted on Friday for the 9th Annual New England Regional Homebrew Competition(NERHBC), which will take place on 10/18. They capped the comp at 450 entries. Entries opened on Friday and as of today, three days later, entries are closed already. I guess I'm glad I acted quickly.

I submitted 8 entries representing 7 beers (one of them entered in two categories). Easily, it's the most entries I have submitted in a comp. Some beers I entered because they're good (IMO)....and one beer I entered specifically because it didn't turn out well and I want the constructive criticism. I have some ideas on how to improve that one, but want to get some expert opinions, as well. I've also entered a beer that's still in the fermenter -- twice.

My entries:

1) My basil lager, in the herb beer category (I really like this beer)
2) German pils (also not bad, IIMSSM)
3 & 4)Irish Red / American Brown (it was intended as an Irish Red, but it came out more like a Brown Ale, so I want to get opinions from both angles)
5) California Common (came out poorly, due to me using a yeast that threw way too many phenols at the temps I used -- live and learn -- but I'd like to get some BJCP-certified feedback on it)
6) American Pale Ale, featuring a touch of rye and lots of New Zealand hops. This was my first BIAB in a while, so I'm anxious to get feedback on the results of my process.
7) My wet-hop IPA, which I documented in a photo essay on the Borg, in one of the hop-growing threads
8) I also entered that IPA in the wood-aged category, as I have oak chips soaking in bourbon, which I will add to some of the bottles at bottling time. This recipe scored pretty well last year in this comp.

Of course, there will be a complete rundown of my results --as I did last year-- when I get them in about 5-6 weeks!

[Inkleg]

All the best CC, that's pretty cool that you're entering flawed beers just for the feed back. That gives me some ideas too.

[BigPapaG]

Awesome, best of luck CC!

[Dawg LB Steve]

Good luck CC, kind of makes sense to throw one into two categories when its borderline. What part of Mass. have wife's family in Hingham/Dorchester area. BigPapaG I'll be in your neck of the woods in about 6 weeks for 4-5 days U.S. side of the Falls.

[Crazy Climber]

This is usually the only comp I enter each year, and the main reason I do so (and thus load up on entries) is because my LHBS is a drop-off point. I am NOT a fan of packaging up and shipping beers -- too much effort, materials and expense for me. The fact that I can enter by simply making an LHBS trip that I was going to make anyway, is a huge plus.

Steve - I'm not near Hingham or Dorchester (I should say, "Dawch-stah"). I'm from the western part of the state, walking distance to the CT border. People around here associate more with Hartford than Boston. We don't even have the infamous accent...even though I went to college in Worcester (I should say, "Wiss-tah").

[Dawg LB Steve]

I have noticed that traveling from west to east in the state. Also noticed the drivers are a little better west than east in the state!

[Crazy Climber]

Tomorrow's the day for this competition. I'm hoping to have my score sheets within the next week or two. I'll post results when I have 'em!

[John Sand]

Good luck CC!
I was away when you started this thread, so I missed it. I just dropped off two beers (APA, IPA) at a brew store yesterday, for a local competition. I may drop off one more after I taste it, if they don't fill up.

[Crazy Climber]

The results have been posted, and.............I didn't win any medals. Not a surprise, though, as some of the beers I entered were flawed, and many of the good ones (IMO) were entered in categories that had more than 40 entries.

The lone exception is my Pilsner, which I thought was decent, but it didn't place in a category of 12 entries (there was an honorable mention given in that category, so 4 of 12 Pilsners placed).

In the "what-might-have-been" department, my Cal Common turned out flawed due to a miscommunication between me and my LHBS-owner/yeast-manufacturer -- long story. I entered it knowing that it was not a good representative, but looking for expert feedback. Turns out there were only 6 entries in the Hybrid category. So, if my Cal Common had turned out OK, it would have a 50/50 chance of medaling. Live and learn...

Anyway, this is just the first piece of info from the comp. The important info is still to come. Really looking forward to receiving the score sheets and analyzing the feedback!

[Inkleg]

Sorry you didn't medal CC.
Looking forward to the comments on your Basil Lager and the scores on your other beers.