Well I got my score sheets back from this weekend's BrewFest at Mt Hope Estate in Manheim, PA...site of the PA Renn. Faire. I did not place, but got a 36 and 39 on my Cowpie Porter, and a 30 and 36 on the Irish Red.
It is funny two people drinking the same beer get completely different results. The Irish Red was judged by both a certified and a national BJCP judge, and one said well made Irish Red and the other said more typical of an english pale and not typical of an Irish. Who do I listen too for advice???
One judge said he detected some slight phenols in the porter...smoky, plastic what would cause that?
Overall I am pleased and got some good feedback.
Last edited by myhorselikesbeer on Thu May 15, 2014 2:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
myhorselikesbeer wrote:Who do I listen too for advice???
IMHO - yourself. If you like the beer, nothing else matters. As far as judging anything (beer, food, your clothes, your house), the world is comprised of individuals with vastly different opinions including different senses of taste and smell.
While I think it's interesting that a bunch of Borg members enter contests and see it as a challenge to rank well (or even win), I can't imagine (but I'll never say never) spending effort to measure up to someone else's idea of what they like or think. I brew for me.
I have over 9,000 posts on "another forum", which means absolutely nothing. Mr. Beer January 2014 Brewer of the Month with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it...
Certificate in Brewing and Distillation Technology
Beers I regularly brew:
Bell's Best Brown clone
Irish Hills Red - I call this "Ann Arbor Red"
Mackinac Island Red - I call this "Michigan Red"
Oatmeal Stout - I call this Not Fat, Stout - Oatmeal Stout
Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.
Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
Brewed in lifetime - 282.14 gallons
Drinkable beer on hand - 13.58 cases, with 6.11 cases ready in May and early June.
Average cost per 12 pack through all beer brewed - $6.27(ingredients only)
I agree. I thought it would be helpful if there were problems with my beer that someone with a more trained palete, should we say, would pick up. I thought both beers tasted great and are as good as any that some of our local brewpubs are serving. My kids (biased) were like, WHAT, you didn't win. LOL
Congratulations on your scores. those are good ones.
It's good to get feed back on your beers from someone who does not know you, it's a little more bias with a better trained palete.
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Happy for you. Try to balance the results. There are threads on HBT in which brewers complain about inconsistent scores. Taste is subjective, and some are more sensitive to certain flavors than others. If you think the feedback is valid, use it, if not, disregard it.
Two of my brews are in competition on Saturday. I'll be rereading my own advice!
Making beer and stew for the Zombie Apocalypse.
Never mind, there it is.
Great job on the scores. The best part of entering into competitions is the feedback. But I can see why your a little confused when two BJCP judges give you completely different feedback. I would be pleased with your results and continue to brew the beer the way YOU like it. If YOU think it's a good representation of an Irish, then keep it going. And with an average score of 33, you can be happy your brewing a beer with a good score.
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As far as the feedback, I agree that it can be a little confusing. My German Pils scored a 3/3 in appearance from one judge, and he mentioned that the head was good, and lasted throughout. The other judge scored 2/3 and said the head dissipated to quickly. I had to wonder if they were drinking the same beer.
The comments are useful to an extent, especially if you're sort of experimenting with a style and want to know how to make it better, even if you like the result. I did this with my Ordinary Bitter, because while I like it, it's tough to find a commercial Bitter with which to compare it. I've made a few changes in the malt bill, and whether I enter it again or not, it's going to come down to how much I like it.
But comps are useful, as Inkleg said, because you're getting qualified feedback from a blind taste test, and it's coming from people who are (or should be) well-versed in that particular style.
I wouldn't obsess about it, but if it teaches you something, or helps you improve your beer, that's a good thing.
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FedoraDave wrote:Those are very good scores, so congratulations!
As far as the feedback, I agree that it can be a little confusing. My German Pils scored a 3/3 in appearance from one judge, and he mentioned that the head was good, and lasted throughout. The other judge scored 2/3 and said the head dissipated to quickly. I had to wonder if they were drinking the same beer.
The comments are useful to an extent, especially if you're sort of experimenting with a style and want to know how to make it better, even if you like the result. I did this with my Ordinary Bitter, because while I like it, it's tough to find a commercial Bitter with which to compare it. I've made a few changes in the malt bill, and whether I enter it again or not, it's going to come down to how much I like it.
But comps are useful, as Inkleg said, because you're getting qualified feedback from a blind taste test, and it's coming from people who are (or should be) well-versed in that particular style.
I wouldn't obsess about it, but if it teaches you something, or helps you improve your beer, that's a good thing.
Just as Dave mentioned and others stated ... It's all about the feedback with competitions. I've had judges, just as you, tasting the same beer and the scores have been nearly seven points off of each other. There could be many contributing factors to that scenario.
In the end, if you like the beer(s) that's all that really matters. The competitions are meant to be fun and to get an objective opinion on your brews. Your scores in the upper 30's mean your beer was 'Very Good'. Those are great scores to get and improve on for your next competition. And the 39 puts that beer into the 'Excellent' category in the BJCP scoring range.
Congrats!! I am a first timer, too. Sent for Ohio Brew Week a Blonde and a Pils. The Blonde was 26.5, scored 26 and 27, 26 said DMS, Phenols, astringent, etc., the 27 said no DMS, no phenols, etc totally opposite of the first judge???? The Pils on the other hand was done with ale yeast and got no mention of not being true to a lager style from 3 judges, that was a 34 and took third with a 32, 35 and 35. So got to kind of take this in stride and use the feedback constructively. The same judge taht scored the Blonde at 26 also scored the Pils at 32. so to me that judge was somewhat too picky!
By the way nice to see you back Eddie, been MIA for a while!
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Dawg LB Steve wrote:Congrats!! I am a first timer, too. Sent for Ohio Brew Week a Blonde and a Pils. The Blonde was 26.5, scored 26 and 27, 26 said DMS, Phenols, astringent, etc., the 27 said no DMS, no phenols, etc totally opposite of the first judge???? The Pils on the other hand was done with ale yeast and got no mention of not being true to a lager style from 3 judges, that was a 34 and took third with a 32, 35 and 35. So got to kind of take this in stride and use the feedback constructively. The same judge taht scored the Blonde at 26 also scored the Pils at 32. so to me that judge was somewhat too picky!
By the way nice to see you back Eddie, been MIA for a while!
Judges can be picky and it always amazes me to see the different scores and notes from different judges. Just proves everyone has different tastes, even when drinking the same beer.
