BeerBorg

I broke into this batch this weekend. It's only been in the bottle two weeks, but it doesn't have any green or young taste to it. And I have to assume it's only going to get better as it ages a little more.

I compared what I was tasting, and the Q-Brew specs of my recipe, with the BJCP guidelines for a Cali Common, and I think it's well within style. Perhaps a touch too dark, but I can replace the original 60L with 40L. The IBUs are within style, but in the low range, so I may dry hop, which I know won't change the IBU, but may provide more aroma initially, which may sort of fool the taste buds into thinking there's more there, and it won't compromise the very nice touch of roasted flavor that peeks through.

I can see myself brewing a batch of this in early November and submitting it to Homebrew Alley IX for judging in early February.

I'm also going to be revising my recipe for Copperbottom Lager, and if I'm pleased with that, I may submit it in the Dark Lager category, just to see what happens.

Very cool, I'm sure they will do well for you!

Thanks, George. I'm always hopeful.

But the comments are more important to me than the actual score. Especially comments on the process. I know the recipes I use produce good beer. I'm drinking it and liking it, and it's good beer! I'm actually less concerned with stylistic accuracy, though.

But if my process can be improved in any way, I'm interested.

I was almost tempted to enter my signature beer, FedoraDave's American Ale, as well. I guess it best fits in the APA category. But it's one of my favorites; it's got my name on it; and I'm not sure if I could take any negative comments about it. I developed it without any style in mind, but it's closest to an APA, but I don't really care. Maybe it's not meant to be entered in a competition.

Dry-hopping should help the Cali Common, especially if you have some interesting malt flavors coming through. If you're looking for feedback, brew what you normally brew. If you are going for results, tending towards the bold and more flavorful side of the style guidelines is never a bad move. (Or so I have read.)

I'd love to get another ribbon to hang on my wall, sure!

But I'm more interested in what I'm doing right, what I may be able to improve, how I can make better beer. I sort of caught lightning in a bottle when I submitted my Amber's Amber Lager and won third in the category. But I learned more with the comments on my Pearly Pils and Bit O' Bitter, both of which scored in the high 20s, which disappointed me. I'm going to enter Homebrew Alley regularly, but I'm going to enter different beers every time; rather than make tweaks on last year's entry and try to score higher with it.