National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Competitions => Topic started by: IrelOFarrell on September 18, 2017, 05:26:38 PM

Title: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 18, 2017, 05:26:38 PM
JW Sweetmans will be hosting their inaugural homebrew competition with with judges, feed back and some serious prizes on offer along side a weekend of cask ales between the 27th and 29th of October.
Red ales and porters/stouts only.
More information to follow.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: auralabuse on September 20, 2017, 02:38:36 PM
Nice

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Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 22, 2017, 07:01:26 PM
Have a bit more information for all you lovely boys and girls.

Terms and Conditions
1. Open to all amateur home brewers over 18 years of age.
2. All entries must be handcrafted using ingredients available to the general public using private equipment by hobby brewers (ie no use of commerical facilities or supplies).
3. A single entry consists of 4 330ml or 4 500ml bottles free of any identifying marks, ink, paint or labels, submitted with an entry form available from our website.
4. All entries must be of good drinkable quality, free from irritants, chemicals or other substances which may cause harm.
5. Only styles Irish Red Ale (9D), Porter (12) and Stout (13) may be submitted.
6. All entries for Irish Red Ale must be submitted be 7pm on Friday the 27th of October and Porter/Stout by 7pm Saturday 28th of October.
7. The overall winner will be announced on Saturday 28th at our live judging event.
8. All entries will be judged using the BJCP scoresheet.
9. Bottles will not be returned.
10.Entry into this Competition shall be deemed to be a full and unconditional acceptance by the
entrant of these Terms and Conditions.
11. The judges decisions are final.

Best in show will get to brew their beer at Kildare Brewing Company and have it on sale at Sweetmans along with a 3 course dinner for 2 at Sweetmans and €100 voicher for the bar, with a bunch of other prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.
Entry forms will be on our social media next week.

If any of you in the Dublin area would like to get involved with us you can drop me a line at ireledward@gmail.com as we will be looking for stewards and any friendly advice.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Simon_ on September 22, 2017, 08:47:08 PM
Do you really need 4 x 500ml bottles. 2 500ml bottles is the norm
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 23, 2017, 12:00:54 AM
Hey Simon, we are asking for a bit extra as we would like to give out blind samples to some of the customers and get everyone taste your delicious beers and not just the judges.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: JDC on September 23, 2017, 01:49:42 PM
I'd be very tempted to enter this as it sounds like a great competition, but the deadline seems a bit short notice - I'd need to be brewing today/tomorrow to have a stout ready in time  :(
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 23, 2017, 05:12:22 PM
Hey JDC123, we are aware we are cutting it a bit tight with the timeline but any later and we wont be able to host until January as we start to get very busy on the run up to Christmas. Have no fear though, this will be an annual competition so there is always next year too.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: auralabuse on September 24, 2017, 07:11:00 PM
Can I drop a few bottles in Monday? Direct into sweetmans

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Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 25, 2017, 02:31:18 AM
Yeah of course, just attach an email adress to the beers and  I'll forward you the paper work during the week.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: delzep on September 25, 2017, 05:32:18 AM
Quote from: IrelOFarrell on September 22, 2017, 07:01:26 PM
Have a bit more information for all you lovely boys and girls.

Terms and Conditions
1. Open to all amateur home brewers over 18 years of age.
2. All entries must be handcrafted using ingredients available to the general public using private equipment by hobby brewers (ie no use of commerical facilities or supplies).
3. A single entry consists of 4 330ml or 4 500ml bottles free of any identifying marks, ink, paint or labels, submitted with an entry form available from our website.
4. All entries must be of good drinkable quality, free from irritants, chemicals or other substances which may cause harm.
5. Only styles Irish Red Ale (9D), Porter (12) and Stout (13) may be submitted.
6. All entries for Irish Red Ale must be submitted be 7pm on Friday the 27th of October and Porter/Stout by 7pm Saturday 28th of October.
7. The overall winner will be announced on Saturday 28th at our live judging event.
8. All entries will be judged using the BJCP scoresheet.
9. Bottles will not be returned.
10.Entry into this Competition shall be deemed to be a full and unconditional acceptance by the
entrant of these Terms and Conditions.
11. The judges decisions are final.

Best in show will get to brew their beer at Kildare Brewing Company and have it on sale at Sweetmans along with a 3 course dinner for 2 at Sweetmans and €100 voicher for the bar, with a bunch of other prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.
Entry forms will be on our social media next week.

If any of you in the Dublin area would like to get involved with us you can drop me a line at ireledward@gmail.com as we will be looking for stewards and any friendly advice.

These categories are from the 2008 BJCP, not the 2015 which supercedes them
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 25, 2017, 03:39:20 PM
My apologies, 15A, 15B and 15C respectively. I used the older copy on my phone, shall be changed for the website.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Saruman (Reuben Gray) on September 27, 2017, 10:01:01 AM
Quote from: Simon_ on September 22, 2017, 08:47:08 PM
Do you really need 4 x 500ml bottles. 2 500ml bottles is the norm

I have always been of the vocal opinion that 3 should be the minimum and ideally 4. It depends on the number of rounds.

The reason from a brewer's perspective is quality and redundancy. From an organiser's perspective, it adds a lot of extra admin and sorting.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: auralabuse on September 27, 2017, 06:53:47 PM
I dropped 4 bottles into the bar this morning with my email address on it so will await the forms, cheers

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Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Shanna on September 27, 2017, 10:42:25 PM
Quote from: IrelOFarrell on September 25, 2017, 03:39:20 PM
My apologies, 15A, 15B and 15C respectively. I used the older copy on my phone, shall be changed for the website.
So no room for any of the category 16 as follows?
DARK BRITISH BEER
16A. Sweet Stout
16B. Oatmeal
16C. Tropical Stout
16D. Foreign Extra Stout

I hope this is an oversight as they are all variations of stout?

Shanna
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: IrelOFarrell on September 29, 2017, 02:31:47 PM
Hey Shanna, sorry about the delay. We want to keep it short and sweet for this year as it is our first one, hopefully next year we will open it up a bit more. So 15 only.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Shanna on October 01, 2017, 08:24:29 AM
Quote from: IrelOFarrell on September 29, 2017, 02:31:47 PM
Hey Shanna, sorry about the delay. We want to keep it short and sweet for this year as it is our first one, hopefully next year we will open it up a bit more. So 15 only.
Ah well just have to concentrate on the Wee counties competition then. Think your really limiting your number of entries with that decision by the way 😖

Anyway best of luck with it hope you get the desired number of entries.

Shanna
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Simon_ on October 01, 2017, 09:18:14 AM
Doesn't sound like my planned entry will fit into any of those categories. Good luck with the comp
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Boycott on October 03, 2017, 07:41:36 AM
Quote from: Saruman on September 27, 2017, 10:01:01 AM
Quote from: Simon_ on September 22, 2017, 08:47:08 PM
Do you really need 4 x 500ml bottles. 2 500ml bottles is the norm

I have always been of the vocal opinion that 3 should be the minimum and ideally 4. It depends on the number of rounds.

The reason from a brewer's perspective is quality and redundancy. From an organiser's perspective, it adds a lot of extra admin and sorting.

You just drink too much. Id drink 150ml max
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Saruman (Reuben Gray) on October 03, 2017, 09:15:11 AM
Quote from: Boycott on October 03, 2017, 07:41:36 AM
Quote from: Saruman on September 27, 2017, 10:01:01 AM
Quote from: Simon_ on September 22, 2017, 08:47:08 PM
Do you really need 4 x 500ml bottles. 2 500ml bottles is the norm

I have always been of the vocal opinion that 3 should be the minimum and ideally 4. It depends on the number of rounds.

The reason from a brewer's perspective is quality and redundancy. From an organiser's perspective, it adds a lot of extra admin and sorting.

You just drink too much. Id drink 150ml max

That's great but 2 or 3 hours later when your beer is judged again for a second round or mini BOS, do you want that stagnant, partially oxidised, flat and potentially warm beer judged? Or would a fresh bottle perhaps be better?
Volume consumed is irrelevant to my point.
There's a reason in commercial competitions, such as ones I also organise, I ask for a minimum of 4 bottles. Many competitions demand 6 and in fact the World Beer Awards require between 12 and 16 depending on size.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: molc on October 04, 2017, 08:42:29 AM
As a counter example, The nhc in America use 2 bottles for 1st round and 3 bottles for final round. That's a competition with over 3000 entries each year, but the first round can still operate on 2 bottles, which is still quite a bit bigger than our comp.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: delzep on October 23, 2017, 07:19:49 PM
Saw the poster for this competition. Beoir logo on it but no NHC on there  :-\
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 08:13:18 AM
Quote from: delzep on October 23, 2017, 07:19:49 PM
Saw the poster for this competition. Beoir logo on it but no NHC on there  :-\
We were approached about the use of the NHC logo on the advertising materials but since it wasn't an NHC-run competition and had no direct NHC involvement at the time of asking the idea kinda got kicked into touch.

Cheers,

-Barry
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: delzep on October 24, 2017, 08:39:39 AM
Seems a bit odd turning down publicity
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: delzep on October 24, 2017, 08:39:39 AM
Seems a bit odd turning down publicity

It wasn't case of turning down publicity; it was more a case of if we can get our members involved in some respect, e.g. judging, etc we'd be more than happy for the logo to be used.

-Barry
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: johnrm on October 24, 2017, 10:33:23 AM
Do we have we a bunch of judges on hand that can jump in and judge/organise any competition that pops up?
If not maybe it would be an idea to set one up.

If we get involved, do we charge for the service?
While we are not-for-profit, I think if we do something for nothing that the effort could go unappreciated.
If the Comp fails - does someone say - 'Ah sure thats the NHC!'

The plus with these comps is that the number of beers tends not to be huge - so it is manageable.
How would Sweetmans or Western Herd(Ennis) or Brewtonic manage if they end up with 500 entries and 1000 bottles?

If someone was up for it, we could have a position as External Competitions Director.
The competition organiser maybe pays a fee to NHC and covers reasonable expenses for External Competitions Director.

BTW, NHC does not HAVE to do this either - the Beoir team have run excellent competitions and may be up for liaising with 3rd parties as they have done in this case.

Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Andrew on October 24, 2017, 02:46:41 PM
Quote from: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: delzep on October 24, 2017, 08:39:39 AM
Seems a bit odd turning down publicity

It wasn't case of turning down publicity; it was more a case of if we can get our members involved in some respect, e.g. judging, etc we'd be more than happy for the logo to be used.

-Barry
I'm judging...
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 02:55:03 PM
Quote from: Andrew on October 24, 2017, 02:46:41 PM
Quote from: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: delzep on October 24, 2017, 08:39:39 AM
Seems a bit odd turning down publicity

It wasn't case of turning down publicity; it was more a case of if we can get our members involved in some respect, e.g. judging, etc we'd be more than happy for the logo to be used.

-Barry
I'm judging...

Right? Did many other members sign up for judging/stewarding or the like? When I was initially asked about the logo we'd pretty much zero info about the competition.

-Barry
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Andrew on October 24, 2017, 03:02:37 PM
Quote from: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 02:55:03 PM
Right? Did many other members sign up for judging/stewarding or the like? When I was initially asked about the logo we'd pretty much zero info about the competition.

-Barry

3 judges, 1 steward. At least one of the others is a NHC member, will check with the others.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 03:07:58 PM
Cheers.
I'd be interested to know which came first; the judges/stewards or the posters.

-Barry
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Andrew on October 24, 2017, 03:38:51 PM
Quote from: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 03:07:58 PM
Cheers.
I'd be interested to know which came first; the judges/stewards or the posters.

-Barry
I was contacted long before the posters went up.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Bazza on October 24, 2017, 03:56:10 PM
Quote from: Andrew on October 24, 2017, 03:38:51 PM
I was contacted long before the posters went up.

Good to know; thanks. Had I known that at the time I, personally, would have been happy for the logo to be used :-\

All this aside, good luck to all involved; the entrants, those helping out, and Irél and the guys at Sweetmans  :)

Cheers,

-Barry
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: irish_goat on October 29, 2017, 11:12:39 AM
Winners announced.

QuoteAfter an arduous weekend of drinking beer we have finally chosen the podium fillers for our first ever Homebrew Challenge !

In first place, the recipient of the Perpetual Cup and Best In Show, give a hand for......
Brian McSorely with his Stout ' Black 'O'Lantern ' , soon to be available on cask here at Sweetmans !
Second place goes to Alan Walsh with his ' Nutty Porter '
Tadeusz Tazbierski comes in a close third with his ' Tete-a-Tete '  Irish Stout.

Thanks very much to all our entrants and commiserations to those of you who didn't make the cut this year but you can have you revenge in October 2018.
Thanks also to our judges, all the staff here at Sweetmans and to our partners for all the hard work to bring this all together.
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: Andrew on October 29, 2017, 12:47:47 PM
That's going to be savage on cask...
Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: auralabuse on October 29, 2017, 04:23:08 PM
Delighted with second place, its the 2nd comp ever entered so gotta be happy with that. I will stick up the recipe here during the week if anyone is interested.

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Title: Re: Sweetmans Homebrew Challenge and Cask Weekend
Post by: molc on October 29, 2017, 09:43:27 PM
Always interested  in winning recipes!