National Brewing Championship 2014
The 2014 National Brewing Championship will be spread across 2 locations in Dublin and Cork.
Registration open to members 22nd Jan, open to all 28th Jan, closes 16th Feb.
All bjcp cat we categories judged.
€4 per entry for members(including a 2€ discount on beer one).
€6 for the general public for the first and €4 thereafter.
The first leg will be in The Church, Jervis St., Dublin on March 1st
The second leg and finals will be held in The Franciscan Well, North Mall, Cork on March 22nd
600 entries Max so get in early!
Closing date for submission of entries is February 16th at the nominated collection points.
More details will added here as these become available.
Get brewing and the very best of luck!
Wahoo! looking forward to it.
I'll have to start practising in the shower now
How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight
To the home of my childhood away,
To the days when each patriot's vision seem'd bright
Ere I dreamed that those joys should decay.
When my heart was as light as the wild winds that blow
Down the Mardyke through each elm tree,
Where I sported and play'd 'neath each green leafy shade
"Altogether Now"
On the banks of my own lovely Lee.
I was calling it something like that, then edited to match the title on the discussion thread.
Debate?
(Actually, I left out the 's' on Championship, oh well)
National Homebrew Confederation :P
Folks to keep you up to speed with what is going on in the preparations in the run up to the Comp in Dublin/Cork, it was suggested that we keep members more abreast of what is going on behind the scenes as there is a huge amount of work involved.
A lot of this years is a duplicate of last year but there are and will be elements of this years event that are unique and we would like your input.
By all means put comments in, but if you have any specific concerns or want to have a debate about an element of something posted please start a new thread, this thread is intended as being more of an information service.
Thanks to all of the members of the local clubs where primary contacts have been pm'd and volunteered or recommended preferred drop points.
For all those who haven't responded or are waiting for somebody else please do this now as asap as we need these confirmed before the 16th, cheers.
Anyone know good bakeries close to our events? please reply here.
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5298.msg66083.html#msg66083
Appeal to those NHC members on BJCP course to register as judges
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5215.msg66100.html#msg66100
1. How is the style split 'tween Dublin and Cork being decided?
2. Where are the ciders being judged?
3. Where is the group RIS mini-comp being judged?
1. How is the style split 'tween Dublin and Cork being decided?
Thats for the comp organiser but i am guessing depends on number of entries he has already indicated a 60:40 split Dublin:Cork in another post
2. Where are the ciders being judged?
For practical reasons, it will be Dublin as getting preferred cider judges to Cork logistically is difficult.
3. Where is the group RIS mini-comp being judged?
Cork, Fran Well have some experience already in this area ;)
Quote from: CH on January 09, 2014, 07:59:40 PM
Cork, Fran Well have some experience already in this area ;)
Will be interesting when the beg the winner for the recipe!
Will also give us a bit more time for the regional selections and carbing!
Quote from: Will_D on January 09, 2014, 08:34:21 PM
Will also give us a bit more time for the regional selections and carbing!
Good thinking.
Would it be possible to add something to the main website page advising people to get brewing for the championship ASAP (bearing in mind the requirements of their chosen styles) and a full list of all beers styles being accepted?
I think it would be helpful to imagine what a novice would need to know to enter the competition and put that front and centre on the website as clearly as possible.
Quote from: Dr Jacoby on January 09, 2014, 11:47:11 PM
Would it be possible to add something to the main website page advising people to get brewing for the championship ASAP (bearing in mind the requirements of their chosen styles) and a full list of all beers styles being accepted?
I think it would be helpful to imagine what a novice would need to know to enter the competition and put that front and centre on the website as clearly as possible.
Great idea, there is a link on Styles accepted in opening post of provisional entry list started tonight.
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5299.0.html
There are only 2 areas on the forum to get information about the 2014 National Homebrew Competition
General Discussions
Competitions
And for Full Members more detail concerning the organisation, staffing and preparation can be found at
General Discussions
Members Only Area
Competition 2014
I think a full splash for the nationals would be appropriate don't you think?
I'm getting a press release ready like last years so all the info will be in that.
Good stuff. I haven't been able to spend much time on the forum recently so I a little confused about the whole thing (probably just because I'm a bit dim ::)). There are some basic questions that I think would be helpful to have answered on the website in big plain writing to help entrants plan for the comp:
- deadline for entries
- the exact style categories being judged
- advice on when to get brewing for certain categories
- a rough idea of the financial cost of entries
This is the minimum people will need to know to plan for the comp I reckon. The other details could be added when necessary. It's too late now to offer advice for certain beer styles but I still think people would find it helpful to be told on the homepage that the deadline is only 5 weeks away, which leaves very little time to brew and package competition ready beers across more than one or two styles.
I suppose my point is that the website should be used for basic information (not the forums) and this information should be parcelled with entrants in mind (i.e. let them know what they need to know when they need to know it).
Quote from: Dr Jacoby on January 10, 2014, 01:30:45 PM
:
- deadline for entries
- the exact style categories being judged
- advice on when to get brewing for certain categories
- a rough idea of the financial cost of entries
.
I suppose my point is that the website should be used for basic information (not the forums) and this information should be parcelled with entrants in mind (i.e. let them know what they need to know when they need to know it).
Good point on the website. I agree.
Entry open to members Jan 22
Entry deadline Feb 16th
All bjcp cat we categories judged
Bottle collection from Feb16
€4 per entry for members(including a 2€ discount on beer one)
€6 for the general public for the first and €4 thereafter.
600 entries Max so get in early!
Will the scoresheets be emailed to entrants as they were last year?
If so, will the Dublin category ones be sent out before the cork event (if possible)?
I'll volunteer to scan in scoresheets if required (just need to double check that my scanner is working well)
They will all be done together after Cork as many will have entries in both and as there is to be an overall winner it would spoil the surprise if there was an obvious winner from Dublin with an unassailable lead.
Having said that of course all the category winners and best of show in Dublin will be announced.
Offering to help scan is really appreciated and we will be in touch.
Makes sense.
I'll offer to help out sorting in Clonard as well if anyone is driving from Dublin if I'm not in work that day
Now that's a massive help and I will start a new thread
Ok new thread, help required for Sat 22nd Feb
Please help out it makes everything a lot easier for everyone else.
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5327.new.html#new
Please leave this one as it informs non members progress of events or actions even though there may be links on specifics in the members area.
Johnrm unfortunately, Tube has forced us into an arranged marriage, even though an initial notification and daily updates are 2 totally different topics, can you edit your title to reflect that this is a live thread and going forward posts will be like like twitter and update members on daily basis of National Comp events, dot dot dash dash.
Updated OP with entry cost, start date and tot entries.
I can't see that subject needs changing. Confused.
More Dublin Stewards need for the National Comp. please?
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5247.msg67430.html#msg67430
Great trip to the Church today to walk through the process of handling your bottles from initial delivery to judges table.
It's a pretty spectacular venue and they are to be commended by their support for our National Competition, I was also surprised by their increasing range of Craft offerings.
Rossa will make an announcement later about the positive news re access to the general public.
I know the FW will be equally as accommodating and I'm looking forward to meeting them in the coming weeks.
For those not on Twitter, 200 Entry mark reached, 17 days to go, thank you so much to those that have entered so far.
Folks,
I apologize if this is documented somewhere and I just can't find it but where are the detailed guidelines for entry?
I'm looking to enter a single beer; do I just need to submit 3 unmarked 12 oz bottles by mailing them to the Church's address?
Do I need to declare which BJCP category I'm entering in? (If so what category is recommended for coconut porter? -I know Gordon Strong's opinion on this subject from a few years ago but I'm not sure whether they're still up-to-date.)
Do I need to submit an index card describing the beer in any way?
What are the options for paying the entry fee?
Thanks,
Adam
Adam follow the link in my signature, I know it's easily missed, Q.E.D.
Hi, I paid via PayPal but my entries are showing up as unpaid, should I just print my PayPal receipt and drop it with the bottles?
Are the drop off points chosen yet?
Paul
Drop off points going in tonight,
I've Pm'd you on payment.
Quote from: pk on January 30, 2014, 10:13:49 PM
Hi, I paid via PayPal but my entries are showing up as unpaid, should I just print my PayPal receipt and drop it with the bottles?
Are the drop off points chosen yet?
Paul
I'll check the paypal and see whats going on ..
Tubes exactly right.
Would all entrants please wait until PayPal navigates you back to the NHC comp page as it's only at that point will your payment be confirmed on the entry system.
If you have paid and it's not showing as such in your competition record please post and we will get it sorted.
Those numbers are regenerated AFAIK.
Next Question: In 2011 Gordon Strong clarified that coconut porter should be entered in Category 21a and stated that he would clarify this in the later revisions. We now have later revisions to the BJCP guidelines; what Category should Coconut porter be entered into?
Adam
Drop points have been updated
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/competition/entry
How strict is the 500ml bottles rule?
500ml bottles aren't sold here. 12oz -yes, 16oz -yes, 22oz-yes, 500ml -no.
16oz bottles are 473ml which is pretty darn close to 500ml...
Do I need to go find a shop that sells imports and then find an imported beer that's in a 500ml bottle and soak it to get the labels off or is a 16oz bottle close enough?
Adam
16oz are fine, go with them
Quote from: biertourist on February 01, 2014, 06:06:39 PM
How strict is the 500ml bottles rule?
500ml bottles aren't sold here. 12oz -yes, 16oz -yes, 22oz-yes, 500ml -no.
16oz bottles are 473ml which is pretty darn close to 500ml...
Do I need to go find a shop that sells imports and then find an imported beer that's in a 500ml bottle and soak it to get the labels off or is a 16oz bottle close enough?
Adam
It's more the big bottles don't stack in our crates.
Just under two weeks to go. Entries are at 227 presently.
And I bet there are plenty of us lurking in the shadows waiting to see how batches turn out!
Lurkers please enter your Beers, lots more categories this year.
Do we know the drop-off points for this yet?
Quote from: Dunkel on February 05, 2014, 08:01:55 PM
Do we know the drop-off points for this yet?
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/competition/entry#drop
Ta ;)
392 entries from 119 participants (over 3 bottles per entrant), up nearly 20% on last year, well done and good luck to all that entered 8)
I'll be posting how you bottle makes its way to the warehouse during the week.
I'm guessing the entry numbers didn't start at 001
Yep, folks enter then delete my last number an hour before close was 440.
Yeah do not do Brown Ales because regarding my Brown Ale I will just quote what Gordon Strong wrote about my entry "your English brown ale rocks". Now he really is a good Judge. :)
No he said that any judge doing the Brown Ales in the comp will have found the winning beer because it rocks. :)
Quote from: Tube's Beer Kit on February 16, 2014, 06:17:13 PMI think six people have 100 entries between them!
What's that phrase?
'Fling enough shit at a wall...'
Quote from: johnrm on February 16, 2014, 07:19:38 PM
Quote from: Tube's Beer Kit on February 16, 2014, 06:17:13 PMI think six people have 100 entries between them!
What's that phrase?
'Fling enough shit at a wall...'
Don't forget there is well over a hundred sub categories.
Quote from: CH on February 16, 2014, 05:37:06 PM
392 entries from 119 participants (over 3 bottles per entrant), up nearly 20% on last year, well done and good luck to all that entered 8)
I'll be posting how you bottle makes its way to the warehouse during the week.
Actually its now 393 and I completely forgot about the battle of the barrels so its a 400 Entry competition (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-shocked016.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Did that include ciders?
Yes
Folks really disappointed about the Number of late drops, especially from Cork :( and odd shaped and clearly identifiable bottles again this year and I am not talking about the 330's.
Allowances were made again this year which will not happen next year and would not be allowed in any other beer competition on the planet. We must be professional and consistent in our approach to presenting our beer as we are in the judging.
The rules are very clear but take this as 12 months notice for next year as I am sure some of you will start brewing now :)
Bottles will be disqualified if they are...
Not 500ML Bottles
Have any kind of markings on the Bottle or cap which would include commercial labels that were not removed
Your bottles are not at your chosen drop off at the official close of the competition
You have no idea how much extra work and hassle not doing those 3 simple thing presents the organisers, and it ensures your entry is in tip top condition and for the 95% of other entries that did follow the rules, (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-hug008.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
For next year, make up a fake sample label and fix it to a plain 500ml bottle with a plain bottlecap . Take a couple of photos of it and state that entries that are different from the pics are disqualified
Just asking, but is this the thread for trash talk?
Bring it!
Oh, uh...
Hey, yo' beer so flat it sound like Jedward!
(To the tune of a 'yo momma' joke).
Quote from: delzep on February 22, 2014, 10:00:38 PM
For next year, make up a fake sample label and fix it to a plain 500ml bottle with a plain bottlecap . Take a couple of photos of it and state that entries that are different from the pics are disqualified
What about swing tops? After all there are a hell of a lot of one type in use?
Suggest "plain brown 500 ml bottled plain cap" (ie no pretty coloured caps)
or "Plain brown swing top with no discernable logo on the cap or imprinted on the glass" (ie No Grolsch bottles)
Having said all that, does it really matter that much as the judges still don't know who made or whats in the Grolsch bottle or the stumpy 500 ml bottle?
Anyone got the link to where you enter the comp? Just curious about my scores from the Dublin leg. (Didn't get a medal or anything). I think you log in again to see your score sheets but I can't find that link.
Paul
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/competition/ there you go
Thanks Chris
Red ale, 20!
American IPA 23
Dry stout 37
Jaysus
Red ale 36
Dry stout 28
Imperial stout 18
Oatmeal stout 13
Hey Chris, nice score on the red ale. Did you use a recipe for that?
Made it up, delighted. My oatmeal stout only got 13 and it is one of the most popular beers I make. Either the rest are sh!t or it just doesn't fit the guidelines.
A score of 13 generally indicates a serious fault of some description - usually an infection. Or perhaps the bottle got stirred up and gushed? You'll find out when you get your scoresheets back.
Disappointed myself with my red ale and IPA. I thought they were grand!
Oh we'll, back to the drawing board there
Quote from: Bubbles on March 23, 2014, 12:00:37 PM
A score of 13 generally indicates a serious fault of some description - usually an infection. Or perhaps the bottle got stirred up and gushed? You'll find out when you get your scoresheets back.
i bottled it from the keg so there could have been issues. To be honest I don't expect to win I'm just delighted with the feedback. I expected the imperial to score low unless one of the judges liked the taste of burnt rubber.
Quote from: pk on March 23, 2014, 12:05:30 PM
Disappointed myself with my red ale and IPA. I thought they were grand!
Oh we'll, back to the drawing board there
Don't feel too despondent lads. There are good and bad judges, just as there are good and bad beers. They don't always get it right. If the judge is good, they'll tell you exactly why it was scored poorly and suggest ways to remedy the problem in future brews.
If you really enjoy a beer you've made, don't worry too much about low scores. If you're looking for a valuable second opinion on beers you think should have scored higher, then take along a bottle to one of your local NHC meets. If you ask, you'll get lots of honest opinions and usually plenty of advice on how to improve your process.
Agreed, I'm happy with most of my beers. I like feedback and discussion but most of all I brew beer to drink. I got great feedback last year which helped me to improve my beers and I'm hoping this year will be the same.
Quote from: Chris on March 23, 2014, 11:48:34 AM
Made it up, delighted. My oatmeal stout only got 13 and it is one of the most popular beers I make. Either the rest are sh!t or it just doesn't fit the guidelines.
Must be bad judges :P I scored 15 with mine.
D your cider got HM In BOS
That goes for me too. I judged Light Hybrids (e.g. Cream Ale) and English Browns - my email address will be on your feedback sheet.
Any word on when the category placings will be up?
Hey man! Think I've almost worn out the refresh button on the main competition page!
Cool man! Did you get some good scores?
What's everyone's average score (and number of entries)
34.8 from 5 entries from me
8)
A few hopefuls CB. You never know!
I scored 43, 42, 40, and 21. Looking forward to getting feedback on 21 cos I preferred it to 2 of the other 3 I submitted.
Won gold with a beer I was going to dump. Funny old game eh!
Quote from: imark on March 23, 2014, 04:44:33 PM
I scored 43, 42, 40, and 21. Looking forward to getting feedback on 21 cos I preferred it to 2 of the other 3 I submitted.
Won gold with a beer I was going to dump. Funny old game eh!
Definitely - I thought that our highest scoring beer at 35 was the worst of our entries!
Any medals won with extract or kits?
Quote from: Tube on March 23, 2014, 05:04:07 PM
Quote from: imark on March 23, 2014, 04:44:33 PM
I scored 43, 42, 40, and 21. Looking forward to getting feedback on 21 cos I preferred it to 2 of the other 3 I submitted.
Won gold with a beer I was going to dump. Funny old game eh!
What was the 21?
The on he's not bringing on Thursday ;)
Quote from: Tube on March 23, 2014, 05:04:07 PM
Quote from: imark on March 23, 2014, 04:44:33 PM
I scored 43, 42, 40, and 21. Looking forward to getting feedback on 21 cos I preferred it to 2 of the other 3 I submitted.
Won gold with a beer I was going to dump. Funny old game eh!
What was the 21?
Porter. All gone now but I'll make it again.
Quote from: imark on March 23, 2014, 04:44:33 PM
I scored 43, 42, 40, and 21. Looking forward to getting feedback on 21 cos I preferred it to 2 of the other 3 I submitted.
Won gold with a beer I was going to dump. Funny old game eh!
You should do the lotto with them numbers :D
Got a 46, 31 and 30. The 31 was in the wrong category and the 30 was waaaay overcarbed. Happy enough with the scores and feedback though.
What was the 46 for that's a cracking score
American Pale Ale.
Quote from: irish_goat on March 24, 2014, 09:24:41 AM
Got a 46, 31 and 30. The 31 was in the wrong category and the 30 was waaaay overcarbed. Happy enough with the scores and feedback though.
Scoresheets must be on the way already so it seems
got a 40 and 39
the people in the well got the sheets back when it was finished
Anyone in the Well got their scoresheets back. The rest of ye's will start receiving them very soon courtesy of Royal Mail and the British taxpayer. ;)
Quote from: Tube on March 24, 2014, 09:49:06 AM
Wow, that must be one of the highest scores, any idea who judged it?
Liam Hanlon and Mark Dixon(new Trouble brewer).
Quote from: Chris on March 23, 2014, 05:04:45 PM
Any medals won with extract or kits?
Gold and a 44 for extract weizenbock (Category 15).
WPL300 did all the work!
35 for a 21a winter beer. First ever comp entry so no idea how good or bad that score is. Will be interesting to see the score sheet to get an idea of the overall impression etc which is what it's all about :)
A 23 and a 32. Not good enough. I did better last year.
My first ever beer in the competition and i got 39! This will give me good boost to learn more and more. I hope there is some hints in the scoresheet what to do better.
Got a 42 for my ginger/lemon lager (was about 10 months old) and 27 for my simcoe BIPA, pretty happy, lookin forward to see the scoresheets now...
13 for APA (same beer scored 40 in the Liffey Brewers comp a few weeks before)
36 for DIPA
38 for 1890 export stout (Truman recipe)
44 for Cascadian Dark Ale
My DIPA that got a 44 in the Liffey got a 30 in the nationals and an imperial stout that scored a 40 last year got a 16 this year. Some differences there. Really looking forward to the score sheets.
Quote from: Tube on March 24, 2014, 04:10:29 PM
Quote from: Hop Bomb on March 24, 2014, 04:02:22 PM
13 for APA (same beer scored 40 in the Liffey Brewers comp a few weeks before)
Will be interesting to compare score sheets!
I suspect some beers are wrongly labeled or wrong bottle judged. I have a marzen and we r looking at the sheets this afternoon, a completely different beer was judged :) Deep copper, carammelly, DMS sweet finish,...actual beer has no trace of DMS, is at very best gold in colour and is biscuity and finishes dry as with all our lagers.
So dont get too upset, check sheets and see first of all do you think the correct beer was judged after that may be the bottle got infected in the last few weeks, maybe it gushed which wouldnt help.
Also I got an as expected result with out dry stout which was well received and enjoyed by the judges, main fault was thin body which Is bang on....Lucan scored 13....maybe a stout in lucan got mixed up.
We will never know, however if someone entered a deep copper beer that was very caramelly with some DMS and finished sweet and your judges sheet suggest that a pale amber, dry, well carbonated, biscuity Marzen like beer was judged, that was mine :) ;)
Twas / is lovely, have plenty them left, do u want one? That was entered as a scwartzbier, that wasnt a mistake and it was actually a scwartzbier. I agree the spice is a little out of style :) and the judges definatly judged my beer correctly and all comments are bang on :)
The one I mentioned in the previous post was a different beer in every way, not least the colour ( deep copper versus pale gold), so maybe a mixup somewhere with flight sheets or labels or something may have caused it. I just mentioned in case the rightfull owner is totally confused when he / she gets his / her sheets back
Quote from: irish_goat on March 24, 2014, 09:24:41 AM
Got a 46, 31 and 30. The 31 was in the wrong category and the 30 was waaaay overcarbed. Happy enough with the scores and feedback though.
Wow! A 46?!?! Amazing. What beer style was that?
Adam
See reply 103! A great score indeed ;D
I managed a 42 for my coconut porter; my only entry so I averaged a 42.
Entering in the right category makes a big difference. (Which I've now learned the hard way.)
Adam
Quote from: biertourist on March 24, 2014, 05:37:24 PM
I managed a 42 for my coconut porter; my only entry so I averaged a 42.
Entering in the right category makes a big difference. (Which I've now learned the hard way.)
Adam
:) ;)
yep u usually get about 20 extra points!
36 and a Silver Medal for Mango Saison - 44 and nothing for a Pecan Porter (had it in 23A and I think it should have been 21A)
I got:
41 - Saison (Bronze)
41 - American Amber Ale
35 - American Stout
Delighted :)
Quote from: Beer Baron on March 25, 2014, 10:00:30 AM
36 and a Silver Medal for Mango Saison - 44 and nothing for a Pecan Porter (had it in 23A and I think it should have been 21A)
Those were two of the most delicious-sounding beers! I'd happily drink either.
Adam
Quote from: biertourist on March 25, 2014, 07:45:45 PM
Quote from: Beer Baron on March 25, 2014, 10:00:30 AM
36 and a Silver Medal for Mango Saison - 44 and nothing for a Pecan Porter (had it in 23A and I think it should have been 21A)
Those were two of the most delicious-sounding beers! I'd happily drink either.
Adam
Cheers Adam ;D