Watching with interest what a great job is being done by other clubs we intend on having our own competition in August of this year.
Unlike other comps however we are going to be only judging just one style, Irish Red.
It's been chosen as it's relatively easy to brew and should be able to be brewed by all abilities.
In BJCP terms also it's a neglected style and after the nationals we will put more detail as to what we think the standard for the competition will be.
We want to make this a members only competition and entry will be a fiver.
It will be national and drop points will be arranged across the country, just not as many as the nationals ;)
There are some pretty good prizes but all that will be announced later.
We need your input on where you think the goalposts should be, so please don't hold back in your contribution both good and bad.
Sounds good! Love me a good Irish redhead.
Love the ideas of a one style competition. We were talking about it over in the NCB camp at our last meeting.
Wots WCB again?
I think the Rebel County should do an all-stout.
Seeing as the most flavoursome stouts come from 53°N
With a single style limit, it will not be possibly to register as a BJCP competition right?
Interesting point not sure, I'm sure one of our trainee judges will tell us?
Sanctioned Competition Requirements
The BJCP has few rules that apply to a competition. Organizers have wide latitude to create a unique competition experience. However, the following rules do apply to all competitions:
1. Blind tasting must be used. Judges must not be given the identity of the brewer or entrant.
2. Entries must be judged to published styles. The BJCP Style Guidelines are the preferred standard, but any other published guidelines can be used as long as judges and entrants are both using the same guidelines.
3. Feedback must be given to the brewer or entrant. The BJCP judging forms are recommended, but not mandatory. Scoresheets must be returned promptly to the entrants.
4. Judging must be fair to all entrants. Common rules must be used, and they must be applied and enforced uniformly. This is an intentionally loose definition that allows competitions to have their own unique character without being overly proscriptive. Competitions must be run in a spirit of fairness. The Sanctioned Competition Handbook and Judge Procedures Manual should be used as a guide.
5. Competition reports must be filed promptly with the BJCP, preferably using the BJCP organizer reporting system. Competitions not filing organizer reports may be denied registration for subsequent competitions.
6. A judging panel must have a minimum of two judges and a maximum of four judges, including any Novice judges or judges in training.
7. The BJCP Privacy Policy must be followed, particularly for judge data furnished by the BJCP to competition organizers. Data furnished by the BJCP may only be used in accordance with the BJCP Privacy Policy. It may only be used for purposes of running the registered competition, and it may not be used for non-BJCP purposes or be shared with third parties.
Saw that but someone told me it needed to be open to all styles.
We need as many bjcp competitions as we can and fast track some judges to national level if possible.
What if you held the nationals and all that was submitted was one style?
One style works in my book.
Well we are not opening to everything as we want to keep it as simple as possible so if we can help our BJCP judges on their path, great and that was one of our intentions, if not it will just be the Red Ale Garden Comp.
I think that as soon as we get our BJCP membership numbers we can then ask exacyly this sort of question.
But Why would a single category comp NOT be eligible? Makes no sense to me!
I have seen no such restriction. BJCP comps can be public or private and can even be used to judge commercial beers!
The important criteria are as set out above ie. Fairness, Objectivity and Accuracy
Feedback from BJCP,
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,5875.msg74292.html#msg74292
Ok folks I have chopped the BJCP guidelines and as you can see its reasonably open
We will take 60 beers Max.
Countrywide, collection points tba.
The competition will only be open to full NHC or full Beoir members and entry form will ask you for username.
Kits will be allowed but you must state it on your entry, please use your initiative and mod mod mod there are plenty of guidelines on the kit section on how to do this.
2 X 500ML or bigger bottles only please.
Winners will be required to share their recipe on the forum including method after the comp to educate others on how to brew good Irish Red.
Prizes to be announced after Nationals and are sponsored, its not cash but we are going disproportionately big to encourage entries to this single style comp.
One prize per entrant, so if you brew 3 award winning beers you get 1st prize and 2nd place awarded to next in Q and so on.
The competition must be self financing and credible so entry will be €5, any monies made after nominal costs will be donated to NHC central fund.
Judging looks like Sat 23rd of August. Plan on having your beer available mid August latest.
For the luvies that need to know what their inspiration is,
"Throw you mind back 200 years, you have just been given the job as head brewer in a Kilkenny Brewery, they have their own recipes but they are not great and too watery and thin, you have little or no hops available but the entire malt spectrum(ok historically probably not correct)
Use your skill to create something to satisfy the taste buds of farm labourers that is thirst quenching but also has body and flavour making them want to come back for more."
9D. Irish Red Ale
Aroma: Any
Appearance: Amber to deep reddish copper color.
Flavor: Hops should be the minor contributor. Finishes with a light taste of roasted grain, which lends a characteristic dryness to the finish. Medium-low hop bitterness, although light use of roasted grains may increase the perception of bitterness to the medium range.Clean and smooth, No esters.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light to medium body, Moderate carbonation. Smooth.
Overall Impression: An easy-drinking pint.
Comments: Sometimes brewed as a lager
Ingredients: Any
Vital Statistics: ABV: 4.0 – 6.0%
Thoughts please + or - ?
Looks good! Much better guidelines for a modern Irish red.
Cheers IG, anybody else have any input? We want to be as inclusive as possible.
Not big up on the whole bjcp guidelines but if someone was to enter this and say there was more hops to it in terms if flavour and arina would it be disqualified? As it doesn't fit perfectly to style?
Arina = Aroma ;)
if we could dig up some 200 year old kilkenny archive and get a feel for what a real Irish red was may be of help.
On the sunday ( all day) when we officially met with Gordon strong to discuss improvements / updates on the style guids we spend i'd say an hour on Irish red ale for a few reasons not limited to
traditional reds seem to be different to todays red e.g was it decocted, caramelised? did they use a darker version of pale malt rather than a mix of modern pale and crystal, was there kettle caramelisation and so on
American, english and Irish reds of today are radically diffferent beers, english markey ( cafferys, beamish, murphys ) are sweet english bitter sort of beers, the yanks may be citrussing them up? and as gordon strong says maybe just red in colour and not much else.
So lets define what a traditional ( if there is an definition) Irish red is exactly and maybe set that as the theme or maybe just go with Bjcp which Gordon strong Knows clearly needs updating
Its funny as we don't want to restrict entries based on tight BJCP or GCB guidelines.
I would take the approach to see what folks enter and write a guideline based on groupings what we thought was an appropriate beer for Irish Red, which is another reason why we want winners to share method and formulation so that in round terms we can see what direction we should be point BJCP in, also in Wicklow we have no formal BJCP experience and would be depending on the more Senior judges for their guidance and input.
AJ to answer your question, we are really trying to get away from bigger hopped beer here and leave that sort of stuff to our US chums, we have some of the best barley in the world and its time to let it shine and come through in the flavour of your beer.
An entry would't be disqualified just marked down as it failed one of the criteria. "Hops should be the minor contributor"
If you did something clever and used Bog Myrtle or alternative for bittering that may be a different story.
"we have some of the best barley in the world and its time to let it shine"
Here here...like the scotch ales....focus on the magical flavours that barley malt can produce when we cut back on the hops and just use them for the balance rather than them being the main event
Hi CH,
Will be a maximum number of entries per entrant in the GCB competition?
Shanna
Quote from: Shanna on March 13, 2014, 10:55:12 PM
Hi CH,
Will be a maximum number of entries per entrant in the GCB competition?
Shanna
Very good question, and you are right to raise it, the prizes are good and we don't want a flood from individuals so 2 is the answer to your question.
Personally I will be trying several styles over the summer and will decide on the best 2.
I am hoping we get close to 40 brewers enter, I know 10 in wicklow will be having a good go at it :)
Joint brews from collectives of max 3 brewers would also be allowed, but 10 fellas brewing in a barrel would not :(
Objective is always not to take away from the Nationals, but if we get massive interest, we could probably stretch a bit the 60 max entry number.
Quote from: CH on March 13, 2014, 11:00:56 PM
Quote from: Shanna on March 13, 2014, 10:55:12 PM
Hi CH,
Will be a maximum number of entries per entrant in the GCB competition?
Shanna
Very good question, and you are right to raise it, the prizes are good and we don't want a flood from individuals so 2 is the answer to your question.
Personally I will be trying several styles over the summer and will decide on the best 2.
I am hoping we get close to 40 brewers enter, I know 10 in wicklow will be having a good go at it :)
Joint brews from collectives of max 3 brewers would also be allowed, but 10 fellas brewing in a barrel would not :(
I have an Irish Red already brewed that I like in terms of taste, aroma etc but not happy with the colour (roasted barley qty snafu). I want to brew the recipe again with the error corrected and if its as good then hope to be able to enter both.
Thanks for the confirmation.
Shanna
Date and prizes announced
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,6177.msg78514.html#msg78514
Great idea CH. Sticking on the first attempt today. I brew most Sundays so Red's will be the recipe of choice for the next month or so. It'll give me another chance to ply around with this CaraRed >:D
Reminder folks,
The Garden County Brewers - Irish Red Ale Competition is being held on the 23rd August.
We need your beers brewed and ready by 1st August. (Edited to correct date)
This means that you need to be planning to brew your beers in the next few weeks.
Entries will open on 1st July.
Remember, great prizes for those great beers http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,6177.msg78514.html#msg78514 (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,6177.msg78514.html#msg78514)
[cheesy Marty Whelan voice] If you're not in, you can't win.
REMINDER:
The entry process for both the GCB and the NCB comps will open on the 1st of July
Should Payment be made to NHC Bank or NHC Paypal?
Quote from: johnrm on July 15, 2014, 10:32:34 AM
Should Payment be made to NHC Bank or NHC Paypal?
Hi John, either but if using paypal please pay the fees