National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Brewing Communities => Wee County Brewers => Topic started by: helmet on April 12, 2015, 02:57:49 PM

Title: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 12, 2015, 02:57:49 PM
Righto lads, consider me your friendly neighbourhood bottle collector for this competition.
You've to register by May 8th.

Anybody reckon they'll be entering anything?


http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=9298.msg115064.msg#115064
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: cronan on April 12, 2015, 09:03:56 PM
Will probably enter either the citra or amarillo pale ale that i brought Friday night, not sure which.  I am also thinking of brewing an american amber.
Are you thinking of entering yourself?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 12, 2015, 09:06:23 PM
Yeah, liked both of them, but the citra was my favourite. I'll stick in a pale I have here and thinking of maybe doing an amber next week if I get the time. I'll send you my address or I might be up in Dundalk at some stage over the next few weeks.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: cronan on April 12, 2015, 10:21:16 PM
What date do you need bottles for?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 13, 2015, 06:55:16 AM
I go it an email from them just saying that they'll be collected in early May. Registration closes on the 8th, so assume after that.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: itsclinto on April 13, 2015, 09:10:53 AM
Quote from: helmet on April 12, 2015, 02:57:49 PM
Righto lads, consider me your friendly neighbourhood bottle collector for this competition.

If you can't drop the bottles up to Dublin, give me a shout and i'll fly up.  I'll tell the wife i'm going for a quick spin  :P
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on April 13, 2015, 02:07:39 PM
i'm planning on entering 2 beers,my brown ale(even though the hops are pretty non existant already) and an amarillo smash that i still havent gotten round to brewing yet
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 13, 2015, 06:55:41 PM
Grand job, sure let me know when you're ready and we can organise getting them to Wicklow.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on April 13, 2015, 07:09:15 PM
what about if we collect them all at the may meeting (8th)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 13, 2015, 07:10:16 PM
Better again!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on April 30, 2015, 06:19:43 PM
Just an idea like, but I know I'm going to be pretty tapped out beerwise after Vantastival and I know a few of yis are going to Brewcon on the 9th. Do yis fancy giving the meeting on the 8th a miss and coming back strong in June?
If so, I can collect entries for the Garden County comp this Sunday.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on April 30, 2015, 06:25:50 PM
Quote from: helmet on April 30, 2015, 06:19:43 PM. Do yis fancy giving the meeting on the 8th a miss.

No :P
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 02, 2015, 11:35:44 AM
sooooooo, whats happening? Are we taking the competition entries up with us tomorrow?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 02, 2015, 11:52:18 AM
Sure if you have them I'll take them off you tomorrow. Did you register?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 02, 2015, 01:48:18 PM
aye, registered a while back and printed out the labels today
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 02, 2015, 01:57:30 PM
Grand job. Do you want to bring them tomorrow or are you carting enough stuff?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 02, 2015, 02:14:02 PM
I should be ok to take them. I don't think I've too much to bring along, I'm just doing a wee inventory now
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 17, 2015, 05:09:24 PM
Will you do me a wee favour there Helmet and double check that I have the correct labels on the correct bottles. The green caps should be the Pale Ale and the Yellow caps should be the Brown Ale. I got it the wrong way round at the meeting the other night and again last night when I thought I was opening my last bottle of Brown only to get a very Pale Ale
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 17, 2015, 05:14:26 PM
Just checked, you're grand. Bottles are being picked up on Thursday.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 17, 2015, 05:16:11 PM
Grand job cheers. May the best man come second
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 21, 2015, 08:46:38 PM
If only the competition was held last week. Myself and Aidan were drinking my Pale Ale the other night and the coconut had completely disappeared from it. It made it taste pretty underwhelming without it
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 21, 2015, 09:02:16 PM
Seriously? And there was a big bang of coconut off it last week!
Sure it might be grand.
The bottles got picked up today. Apparently we've put in the most entries after the Capital brewers.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 21, 2015, 09:53:15 PM
Statistically speaking we've a good change of winning something then. the Wee County Brewers will show 'em all how its done
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Acott on May 23, 2015, 11:41:50 AM
Best of luck lads!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 23, 2015, 11:52:37 AM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/23/cf700de9ba2d6571a1a93edd4cd81156.jpg)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 23, 2015, 11:55:39 AM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/23/1beedb02660fe920e4d9f405a0a9c529.jpg)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/23/1ff665ec7c881be7474e5b9d87c4518e.jpg)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: molc on May 23, 2015, 12:05:41 PM
Out of curiosity, when will all the results be up? Dying to see how we all got on :)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 23, 2015, 01:52:02 PM
You will be emailed and we will announce winners here at probably 5
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: irish_goat on May 23, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
I take it my brown envelope arrived?  >:D
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 23, 2015, 04:03:35 PM
Quote from: irish_goat on May 23, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
I take it my brown envelope arrived?  >:D
There was only a fiver in it. Don't know if that will swing it!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 23, 2015, 09:13:26 PM
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Results!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st Place Maja Kristek    Ceductive Citra  36 Pts

2nd Place  Jakub Scheibe  AA   43 Pts

3rd Place   Damian Fahy  Breaking Bad Brown 38 Pts


To other entrants you will get your individual scores soon.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: johnrm on May 23, 2015, 09:54:33 PM
Congrats lads!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 23, 2015, 09:55:01 PM
Mighty stuff!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Jacob on May 23, 2015, 10:44:21 PM
Wo ho!!! Congrats to all!!!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 23, 2015, 11:16:49 PM
I have met Maja on many occasions at Altech RDS Nationals etc and I knew she was very knowledgeable about beer, what I didn't know she is also clearly an accomplished brewer.

I had the pleasure of judging her beer in BOS and all judges agreed it was the outstanding beer of the competition and the perfect balance of Malt and Hops.

I do hope she will share that recipe with us now  :)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: nigel_c on May 24, 2015, 12:34:53 AM
Today way my first chance, and privilege of judging for a NHC event. Very well organized and ran without any visible problems. From what I judged and saw the quality was low. A lot of serious basic mistakes like temp control of fermentation and from what I saw PLEASE READ THE STYLE GUIDELINES before entering.

A lot of chocolate brown beers in the Amber catodry.
Freshness of ingredients also a key factor.
Several of the judges felt that some of the beers entered were beers that were entered into and did well in the Nationals buy are now past their best.
Great day today lads but hard work.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: danger_zone on May 24, 2015, 01:39:28 AM
I demand a recount 😋
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shane Phelan on May 24, 2015, 10:22:18 AM
I would really plead with the brewers who got a low score to put up their score sheet and their recipe and talk about their brewing process.  We were discussing at the competition that one or two changes to your brewing process could make a massive difference to the final result. These things could be not using fresh ingredients, yeast management, sanitation, water quality, fermentation temperatures etc...

It would be of huge benefit to everyone to have this discussion as we could all learn from it.

I'm going to print off my scoresheets and hand them out at the next capital meet for people to read the feedback as they sample my beer and taste the flaws for themselves. Capital have agreed yesterday that we are no longer going to be blowing sunshine up peoples arses at meets from now on, if your beer has minor flaws at one of our meets they are going to be laid out on the table. In fairness we have always flagged serious flaws and usually solved the cause of the problem. 


In addition to this and I think we are going to post about this separately but the habit of encouraging people to send in their beers to competitions for "feedback" needs to stop. The first port of call for for feedback is at your club meets, you should be entering competitions with the aim of winning. The feedback from competitions should be mainly commenting on minor flaws that allow you to put the final tweaks that will help move your beer from the "good" category to "great" category.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 24, 2015, 10:53:20 AM
Good idea, I'll stick mine up later. Got a 22 for my PA and 30 for my AA. Diacetyl seems to be my problem. I've a fridge put aside and an STC winging it's way from China. Was going to brew today, but I think I'll hold off until I have my fermentation temp sorted!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shane Phelan on May 24, 2015, 10:56:24 AM
Yeah I remember judging a few with diacetyl. Do you know what temperature your ferment got up to?
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 24, 2015, 04:08:34 PM
I think it might have gotten a high as 24. Hopefully the auld STC will be my saviour!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: cronan on May 24, 2015, 04:21:37 PM
Didn't go well for myself.
I scored 27 for My PA - not to style, hop aroma good but no malt presence.
http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20PA/Scan_20150523_32_zpslqcedg9y.jpg.html?sort=3&o=24 (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20PA/Scan_20150523_32_zpslqcedg9y.jpg.html?sort=3&o=24)
http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20PA/Scan_20150523_31_zpsfbod5iti.jpg.html?sort=3&o=25 (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20PA/Scan_20150523_31_zpsfbod5iti.jpg.html?sort=3&o=25)

I scored 24 for my AA - alcohol, solvent taste fermentation issues. I do have a STC so not sure how this happened
http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20AA/Scan_20150523_15_zpsmlll41zc.jpg.html?sort=3&o=17 (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20AA/Scan_20150523_15_zpsmlll41zc.jpg.html?sort=3&o=17)
http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20AA/Scan_20150523_16_zpslgvcccdx.jpg.html?sort=3&o=16 (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/joctcl/media/GCB%20AA/Scan_20150523_16_zpslgvcccdx.jpg.html?sort=3&o=16)

Very impressed with how quick we got score sheets. Thanks to the organisers.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 24, 2015, 04:28:02 PM
Quote from: shiny on May 24, 2015, 10:22:18 AM
I would really plead with the brewers who got a low score to put up their score sheet and their recipe and talk about their brewing process.  We were discussing at the competition that one or two changes to your brewing process could make a massive difference to the final result. These things could be not using fresh ingredients, yeast management, sanitation, water quality, fermentation temperatures etc...
Shiny as a judge would appreciate your feedback on the  following http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,9820.msg121351.html#msg121351

South Dublin have had Rossa around a few times and no fear of smoke or otherwise being blown up anybodies arse or otherwise in terms of flaws being outlined :) Frustrating part of things going wrong is not being able to definitively figure out the cause of some problems. Personally I have received negative feedback on beers which is hard to take sometimes especially when its not clear as to what actually causes it. Temperature control, sanitation, pitching sufficient quantities of yeast and learning to let the beer finish before transferring it are all things that have been pointed out in the past. I am slowing trying to eliminate these by changes to process and equipment but just when I think I have it cracked something else that was not a problem previously crops up. Sometimes this hobby is infuriating :)

Shanna 
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 24, 2015, 04:31:36 PM
Remember entrants the links to the scores aren't gonna be there after 4 weeks for readers of the forum in the future!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 24, 2015, 04:38:12 PM
You should come out to one of our meets its like doing 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, why? because shit beer is shit beer and we all want to help each other work out what their problem in what they brewed is instead of them thinking its ok  :(
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 24, 2015, 04:46:25 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on May 24, 2015, 04:38:12 PM
You should come out to one of our meets its like doing 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, why? because shit beer is shit beer and we all want to help each other work out what their problem in what they brewed is instead of them thinking its ok  :(
Own worst critic here when I know what it is wrong I won't lie to myself. However picking out the flaw when you don't have any reference/experience to guide you is tough.
Shanna
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Damo on May 24, 2015, 08:05:34 PM
Delighted with the results!

Well done all ;D

Out of interest, both of my entries made it to BOS.

Brown scored 38
Amber scored 39

Congrats to all involved, I'd a great day out :)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Bubbles on May 24, 2015, 10:37:43 PM

Quote from: nigel_c on May 24, 2015, 12:34:53 AM
From what I judged and saw the quality was low. A lot of serious basic mistakes like temp control of fermentation and from what I saw PLEASE READ THE STYLE GUIDELINES before entering.

Great day today lads but hard work.

Completely agree with Nigel on everything there. Personally, I found yesterday's judging was a pretty horrendous experience. I judged only 9 beers, excluding the BOS. I'd say only 3 of those were both drinkable and decent examples of the style, though unremarkable. I also sampled a couple of beers in other flights. Here's where I get a little pissed off.. Several beers were absolutely riddled with solvent. Another beer was so badly infected I immediately spat it into another glass and probably turned the stomach of poor Ed opposite me. But I had to keep sipping this crap for the next 15 mins because someone had paid their fiver. Not pleasant at all..

Later in the day the assembled judges had a discussion about having to taste lots of beers like this in competitions. To my relief, most of the judges were of a similar view to me - beers that are obviously infected or undrinkable due to serious process flaws should NOT be entered in competitions! No judge should have to taste crap like that, and by entering mucky beers you're just making a mockery of the hard working lads who give up their time to organise these competitions. A couple of judges took a different view on this, but it's my belief that local meets are the best place for inexperienced brewers to get constructive feedback on beers they suspect are dodgy. If there's no local clubs near you then you can still arrange to drop off your beer to another home brewer. There's lots of people who would be happy to oblige with this.

This attitude of "I know this tastes like shit, but I'm going to enter it anyway, to see what they say.." needs to stop.

I know some of you are probably saying "what, you want to be a beer judge, but you only want to judge the good beers??". It's a fair question - but I know I don't want to subject my liver or brain to that kind of punishment on a regular basis. To be honest, given my experience on Saturday, and a similar experience judging at the Nationals last March, I'm very unsure about pursuing a "career" as a certified BJCP judge. The headache I had this morning was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. And I'm blaming the nail polish remover some people seem to think is "beer".

Apologies if this makes me sound like an arsehole but I think this is a serious issue and it needs wider discussion, not just among a handful of judges.

On a positive note, between all of us, we were able to identify the small number of good beers and the three medal winners got their rewards for a job well done.

Right, go on then, have a go at me..
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 24, 2015, 11:40:46 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on May 24, 2015, 10:37:43 PM

Quote from: nigel_c on May 24, 2015, 12:34:53 AM
From what I judged and saw the quality was low. A lot of serious basic mistakes like temp control of fermentation and from what I saw PLEASE READ THE STYLE GUIDELINES before entering.

Great day today lads but hard work.

Completely agree with Nigel on everything there. Personally, I found yesterday's judging was a pretty horrendous experience. I judged only 9 beers, excluding the BOS. I'd say only 3 of those were both drinkable and decent examples of the style, though unremarkable. I also sampled a couple of beers in other flights. Here's where I get a little pissed off.. Several beers were absolutely riddled with solvent. Another beer was so badly infected I immediately spat it into another glass and probably turned the stomach of poor Ed opposite me. But I had to keep sipping this crap for the next 15 mins because someone had paid their fiver. Not pleasant at all..

Later in the day the assembled judges had a discussion about having to taste lots of beers like this in competitions. To my relief, most of the judges were of a similar view to me - beers that are obviously infected or undrinkable due to serious process flaws should NOT be entered in competitions! No judge should have to taste crap like that, and by entering mucky beers you're just making a mockery of the hard working lads who give up their time to organise these competitions. A couple of judges took a different view on this, but it's my belief that local meets are the best place for inexperienced brewers to get constructive feedback on beers they suspect are dodgy. If there's no local clubs near you then you can still arrange to drop off your beer to another home brewer. There's lots of people who would be happy to oblige with this.

This attitude of "I know this tastes like shit, but I'm going to enter it anyway, to see what they say.." needs to stop.

I know some of you are probably saying "what, you want to be a beer judge, but you only want to judge the good beers??". It's a fair question - but I know I don't want to subject my liver or brain to that kind of punishment on a regular basis. To be honest, given my experience on Saturday, and a similar experience judging at the Nationals last March, I'm very unsure about pursuing a "career" as a certified BJCP judge. The headache I had this morning was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. And I'm blaming the nail polish remover some people seem to think is "beer".

Apologies if this makes me sound like an arsehole but I think this is a serious issue and it needs wider discussion, not just among a handful of judges.

On a positive note, between all of us, we were able to identify the small number of good beers and the three medal winners got their rewards for a job well done.

Right, go on then, have a go at me..
Strong words and I suspect that nobody intentionally is trying to give you or any other judge a headache from solvent I. otherwise. But to remain a bit of balance it might be instructive to assist those who entered to diagnose the root cause. I was one of those whose beers had a solvent aftertaste remarked upon. I brought the beer to the prior South Dublin meet. One person remarked on that it maybe a fuesel alcohol but I don't remember any mention of a possible cause than high temperature which I discounted due to the temperature control I have had just started using. The local meets are good & feedback is forthcoming from different people yourself included. The feedback however does need to be more directed to help people get to the root cause of problems.

Sympathise on your hangover but I would imagine it's a hazard of the job.

Shanna
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: molc on May 25, 2015, 08:05:38 AM
Shanna hit the nail on the head there. The quality of feedback at local meets us usually quite poor, which leaves competitions as one of the few ways of getting useful critique on your beers, if you are the sort of brewer for who this is inportant.
At the local club level, we really need to do some more critical tasting or set aside a portion of the evening for some real grilling on people's beers.
The other side of poor entries is that your feedback may stomp out that issue and make that person finally sit up and fix that part of their process. After the nationals, I really worked on temperature control and yeast and stomped out the off flavours I was seeing in my beers. The comments from the competition were able to guide me in the right direction here.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Bubbles on May 25, 2015, 09:13:31 AM
Shanna, just to be clear. I didn't judge your beer at the comp so I wasn't referring specifically to your beer. :)

I hear what you're saying - maybe it's part and parcel of the job. But only up to a point.. Try drinking three or four of those kinds of beers in a row and maintain your enthusiasm for beer judging. Several of the judges, certified and much more experienced than I, were saying the same yesterday. Also, minor off flavours are one thing, but anyone who's entering badly infected beers into competitions really needs to reconsider.

As regards the meets, it's fair to say that critical evaluation is often lost amongst the general banter. But it's up to you, not the group, to make sure you get the evaluation and remedial advice you want. It's not a big effort to grab someone aside and ask for their advice - I do it all the time at the meets and have always got the advice I needed.

Your own beer at the last meet did have hot alcohols, though I remember at least three people were of this opinion. But as you say, you quickly discounted the advice that was on offer regarding hot ferm temps. I do think people were trying to do our best to advise, but it's hard to do so without knowing your procedures and so on.

Fair points molc. But as i said above, the meets are whatever you want them to be. It's not always realistic have a calm and ordered analysis over the tables when you have ten chaps drinking beers. Especially if the meets are big in numbers. But if you grab people aside selectively, then you'll get whatever advice you need.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Will_D on May 25, 2015, 09:23:48 AM
If you consider a beer undrinkable then: STOP! Don't drink any more there is no point in poluting your pallate.

There is probably a clue in the nose first, but maybe not. So cautious sip and then apply the above test.

Our 8th beer (so just before lunch) was a truly phenolic 13. I tatsted it once and that was it!

We were then offered another beer to judge before lunch which we declines as it would take lunch to cleanse the pallate.

So there you are. The brewer gets feedback about the MAJOR problem. But you don't try to keep scoring all the other attributes. It gets 13 and probably the only other score on the sheet is for appearance!

I am not going to mark the carb level, mouthfeel, hop nose and tastes etc and try to get them to add up to 13 ! It gets an overall of 13 period.

HTH other judges
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 25, 2015, 12:09:01 PM
Grain, especially crushed and Hops go off even when hops stored vac packed in freezer.
Don't be afraid to chuck as what went in my bin over week-end, your beer will thank you for it

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/25/ce1f3f537f544e5d7dc829aa87102b09.jpg)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/25/a87008825bf71814a25a59df7636285e.jpg)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 25, 2015, 12:48:47 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on May 25, 2015, 09:13:31 AM
Shanna, just to be clear. I didn't judge your beer at the comp so I wasn't referring specifically to your beer. :)

I hear what you're saying - maybe it's part and parcel of the job. But only up to a point.. Try drinking three or four of those kinds of beers in a row and maintain your enthusiasm for beer judging. Several of the judges, certified and much more experienced than I, were saying the same yesterday. Also, minor off flavours are one thing, but anyone who's entering badly infected beers into competitions really needs to reconsider.

As regards the meets, it's fair to say that critical evaluation is often lost amongst the general banter. But it's up to you, not the group, to make sure you get the evaluation and remedial advice you want. It's not a big effort to grab someone aside and ask for their advice - I do it all the time at the meets and have always got the advice I needed.

Your own beer at the last meet did have hot alcohols, though I remember at least three people were of this opinion. But as you say, you quickly discounted the advice that was on offer regarding hot ferm temps. I do think people were trying to do our best to advise, but it's hard to do so without knowing your procedures and so on.
Hi Bubbles,

Ut would not matter whether or not you were referring to my own beer as I am speaking in general anyhow. I have felt for a while now that our own meet has started to stray a bit away from tasting the home brew and instead focusing on the craic/fun of several middle aged men getting let out once a month (guilty as charged your honour). Specifically I would suggest two or three small tweaks including no drinking from the bar till after the home brew is tasted, encourage people to sniff, taste and probably spit to avoid overdoing it on the booze. I would also expect that some klnd of pallet cleanser like crackers would help to that end.

I don't want to be a kill joy but I think that if heads are a little more engaged that it would improve the level of feedback that is on offer and encourage us all to discuss, dissect and get to the bottom of issues that people are having. Would be interested to hear what you think on my suggestions? Personally I have found it very hard to recently to get quality feedback even though I know that there are lingering issues that I am aware of and want to diagnose and eliminate wherever possible.

Shanna
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Dr Jacoby on May 25, 2015, 12:58:20 PM
Nooooo! Those hops could have been used in a lambic!   8)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 25, 2015, 02:07:49 PM
There was a kg of them! No shortage of aged hops out there! Start a thread you would be swamped.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Andrew on May 25, 2015, 02:23:56 PM
(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/62512046.jpg)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Bubbles on May 26, 2015, 10:30:53 AM
Quote from: Shanna on May 25, 2015, 12:48:47 PMSpecifically I would suggest two or three small tweaks including no drinking from the bar till after the home brew is tasted

I don't think you'll get many takers on that. I certainly wouldn't be in favour. Firstly, because I like having a few nice pints on the night. And secondly, because the DH is not a drop-in centre. It's a business, and it's everyone's responsibility to buy a few pints from the bar to thank them for their hospitality. The home brew tends to get finished well past 10pm. That's not much of a return for the DH on a school night.

Quote from: Shanna on May 25, 2015, 12:48:47 PMI don't want to be a kill joy but I think that if heads are a little more engaged that it would improve the level of feedback that is on offer and encourage us all to discuss, dissect and get to the bottom of issues that people are having. Would be interested to hear what you think on my suggestions? Personally I have found it very hard to recently to get quality feedback even though I know that there are lingering issues that I am aware of and want to diagnose and eliminate wherever possible.

I have to say, I always get what I need out of the SD meets. I listen to the opinions on my beers, and if none are forthcoming, I specifically ask for some. People frequently suggest improvements, and if I think they're worth doing, I implement them. If  i want advice on Belgian styles, I ask Brewtus.. If I want advice on meads or BJCP comp stuff, I ask Beerfly.. I grabbed Rossa aside 2 months ago to ask him about doing my first sours. And so on.. I don't see why you're saying the feedback you get is not up to scratch? You need to take whatever you need out of the meets.

We have small numbers which encourages plenty of table-wide chatter about the beers being tasted. Like all of the meets, there are plenty of opportunities for breakaway chats to diagnose specific issues. If you don't feel you're getting anything out of the meets, then you need to explore other avenues - like looking for advice from more experienced home brewers on a 1:1 basis. I know it must be frustrating for you, but I don't think blaming the "low-quality" feedback is your answer here.

But by all means, put it to the group on Thursday evening and see what they think.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 26, 2015, 10:54:16 AM
Quote from: Bubbles on May 26, 2015, 10:30:53 AM
Quote from: Shanna on May 25, 2015, 12:48:47 PMSpecifically I would suggest two or three small tweaks including no drinking from the bar till after the home brew is tasted

I don't think you'll get many takers on that. I certainly wouldn't be in favour. Firstly, because I like having a few nice pints on the night. And secondly, because the DH is not a drop-in centre. It's a business, and it's everyone's responsibility to buy a few pints from the bar to thank them for their hospitality. The home brew tends to get finished well past 10pm. That's not much of a return for the DH on a school night.

Quote from: Shanna on May 25, 2015, 12:48:47 PMI don't want to be a kill joy but I think that if heads are a little more engaged that it would improve the level of feedback that is on offer and encourage us all to discuss, dissect and get to the bottom of issues that people are having. Would be interested to hear what you think on my suggestions? Personally I have found it very hard to recently to get quality feedback even though I know that there are lingering issues that I am aware of and want to diagnose and eliminate wherever possible.

I have to say, I always get what I need out of the SD meets. I listen to the opinions on my beers, and if none are forthcoming, I specifically ask for some. People frequently suggest improvements, and if I think they're worth doing, I implement them. If  i want advice on Belgian styles, I ask Brewtus.. If I want advice on meads or BJCP comp stuff, I ask Beerfly.. I grabbed Rossa aside 2 months ago to ask him about doing my first sours. And so on.. I don't see why you're saying the feedback you get is not up to scratch? You need to take whatever you need out of the meets.

We have small numbers which encourages plenty of table-wide chatter about the beers being tasted. Like all of the meets, there are plenty of opportunities for breakaway chats to diagnose specific issues. If you don't feel you're getting anything out of the meets, then you need to explore other avenues - like looking for advice from more experienced home brewers on a 1:1 basis. I know it must be frustrating for you, but I don't think blaming the "low-quality" feedback is your answer here.

But by all means, put it to the group on Thursday evening and see what they think.
I was not suggesting no drinking just to defer a little later in the evening as i thought the idea was to concentrate on the home brew & reward the DH for their largess by buying a few pints afterwards. Your right however best to pitch it to the group. I am not saying feedback is up to scratch but I am saying that recently I have felt it's getting displaced by the banter & focus on having a few pints at the same time. I am not trying to proscribe but instead suggest by the way Would you think the DH would have any problem with us bringing along crackers as pallet cleansers?

Shanna
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: molc on May 26, 2015, 10:59:42 AM
I think a lot of this dishcssion should happen in the scd sub forum or at the meet lads.
Generally though, one idea for beers that need constructive feeedback is maybe bring your brewsheet and notes with recipe from the brew day, so people can really break things down to give some feedback. Also if you slap out your notes in front of you, people will know that beer is looking for some real critique and give it to you straight.
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Bubbles on May 26, 2015, 11:19:03 AM
i'm sure they'd have no objects to a few crackers. As long as we don't put cheese on them.. ;)

molc's right, we're probably better off discussing this elsewhere.. Preferably over a pint!

Sorry Wee County lads! :)
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Shanna on May 26, 2015, 12:37:07 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on May 26, 2015, 11:19:03 AM
i'm sure they'd have no objects to a few crackers. As long as we don't put cheese on them.. ;)

molc's right, we're probably better off discussing this elsewhere.. Preferably over a pint!

Sorry Wee County lads! :)
Ditto, apologies for commandeering the thread, decamping to our own forum section.

Shanna
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: helmet on May 26, 2015, 01:38:03 PM
Not at all, always a pleasure!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: CARA on May 26, 2015, 03:51:01 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on May 25, 2015, 12:09:01 PM
Grain, especially crushed and Hops go off even when hops stored vac packed in freezer.
Don't be afraid to chuck as what went in my bin over week-end, your beer will thank you for it




I recognise that Zeus!!
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Leann ull on May 26, 2015, 11:49:09 PM
4 brews and I was still swimming in it
Chucked 6 vials tonight dated feb
Don't think I'll ever get into AI
Title: Re: Garden County American Ale Comp
Post by: Maja on June 12, 2015, 09:18:07 PM
I've received my voucher, can't wait to use it :) Thank you!

Recipe is posted, if you decide to try it make sure to leave me a bottle ;)