Competitions

[Phil_L]

I think there is a lack of homebrew comps in the UK, and I do wonder how many of you would like to brew on a professional system, your own recipe (pending ingredients and tweeks) and see your beer on tap around London.

As you can see from my various connections with in the beer trade and brewing, I am tentively aranging a homebrew comp with the winner to come brew on a pro-system and your beer be on sale around london.

So, to give an early heads up, get brewing - single infusion, up to about 6% or the like. Style? English/American styles... yeast, stick to Cal Ale or English Ale for ease.

I would like 4x330's capped and not labelled. will draw up entry forms soon.

I am not entirely sure how many entries we'll get. The winner, 1/2/3 will get prizes from Beermerchants.com too.

Please feel free to email me on Phil@beermerchants.com if you have ideas or a bit of time to help organise, but those that help, won't be allowed to enter.

if you gave ideas... will love to hear them

[mysterio]

I'm on it!

Couple of questions,

- Is there a fee for entering ?
- Is there a limit to the number of entries per person?

[Phil_L]

fee? that's gonna be a pain in the harris to manage, so I think that it should be free this time? what do you think?

limits: 2 or 3? suggestions?

[mysterio]

Of course it should be free, forget I mentioned it

[DarloDave]

Free - its gonna cost a few quid to post the entries as it is, especially if you send 3 entries in, thats 12 bottles of beer . Im still gonna enter though . Any ideas on when this is going to take place?

[Phil_L]

ok, so free. Tbh, I couldn't be arsed, and especially as you two would be coming down from Boro and Glasgow, that's not gonna be cheep.

Time, early this summer. but avoiding the world cup.

keep the suggestions coming.

will draw up a webpage on a site I have, leave the comments box open, once we've got to a point more set in stone...

good movements so far.

[crookedeyeboy]

This sounds like a great idea! Count me in!

[garwatts]

OK - I'll volunteer to do the tasting

[coatesg]

Sounds interesting - though I'd say that 4x330ml bottles is a funny size and 4x500ml/pint is (IMHO) a much more common size to find empty and use. Plus, you should probably accept beer in draught as lots of people just don't bother wth bottling. Assume there'll be a tasting for entrants after the main judging? in which case 4x330ml won't be enough!

Limiting the method and yeast seems strange (why should a step mash/decoction not be allowed?) and rather than giving a maximum ABV, you'd be much better off giving classes for entries, and it won't exclude strong bitters/old ales/barley wine etc. Plus, what's wrong with someone turning up with a "non-english/american ale" style? Obviously, if there aren't enough entries, then you combine classes to even them out a bit.

[boingy]

I think Phil was aiming for something a little smaller than a full-on multi-category competition. Limiting the entries to a single style makes it easier to judge.

[coatesg]

I think Phil was aiming for something a little smaller than a full-on multi-category competition. Limiting the entries to a single style makes it easier to judge.

That's fair enough (little acorns and all that ) - but English/american styles;english/cal ale yeast;under 6% ABV includes a fair number of styles already!

[mysterio]

I thought it was probably due to the limitations of the pro-brewers system, maybe not set up to do lagers, 11% barleywines, etc.

[adm]

Excellent - I'm on it too!

Question for Phil.....(probably too early to answer though). If you want bottles, do they need to be bottle conditioned - and if so, will you have space/time to let them settle properly after transit?

Great idea Phil! I'd love to see my beer brewed on a commercial system - and then on sale at BeerMerchants!

I think the standard of competition here will be very high....

[crookedeyeboy]

I think the standard of competition here will be very high....

[Phil_L]

Sounds like you lot have made a good stab at it!

magic! and yes, the current trains of thought show a clear direction.


1, packaging, yes, 330ml's cheaper shipping? I suggested that to make life easier, and to have completely fair presentation on the judging. So, no labels, just crown cap label if you can.
2, Judging will be some Homebrew people, some from Ratebeer, some beer industry professionals, and people who I can round up, like other pro-brewers.
3, brewing - constrained by system I am afraid. Lagering etc as mentioned above are out. Keep it simple (single infusion) etc, tighter constraints bring out the creativity too!
4, conditioning - bottle conditioned/counter pressured? - I am going for bottle conditioned, so judging for the event will be said conditioning time after the announcement? how does that sound?
5, Settling after transit - yes, we have a cellar, on view.
6, Tasting/judging will be held in a open space, unless shit happens. meaning that I am not just standing in the brewery with mates opening beers... it will be done "professionally" with specific glassware - fluted stem ware. I have approached two people who have agreed to manage the tasting, I will also sort a moderator, a professional brewer.
7, I hope the standard will be f'ing awesome...

I will announce a date, soon? probably next fortnight.

please, let's keep this thread going - and invite those you can. I have opened this to the LAB group and Durden Park too. so, it's just go for it.

just please, NO BOTTLE BOMBS! do not send over carbonated beer, under is better just for safeties sake. We will take into account, as we're all brewers, but we can't be held liable for serious injury.

Hope this is coming along for you all, I am really excited.