Homebrew Competitions

[EsJay_Brewing]

Hey All,

Is there maybe a website with a list of upcoming/furute homebrew competitions. I am way off being able to enter such a thing but would maybe like to know as it could be something to work to!

[Barley Water]

Well, I can't help you with a list of competitions in your neighborhood since I am on the other side of the world. I would however say that if you can make a bottle of beer, you should think about entering competitions. My attitude is basicly "life is too short to drink bad beer". To that end, competitions are good because you get genuine feedback about your efforts. You could ask a friend to try your beer and unless the stuff is really bad, most people will not tell you to your face that your beer needs work. Having a buddy blow smoke up your rear end may make you feel good but it won't help you make better beer. I know that I am really bad when it comes to evaluating my own stuff, you know "a skunk never smells his own odor". I find it very enlightening to read a score sheet and sip on the beer being evaluated at the same time. Really good judges can tell you what the problems are and often what you need to do to correct them.

Having said that, I know some people that I swear make beer just so they can compete and win. I don't make styles that I don't want to drink myself but I know people who do just because they believe they can win a metal. I only enter two or three competitions a year, the biggest by far is the one coming up here in March. I will only put beer into the ring if I think it is good (of course as discussed, I sometimes end up seriously questioning my own judgement) and I personally refuse to double enter. If you have a chance to judge, by all means take advantage of the opportunity. I think competing and judging allows you to refine your taste, after all, it's pretty hard to make better beer if you can't tell the difference. The other good thing about getting involved with competitions is that you meet some neat people and if you listen closely, you will learn a ton. Most homebrewers that I know are more than happy to help others out, especially somebody new to the game. Finally, the most important reason to enter your beer is that, it's fun. After all, is that not what it's really all about?

[EsJay_Brewing]

Yeah i only wanna make beers that I will drink! Waste otherwise! So far a stout, next up a pale easy drinking beer, then a mild!

[Gadders]

Hey,
I am in the same boat as you guys, I like to make beer that I like and am interested and wold like to enter comps to get a little feed back. The only comp that I am aware of is the CBA nationals http://www.craft brewing.org.uk/index.shtml but I am sure some one with a little more wisdom would be able to sugest a few more?

[alfie09]

i have set up a few comepetitions with local micro brewer and you get to win so many of her beers and there a few lads of here to that do them also see here were we post our info for comepetitions here http://brewexchange.forumotion.com/. also on the last webpage i showed you all we all put beer's up for swaps so you cant try stuff before you made it. i think there are more people on here than the other forum so you lot will make these beer swaps even better and the competetions even better to so come on lads join in,

my latest competiton is a stout one see this thread here <link removed>. make something black and stouty no real limits it's nothing seroius just a good laugh. bottles to be in 15-16 february


MOD Comment: References to a certain internet retailer removed as per forum rules, sorry.

[alfie09]

let me know lads who is entering if anyone should make things more fun the more we get to join in swapping and competitions. i know on the brewexchange bozbrew as a lager one going on soon. join up to the brewexchange and look through the comepetition part of it! and join upto the onlinehomebrew forum to

[EsJay_Brewing]

I am entering the Stout competition with my AGno1!

Bottle will be with you 1t week of Feb!

[alfie09]

ok mate no problems the more the merrier have you got the address for the jollybrewer?

[EsJay_Brewing]

Yeah I have the address, Could you PM me a link to the thread that was removed from this topic?

Cheers.

[PureGuiness]

Here's the link to the summary list of current competitions.

They have been successful so far but we are starting to hit a problem with entrant numbers. They have dwindled from 10 or more down to a couple for the stout one so far. As the winner of the IPA competition I can confirm that Penes beers that are offered as a prize are fantastic.

So get brewing and enter some competitions for the fun of it - and the chance of free beer.

[Barley Water]

Wow, I am surprised that you guys over there don't have more participation in contests. The club I belong to over here has a small, club only contest every other month with just one style and it is not unusual to get 10 or so entries. The big contest we do here in March will have somewhat north of 1,200 entries if history is any guide (and it is actually getting bigger all the time which is causing logistical problems). I guess us Yanks just love to try and beat the hell out of each other at almost everything we do.

[Trunky]

[PureGuiness]

It is good to get constructive criticism and feedback on brews though. All part of the learning experience.

[DaveyT]

Wow, I am surprised that you guys over there don't have more participation in contests. The club I belong to over here has a small, club only contest every other month with just one style and it is not unusual to get 10 or so entries. The big contest we do here in March will have somewhat north of 1,200 entries if history is any guide (and it is actually getting bigger all the time which is causing logistical problems). I guess us Yanks just love to try and beat the hell out of each other at almost everything we do.

The English aren't really that into penis waving.

Well... There are certain beaches here in Gran Canaria where more than a couple of English lads would be willing to wave whatever came to hand, I'm sure. Or at least, that's what I've heard. I'm no expert on such matters, obviously.

[coatesg]

It is good to get constructive criticism and feedback on brews though. All part of the learning experience.

Quite - competition is not a bad thing IMHO, if the feedback you get improves the quality of your beer.