DannyW wrote:Every homebrew comp in Florida assigns entry numbers when you register your entries on line. then you print the label (including entry number) and tape it to the bottle to send in.
As far as I know there as not been a single issue with numbers getting passed from entrant to judge. Does seem implementing one more level of anonymity would be easy and eliminate most chances at impropriety. Keep the entry numbers on the labels, but pull sheets and flight sheets get a different number, perhaps called a judging number. Only the person with the table that ties entry numbers to judging numbers can fiddle with things.
This is barely here or there but I do think that whether assigned online or done in a separate process, the more important issue is that the numbers be randomized. Intentional cheating is a non-issue I think but a judge figuring out whose beer they are judging at a regional competition is not.
Real world example: a competition assigns sequential numbers to entries received sequentially (so in general a brewers' entries have sequential numbers). These are the numbers used on pull sheets and flight summary sheets and score sheets etc.
One local brewer is known for being a prolific and accomplished brewer of sour beers. Pull sheet for the sour category shows 4 numbers that are sequential. Local judge puts two and two together. You now can try to be fair but you know who brewed those four beers and can't get that information out of your mind.
I think if you randomize numbers and put out of town judges on fruit, shv and specialty then you have substantially eliminated the change of a judge accidentally figuring out who the brewer is. That leaves intentional coordinated cheating which again I think does not happen but if anyone wanted to do it you could not prevent it within reason.
Personally I have put enough effort into taking the BJCP exam and judging that I would not risk my status in the program to give some mediocre brewer a cheap medal. I can't imagine any BJCP judge deciding that cheating was worth their reputation.
