And the 2009 first round results are in...

[Field]

RJH - a few things
IPA is always a huge category, and I'm sure palate fatigue sets in for the judges, I think that category is one of those where you really benefit from the luck of the draw. Maybe not as much as in Smoked Beer (can anyone taste anything after the 3rd smoked beer sample?). But if your entry happens to be the 1st or 2nd in the flight I think you've got a better chance of winning IPA.
Also, there are a lot of great IPAs out there, I like the Rodger's IPA kit from More Beer, and I sent that into the NHC in 07 and 08 (didn't brew it yet this year) and each year it was scoring 38-42 on the score sheets but didn't make it past the 1st round because there are so many other great IPAs being entered.


Also, how old was it? It might have been the best beer you ever made, but with IPA the age (escpecially exasperated by shipping and the heat in those UPS trucks) will start to bring the scores down quickly. For example - I'd bet that everyone who goes on to win in the IPA category-2nd round rebrewed and doesn't send from the same batch as the 1st - it's just too long in between judging. A single batch of IPA won't be good enough on both mid-April and mid-June to win both times.

[BDawg]

+1

29/30 IS a good score. It has a couple things that could be improved but it is a decent drinkable beer. This is the range that MOST home brew falls in.
When I judge, I EXPECT to find many beers in that range. It's a "typical competition-level homebrew".

[Oktober]

Anyone in the North East recieved their scoresheets yet?

-Okt

[mr x]

Argh - Come one Canada, Great Lakes, Old West, and Southwest.[/url]

I've got a solution, remove Canada altogether until a properly representative event can be organized. Take a close look at the winning results (more than a few ALES members), the name of the club organizing the event (wow, it's ALES), and the other winning regions (mainly western Canadian club affiliated). Why even bother...

http://www.alesclub.com/index.php/compo ... on-results

[Field]

Argh - Come one Canada, Great Lakes, Old West, and Southwest.[/url]

I've got a solution, remove Canada altogether until a properly representative event can be organized. Take a close look at the winning results (more than a few ALES members), the name of the club organizing the event (wow, it's ALES), and the other winning regions (mainly western Canadian club affiliated). Why even bother...

http://www.alesclub.com/index.php/compo ... on-results

thats great, they've got their results posted, while we're waiting to have all the regions processed because the results are all supposed to be posted at the same time

[hotrod38]

Anyone in the North East recieved their scoresheets yet?

-Okt

No not yet. The NE is usually the last to get their sheets back.

[BrewerJ]

And were still waiting?

[RJH311]

Thanks for the uplifting spirit. After the initial quick bit of disappointment i'm back to reformulating the recipe and making it BETTER. i'm pumped that i scored well, but everybody knows that the best beer you've ever tasted is the one you brewed. Back on the horse and Brewing Strong.