Beer Forum

I'm pretty sure I understand the basic instructions for packaging beer for competitions (labels, wrapping, shipping, etc.) but what do you do for beers that you've had cold conditioning at fridge temperatures? At what temperature do the judges sample your brew? Will your beer get skunked if you've had it in the fridge for a few weeks and then send it warm to competition?

If you are really badass (like Tasty? Gordon?) you chill them down really cold, pack them in a well insulated box, drop them off at FedEx right before the truck leaves and pay for overnight shipping. They will get to the comp still cold.

More common is to pack them cold or room temp, ship them ground, and the organizers will put them in cold storage at least a few days before the judging to let them settle out from all the moving. They will be served to the judges at a reasonable temperature (usually too cold it seems) but it's not hard to adjust that a little at the table.

If I know my entries will get warm during shipping I usually let them warm to room temp before I pack them so the bottle sweat won't dampen the entry forms or packing material.

Are you actually physically at the competition? I'm a little worried that the fluctuations in temp. will have an adverse effect on the beer, but perhaps I'm too anal.

Smooch wrote:Are you actually physically at the competition? I'm a little worried that the fluctuations in temp. will have an adverse effect on the beer, but perhaps I'm too anal.

You are just being a little too anal. The temperature fluctuations won't hurt a thing. You might have a bit of a problem if the UPS truck hauling your beer breaks down in July in the middle of the Arizona desert but other than that, no problem.

Wayne

Smooch wrote: At what temperature do the judges sample your brew? Will your beer get skunked if you've had it in the fridge for a few weeks and then send it warm to competition?

Temperature changes do not "skunk" your beers. Light reactions to the hops is where you get the skunking. Use Brown bottles and you'll be fine.

As far as the temps at which the beers are judged. Each competition is different however they are supposed to and often try to serve the beers at the correct temp. However, that is not all that possible at times. Keep in mind, all the other beers you are being judged against are at the same temp as yours. So, do not worry about what you have no control over.

Best of Luck!