Beer Forum

I want to enter a competition (the World Cup of Beer) and I've never done it before. I have some bottles of a good batch sitting around but they're a motley assortment. Some are anchor bottles and some are Deschuttes bottles that have the raised hop graphics. So here's my question: what is worse - entering the Deschuttes bottles, entering the anchor bottles, or maybe trying to transfer beer from 750mL bottles into unmarked longnecks. Thanks in advance!

Max

I would check with the competition organizer and see if those types of bottles will be accepted. Some comps will accept them, and some don't.

I've judged at World Cup (and nationals for that matter) and have gotten beer in raised letter bottles. I think the organizers are pretty relaxed about it, but you should check with the them just in case. And even if the beer is disqualified for an award you should still get scoresheets with plenty of good feedback. I wouldn't try re-transferring from other bottles - that will just make for an undercarbonated oxidized mess.

But as a judge I think it sends a bad first impression and it may influence the score slightly. But don't be discouraged from entering, especially if it's your first comp. You'll get a lot of insightful feedback, which in my opinion is much more valuable than the score given or any awards it earns.

I definitely agree with checking first. That said, if the anchor are just oddly shaped but still 10-14oz (really 12oz), but don't have raised letters, you are probably best with those for first impressions. As a judge I (often errantly) assume that anyone sending bottles that are 'against' the rules either didn't care enough to read the form or is a novice. I've been pleasantly surprised in some of these cases, but that impression sticks with me as I judge, though I try to fight it.

Transferring is a pain, and in my experience requires getting everything super cold (~32F) and flushing it all with CO2 before trying a very careful pour. Not my idea, certainly, I heard it here (BN) and tried it a few times. Even then, it takes some practice.

All the comps I've ever judged in, bottles with raised lettering (like Deschutes, RedHook, or Sam Adams bottles) were always admitted. That said, I agree with the above statements, it is definitely best to check first.

A worse "sin" is entering bottles with all the label glue and peeled label paper still on the bottle. I judeged yesterday and had a few of them like that. Definitely left a bad impression on me, like the guy didn't care enough about his beer to even bother sending in a clean bottle.

The competition organizers said that longenecks with raised graphics are fine. Apparently the BJCP didn't want judges to be biased towards regionally-sourced bottles at one point but they have relaxed the standard now that microbrews are better distributed.

Max