2014 NHC Competition Registration ...

[Bokonon]

It doesn't seem like folks are too concerned with the new process, so I hope it all goes smoothly for the NHC. I believe that a little more detail/transparency on the selection process would likely help to reduce post registration complaints.

Aside from that, any thought on how the 6 beer limit will affect the Ninkasi award? How many placing entries has the Ninkasi had in the the past (average?)?

In the past few years it is down to people with a couple medals in final round. Last year he had two 1st placers.

[brewinhard]

It doesn't seem like folks are too concerned with the new process, so I hope it all goes smoothly for the NHC. I believe that a little more detail/transparency on the selection process would likely help to reduce post registration complaints.

Aside from that, any thought on how the 6 beer limit will affect the Ninkasi award? How many placing entries has the Ninkasi had in the the past (average?)?

In the past few years it is down to people with a couple medals in final round. Last year he had two 1st placers.

Yeah, it will surely make the Ninkasi award a bit tighter now since people can't enter 15 entries anymore. Should be interesting. Who knows, maybe it's my year! Yeah, right....that'll be the day!

[breslinp]

It doesn't seem like folks are too concerned with the new process, so I hope it all goes smoothly for the NHC. I believe that a little more detail/transparency on the selection process would likely help to reduce post registration complaints.

Aside from that, any thought on how the 6 beer limit will affect the Ninkasi award? How many placing entries has the Ninkasi had in the the past (average?)?

I would probably enter all 6 entries only in lager and mead categories if I was going for Ninkasi. Less entries in those categories. You would improve your odds.

[mors]

I think for the most part the changes for the competition are positive. I would still prefer another 'qualification' layer to weed out weaker entries... but it seems most people want the competition to remain open to all who wish to enter. Just seems silly to me to have Mr. Beer beers run up against world class beers.... but that's a discussion for another day.

[TheDarkSide]

I think for the most part the changes for the competition are positive. I would still prefer another 'qualification' layer to weed out weaker entries... but it seems most people want the competition to remain open to all who wish to enter. Just seems silly to me to have Mr. Beer beers run up against world class beers.... but that's a discussion for another day.

As long as the qualifying comps are chosen carefully and there are enough of them. I hate losing out on a medal when I get comments like "your DIPA is too hoppy" or get dinged for a low fill on a bottle.

We'll see how this year goes, but if I get shutout or it's too much of a pain, I'll stop entering (which is what i think they are hoping for). I've gotten entries through to the 2nd round the last 2 years and won one final round medal...I'd like to keep the tradition going.

[mors]

I think for the most part the changes for the competition are positive. I would still prefer another 'qualification' layer to weed out weaker entries... but it seems most people want the competition to remain open to all who wish to enter. Just seems silly to me to have Mr. Beer beers run up against world class beers.... but that's a discussion for another day.

As long as the qualifying comps are chosen carefully and there are enough of them. I hate losing out on a medal when I get comments like "your DIPA is too hoppy" or get dinged for a low fill on a bottle.

We'll see how this year goes, but if I get shutout or it's too much of a pain, I'll stop entering (which is what i think they are hoping for). I've gotten entries through to the 2nd round the last 2 years and won one final round medal...I'd like to keep the tradition going.

Judging is certainly a subjective process. During judging you try to be an objective as possible but everyone has different taste buds and interpretations on what the style guidelines say. I enter a lot of competitions and judge in a lot of competitions. I find for my very best beers that I will medal maybe only 1/3 to 1/2 of the time. I had a mead that I entered in probably 20 comps. I think it scored 40+ in all of them... Except the first round of the NHC where it scored a 21. Just have to shrug it off. Mistakes happen. Maybe shipping was exceptionally brutal for that package... Who knows.

[TheDarkSide]

Well, I kind of do my own prequalifier round but submitting to comps. I don't necessarily need a medal in those to submit something to NHC, especially if I get good feedback from both judges.

I have 4 entries in the Upper Mississippi Mashout this weekend (2 in cider ). The results from that may help me determine what I put in this year for NHC (assuming I get any entries).

[mors]

Yeah the pre-qualifier thing will probably never happen from discussions I've had in the AHA forums... Seems most people would prefer the NHC stay open to all...who can get in in a given year vs trying to 'weed out' the possibly not-so-good entries. I would rather the NHC be more of a best of the best competition myself.

I do like that you can guarantee yourself a slot in the NHC by helping with the previous years NHC by judging, stewarding, or helping to run a competition site, etc...