Ohio State Fair Homebrew Competition

[eko]

Thanks. Yes, Cincinnati area.

[Inkleg]

Welcome elo, great to have you here.

[BlackDuck]

The results have been posted.....and......I didn't place in any of the categories that I entered. I'll wait for the judges sheets and see how I scored.

[Beer-lord]

I'm sorry it didn't work out but I think your beers are pretty damn good. Next time, instead of sending beer to judges, send them to me and I'll score them for you.
Seriously, not haven entered myself, I think all you can ask for is honest criticism and take from it and learn. I think those of you that enter beer should be commended for doing so.

[Inkleg]

Sorry you didn't place. But betcha your scores will be in the mid to upper 30s, I know I've enjoyed your beers.

[BlackDuck]

Your absolutely right Paul....the judges remarks are the most important. And this is a pretty large competition too. The IPA flight had 56 entries and the American Ale flight had 36 entries so I'm surely up against some really good brewers. I have a feeling that in order to place here you've got to brew a damn near flawless recipe.

[BlackDuck]

Just realized that I didn't report back on the scores from this years competition, so here they are:

Four Point Pale Ale: Overall score was 25.5. Kind of a disappointing number based on all the good comments that I get from this beer. Comments included: bitterness is not pleasant, astringent aftertaste, bitterness is pithy, overall a great balance of aroma and hop flavor, just has a harsh bitterness.

Saison: Overall score 30.5. Not to bad for the first Saison that I've ever made. Comments included: Mild fruitiness, very little of the expected saison funk, lacking saison phenolics but has other characteristics that are desireable, hot alcohol and astringent.

Fruit Salad Session IPA: Overall score 22. I'm not really surprised by this score as I new it kind of missed the mark as a full blown IPA. But I still wanted to see what the thoughts were. Comments included: Grassy notes and DMS (I'm not sure where that came from), high ester levels, one dimensional bitterness that turns astringent.

Winter Time Christmas Ale: Overall score 30. Happy with this score too. Comments include: low spice aroma - not overdone, nice balance of spices but wanted more toffee sweetness from malt, spice balance is nice, pleasant malt and spice balance.

It's interesting that astringent and harsh bitterness keeps coming up...again. I got the same comments last year. Hopefully the water adjustments that I've started to make will help reduce this.

Now, here's the kicker. I decided to also send the Four Point Pale Ale and the Fruit Salad Session IPA along with the Three's a Charm Cream Ale to the Ohio Brew Week Competition. I was curious to get more feedback on them, and to see if they would be judged different in a different competition. And wouldn't you know it, the Four Point took second place in the American Ale category, go figure. I don't have the score sheets back yet, it's going to be interesting to see how the comments and scores compare to the State Fair Competition.

[Dawg LB Steve]

Good for you!!! At least one of us came up with a medal there!! I sent off my English Special Amber, had BCJP judge and a 30 year vet tell me this was a nice example before I sent it in, but they lumped Cat. 8 in with Cat. 11 English Brown ales, an ESB won and 2 Northern English Browns went silver, bronze.

Next one for me they just announced the date Nov 7th Son of Brewzilla at Fatheads. Might steward at that one too.

[Beer-lord]

Way to go Chris. I didn't get Four Point as a Pale Ale but more of a lower IPA but either way, a big congrats to you for that as well as your other scores.

Steve, congrats to you as for the medals!!!!!

[Dawg LB Steve]

Steve, congrats to you as for the medals!!!!!

No they weren't mine, just saying that is what ended up taking the combined categories of 8 and 11. No medals this time for me.

[Beer-lord]

Steve, congrats to you as for the medals!!!!!

No they weren't mine, just saying that is what ended up taking the combined categories of 8 and 11. No medals this time for me.

Well then, go get them and tell me you won them!

[Inkleg]

Interesting Chris, I think you're on the right track with the water adjustments, for all the comments it just makes sense. Keep us up to date with the other entries. Good job on the Saison and Winer Ale, though I wonder what "saison funk" they were expecting. Unless it's Bretted, there should be no funk in a Saison. I still have the Winter Ale you sent me, now the question.....enjoy now or save and let age?

[BlackDuck]

Drink the Winter Ale now.....if you really like it, I'll send you another that you can drink closer to Christmas, I've got more aging.