So you send your beer to ALES, 750 entries there, or Araura 376 entries, in the remote hope that you might win something, or Garrison, something like 75 entries for one class. That’s where the real competition and test of your beer lies. It’s blind, no agendas either, and there’s honest and professional feedback and help.
I was just sitting outside with four of my beers, learning from my notes the effects of Gypsum and acid malt. I recognise the crisper bitterness with the Gypsum balancing out my chloride level. I have one with no salts or acid and that one is just as good, but in a different way, and I don’t understand that. I have one that’s just had a lowered mash PH with phosphoric acid and it doesn’t have a lot going for it IMO, but maybe it does. I think now I like the gypsum and acid malt combo best.
I’m confused. There’s one way out. It’s the fierce competition. The thorough and reliable reports from these competitions are the key.
Pro brewers are “out there”. They have a name, a brewery, they are up against a handful of other breweries, and not thousands of other home brewers. I’m sure it’s tough in a different way. There’s something about being a homebrewer though. If you’re beer is recognized at a home brewing contest, it’s honest, without agenda, blind, and tough as these competitions are, I think it’s a very good thing.
The Brewnosers review was also an EXCELLENT (and friendly) service.
