2015 Brewnosers homebrew comp?

[CartoonCod]

Not as far as I am aware.

[Keith]

I heard that the entry's are to be delivered to my house and I'll get around to getting feed back to the participants by 2016.

[GAM]

Nope. I can be available most Saturdays and some Sundays.

Anyone else?

Sandy

[GuingesRock]

I heard that the entry's are to be delivered to my house and I'll get around to getting feed back to the participants by 2016.

There's an awful lot of left over beer from these things Keith. One of the competitions has a big party with the spare bottles and roasts a pig and sells tickets. You could be in charge of left over bottles of beer.

[amartin]

Oh yeah, there would be all of the second bottles from the entries that weren't BOS contenders. Yes, that would be a lot of beer.

I'm around most Saturdays and Sundays as well.

[Keith]

Haha mark it would work well to coincide with hoptoberfest

[anewton]

Glad Sandy pointed me in the right direction. I talked with most of you at Big Spruce comp about the BN comp we've been talking about since before our bjcp exam. Sounds like there is interest and capability but getting together is difficult. Here's a recap of what I talked with most people about:


When? Spring seems a good time (no other local comps that I'm aware of, before people disperse for the summer)

What? One category? A few select categories? Wide open, anything goes?

Where? Doesn't really matter at this point. Need people before worrying about logistics.

Why? For the bragging rights, and potentially a prize? Oh yea, and the honest feedback of our hardworking beer judges.

I know well hopped ales are a perennial favourite, but I'd like to see a more challenging style where it isn't easy to cover flaws. After judging at Garrison last year it showed me that there are a lot of capable brewers in the area, but carbonation issues and off flavours were very common in lighter flavoured beers. Open to suggestions.


Chris and I have talked about organization during the past two comps and I'd like to take up the organizer role. Any objections? If there is still interest we can start hashing out details. Realistically there will be very little face to face time but between the forum and other online venues we can discuss details.


Andrew

[Keith]

When? Spring seems a good time (no other local comps that I'm aware of, before people disperse for the summer)
What? One category? A few select categories? Wide open, anything goes?
Where? Doesn't really matter at this point. Need people before worrying about logistics.
Why? For the bragging rights, and potentially a prize? Oh yea, and the honest feedback of our hardworking beer judges.

Late Winter or Early Spring would be ideal as Summer and Fall are pretty chaotic. However with that being said, a few months notice for brewers would be ideal so we can get our word out there.

Ideally a Wide open comp would be best, possibly limit the number of over all entrees and number of entrees per brewer so our judges aren't spending a month diving through beers and consolidate styles as needed?

As for a location, it shouldn't be hard to find a spot, however what options do we have for sponsorship on each class or category?

[anewton]

I think Spring is best, after the Garrison competition. Any reason why April won't work?

A few people have sugeested wide open and I don't see the harm in it. I'd like to see themes or direction in the future but I think it is important to just get this one off the ground the first year.

Caps may be necessary, but date and styles are the first issue. Are we actually likely to see 100+ entries? Limiting to 2-3 beers per entrant should be enough but if there is still room then why not add more?

[Keith]

Depends on how much notice we give to everyone and how advertised it is.

I can see 500 entries in this if we give adequate notice to the other clubs, especially if this goes towards brewer of the year.

[anewton]

April gives plenty of time, and as a first year competition it won't attract the same crowd as the bigger, more established comps. But I see how a cap could be important.

[GAM]

Number of Judges is a limitation.

I am able to help with the organization as well.

Start the chat and avoid the cats.

Sandy

[anewton]

We do have a good sized core group of judges in Halifax, granted not everyone may be available. If the amount of entries grows large the BJCP rules allow smaller tables than we've been using. Plus, smaller tables (2-3) has shown to be faster. One of those people at the smaller table is allowed to be non-BJCP like we saw at the ACBAs. So 12 BJCP can easily staff 6 tables instead of the 3 we've done in the past. That doubles our judging capacity.

[chalmers]

Thanks for chiming in and helping us to get the ball rolling again, Andrew. With us 12 current locals, plus maybe a dozen more at the end of Jan, we will be in fine shape to host and judge any reasonable number of beer entries. Once I'm back, let's meet and chat possible dates and rough details.

[anewton]

It's been quiet for awhile, so here's an update. In-person meets haven't worked yet so this will have to do for now. I've spoken with some of you individually about this and here's what we've got.

The first NS Craft Beer Week is May 11-17 this year, and this is a perfect opportunity to tie in homebrewing. The big event is Sat 16, so tentatively plan judging for Sun 17.

We can use the week to promote homebrewing as a way to encourage more involvement in the Craft Beer Scene. That's how a lot of these brewers started too. It would be great to see an intro to judging seminar, a learn to brew basics, and a learn to brew all-grain sessions during the week, or perhaps at the big event. More on these ideas later, probably in another thread.

So, Brewnoser's Homebrew Competition, Sun 17 2015 (tent). Issue I could see is it's the long weekend, but that also means we could use the monday as well if people are around. Open to all categories, Where in Hfx TBD. I'm currently looking into how to register it for the brewer of the year circuit. But now is the time to register with the BJCP to give people notice to prep.

Let's plan to run this in scheduled sessions rather than one big one. That will help us handle more beers if required.

As for caps, I've run the numbers and each table of judges can handle 10-15 beers per 3 hour session. If we plan a morning and an afternoon session we're looking at 20-30 per table. There is always the possibility of a third session each day if necessary, which could increase numbers and accommodate peoples schedules.

We have 12 judges in the area, with hopes of more if last week's exams are back by then. 2 per table, plus industry reps/brewers/other judges from previous events to add a third. We should be able to plan for 5 tables.

All this totals 100-150 beers per day (2 sessions). We put a low cap to start, and increase if there is a lot of interest and we can get more judges or do two days.

Here's who's offered help so far, let me know if I'm missing anyone:

Mcgster st john's, anything
Jimmy non judge anything
Sandy anything,
Amartin non judge anything, accounting, money
Akr71 day of help
Tim anything judge
Jayme help judge
Chalmers, judge mentor organizer
Jonathan noble grape help
Adam judge help
Jon GB, help from NB via email

Andrew (me) - Organizer
Keith - Learn To Brew Seminars
Mark Return Scoresheets to competitors after competition via email

Any reason not to plan for craft beer week?

Date is the most important thing right now. Everything else will folow, including delegation of tasks.

[chalmers]

Chris = chalmers, I think.

Concerned about it being the day after the festival, as most of us will probably be in attendance, and drinking more beer the next morning might be difficult. How about holding it the weekend before?

[GuingesRock]

What do you think about announcing the results on the 16th and have judging sessions any time during the week before as can be arranged. Deadline for entries maybe 6th.

That way you have your dates to submit? The competition date is the 16th, but judging happens before that date?

[GuingesRock]

I could conceivably scan and email the score sheets before the results were announced. That would be a first! People would know their scores but not how they placed until the night. That would beat waiting months for your score sheets. Maybe not a good idea?

If you let people know ahead that, results will be scanned and emailed ASAP, as an alternative to mailing them. That would save a lot of postage.

[Tim Gregory]

Hey Andrew, I'm not sure if the Tim on that list is me or the other Tim, but put me down for judging and helping out in any way you need.

[GAM]

Sandy anything, judge

I'm not qualified to judge but I could be a 4th on a table.

I can help with the organizing, promotion, stewards etc.

Good luck with the cats

Sandy

[Keith]

I'm not qualified to judge either but can help provided I get enough notice which should be fine

[Keith]

I'd also be up for running the learn to brew day with someone, possibly coordinate it at a do brewery.

Note from chalmers: I've moved all subsequent Learn to Brew Day posts to the official thread: http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewto ... f=5&t=7863" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[amartin]

Even if we don't have our results back by then (which I'm not counting on), we can still judge if needed, we only need one ranked judge per table. I'm up for judging.

[CartoonCod]

Concerned about it being the day after the festival, as most of us will probably be in attendance, and drinking more beer the next morning might be difficult. How about holding it the weekend before?

For the judging I vote for the weekend before or some other time that is not the May long weekend.

[anewton]

Holding it the weekend prior sounds like a good idea. May 9-10, and announcing at the festival on the 16th. Could tie in with a learn to judge seminar really well.

Chris and Tim, yes talking about you.

I like the scanned and emailed results. I'd prefer to email them out shortly after announcing the winner. Don't want people comparing notes and guessing who won.

Amartin, good point. Either you passed and are Recognised or you are Novice. Either way, trained ,interested, and can earn points.

Keith, if you're interested in leading the learn to brew then it is all yours. I'd love to see this advertised as part of craft beer week. Get more people interested in craft beer and homebrewing. I was thinking enlist he support of noble grape or everwood ave. It would be a good chance for them to sell starter kits/equipment. Are you interested in doing a beginner and an all-grain seminar?

Any suggestions for Comp name? I want to register this week to make the 90 day cutoff.