Amateur Vrs ?

[haysie]

Are mechanics excluded from amateur car competitions?

This has been debated several times, and the rules remain the same. The majority of people have no issue with a professional brewer entering beers that are made at home.

We should be thankful that professional brewers embrace the homebrew community so well, often volunteering their time judging, helping out homebrewers at club meetings or even just sharing their knowledge. There are numerous on this board who share their knowledge, even sometimes share their businesses intellectual property (recipes) for the greater good of beer.

There aren't many industries that work like this. Exclusion is the last thing we need as far as I'm concerned.

Big Call Kook, exclusion was never touted.

 

[kook]

Big Call Kook, exclusion was never touted.

"I think the rules are all wrong re. employees of breweries and thats my opinion" was what you stated. Maybe I've completely misinterpreted that - but if you're not inferring excluding professional brewers what are you inferring? All brewery employees? The office admin assistant maybe?

 

[haysie]

"I think the rules are all wrong re. employees of breweries and thats my opinion" was what you stated. Maybe I've completely misinterpreted that - but if you're not inferring excluding professional brewers what are you inferring? All brewery employees? The office admin assistant maybe?

Yeah, watever Kook! troublemaking?

 

[kook]

Yeah, watever Kook! troublemaking?

My apologies if that wasn't your intention. I've obviously completely misread the thread.

 

[NickB]

I'm sure it's not troublemaking, nor judging solely on profession.

I'd agree that those involved with commercial brewery operations DO have an advantage, but unless they're using the same equipment as the brewery they work at, they have exactly the same chance of winning over the 'plebs'.

Surely it comes down to technique.... Those who have the better technique, or those able to implement the technique the best will win. Does not prevent the HomeBrewer™ who has very basic equipment, or the 'Brewery Worker' who has advanced, expensive, and Bling-Worthy equipment from brewing a spectacular, Best-Of-Show beer.

Let's face it, despite technique, ingredients, and 'atmospheric' conditions, anyone who has a decent working knowledge of the brewing process has equal chance of their beer winning any competition.

It all comes down to a 'billion' different variables....not least the judges palate.....

Nothing to see here peoples...move along!

Cheers

 

[InCider]

Well said Nick! (didn't you work a brewery?) :lol:

 

[dig]

Just out of interest, who are the judges and how are they selected? I'm thinking that the pro brewer may be at a disadvantage if there are no pro brewers on the judging panel.

 

[bconnery]

I question where "us" stand? If i have to put my beer up against commercials/micros i dont see it as an amateur worthwhile competitition too enter.
I did speak too a few guys last nite whom wernt happy re. competing on those terms.
I do think National , if won by Vic will be hard for people too accept.

But that's just the point of the rule. You aren't competing against a commercial beer. You are competing against a beer made by a commercial brewer at home. In reality it is no different to what you are making.

Even if they use the exact same recipe from work it still has to be adjusted for home equipment.
Commercial brewers who did or still do brew at home will tell you that the two methods are not the same.

 

[the_fuzz]

You aren't competing against a commercial beer. You are competing against a beer made by a commercial brewer at home. In reality it is no different to what you are making.

Exactly

The pro brewer may work with a 100 million dollar brewery all day and then get home to his esky, keg and fermenter - doesn't make it easier. He/she would just have some better understanding of some of the processes than some other people.

What about scientists - there are a fair few on here, they would have an advantage. Or sparky's, engineers etc - they can make awesome equipment to brew with, thus giving some advantage?

To make it completely fair, no matter what the profession, you would have everyone use the same equipment

Well done TB :super:

 

[apd]

My apologies if that wasn't your intention. I've obviously completely misread the thread.

Haysie's written English in this thread has been terrible so far so no wonder you've misunderstood what he's trying to say. I'm guessing by the time of posting that he's posting while drinking. Either that or English is his second language in which case, I apologise. English is a difficult language to learn and I applaud Haysie for his efforts so far.

Yeah, watever Kook!

When you get caught changing your story, Haysie, it's best to acknowledge it politely, not behave like a 14 year old. Who, over the age of 14, uses the word "whatever" as a comeback? And you misspelt it!

Andrew

 

[GMK]

Haysie's written English in this thread has been terrible so far so no wonder you've misunderstood what he's trying to say. I'm guessing by the time of posting that he's posting while drinking. Either that or English is his second language in which case, I apologise. English is a difficult language to learn and I applaud Haysie for his efforts so far.



When you get caught changing your story, Haysie, it's best to acknowledge it politely, not behave like a 14 year old. Who, over the age of 14, uses the word "whatever" as a comeback? And you misspelt it!

Andrew

Andrew....+1

Perhaps Haysie should "moderate Himself" :lol:

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

One of the basic premises of this discussion (and many of those like it that have come before) seems to be that if you are employed by a company that makes beer, you are automatically a professional brewer. And all this time, poor old Wolf Blass thought he was a wine maker...

All penguins are black and white. All nuns are black and white. Therefore, all nuns are penguins.

Lets assume for the moment that all nuns *are*, in fact, penguins. We are often subjected to discussion threads about how bad the beer that comes from large commercial breweries is. If such beer is so bad, how can being employed by a large brewery (and therefore being a professional brewer) actually help you in a brewing competition?

What a senseless waste of electricity...

 

[Barry]

It's nice to come across a commercial brewer that brews his/her own

 

[Stuster]

It's nice to come across a commercial brewer that brews his/her own

Agreed. If those who brew for work, brew on their own equipment at home and go to the trouble of entering competitions (and even judging them), I think that's within the spirit of the competitions and great that they do it. :super:

 

[Ross]

Agreed. If those who brew for work, brew on their own equipment at home and go to the trouble of entering competitions (and even judging them), I think that's within the spirit of the competitions and great that they do it. :super:

+1....

 

[oldbugman]

Doesnt thirsty just sweep the floors at work anyway?

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

You could have a brew setup at home that is fully automated PC controlled, using yeast slants, chemically corrected water, precision measurements etc

You could have an old esky, a big pot for a kettle and lots of manual labour and "yeah that looks right " attitude..


So who is going to make the better beer.....?

 

[marlow_coates]

On the pro and amateur golf analogy, I think it is a good one.

However, it would also imply that if a homebrewer won many awards consistently then it would qualify them as a professional brewer. Just as a golfer who continues to win tournaments goes up the ranks. I suppose someone could start a ranking system for brewers, but by that process I truly believe it would be the Joe's at home making their favourites who would be in the top rankings and not the larger commercial brewers.

In the brewing world, I have read (in Beer and Brewer) from many articles how friendly and open the commercial side of craft brewing is, and I have experianced (from this site) how willing everyone is to give as much knowledge as possible to each other in order to make better beers.

On the topic it seems it is an equipment, and not a knowledge, issue, as knowledge is readily available. And lets face it, if you saved enough you could by almost all the equimpment used by the commercial breweries to use at home (as stated).

I reckon a high standard of competition is always a good thing, as it drives future progress and determination by thos entering.

My 2 cents.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

On the topic it seems it is an equipment, and not a knowledge, issue, as knowledge is readily available. And lets face it, if you saved enough you could by almost all the equimpment used by the commercial breweries to use at home (as stated).

I good brewer could brew great beer in a simple esky/pot/ ferm setup


Bling does not make you a better brewer. It just makes it easier...

 

[buttersd70]

Bling does not make you a better brewer. It just makes it easier...

Never a truer word spoken (or typed, as the case may be.)