Australian Amateur Brewing Championship

[DUANNE]

thanks to all the organisers and judges for a job well done. got my sheets back and what dou you know i put the wrong labels on the wrong bottles. i still got 40 points on my pilsener in the english bitter categorie though wich i thought was amazing but the enlish bitter scored a 16 and 22 as a pils. next time i will be paying a lot more attention when putting the labels on my bottles thats for sure!

 

[winkle]

Got mine today. When I sent the beer off I wasn't sure if it was from the same batch as the QABC one or the one before (since I was sure we'd drunk them all) -and I was right, clear judging notes echoing my own thought of the previous batch. Please keep up the high standard even for dodgy beers, judges - helps a lot downstream :icon_cheers:

 

[RdeVjun]

Got mine, some judges excelled with quite detailed feedback, but at least one left out remarks for entire sections but for the score (nb. yes, multiple sections) while the brevity of the remarks is astounding for what ended up being the category winning beer. So I'm disappointed- for the peak Australian amateur competition this really isn't good enough. Now, I most certainly do appreciate the efforts that all concerned, particularly those volunteering and those judges that took the time to write down appropriate descriptors, but the event was let down a little by some judges- I'm sorry but score sheets probably should have at least one word recorded in every section, regardless of the score!

 

[3GumsBrewing]

Glassware rocked up today. SWMBO just sent me a photo of them all.

The Champ beer of Show glass looks bloody huge!

Great stuff guys, well organised and my prayers to the Aust Post gods payed off.

Cheers and beers.

 

[drmush]

I received my scoresheets last week too...I was a bit disappointed since my wheat beer had come 1st in the NSW Comp but was placed last at the AABC...However it was understandable as I had brewed the batch at the end of June for the NSW Comp in August but as I suspected it didn't last until October as a sip of a remaining bottle last week revealed exactly what the judges said that the beer had lost freshness and flavour...Unfortunately as I was overseas until the end of September there was no time to brew a fresh batch in time...Ah well at least the beer got to the AABC...Thanks to the judges for their constructive comments...

Cheers
Geoff

 

[Florian]

I received my scoresheets last week too...I was a bit disappointed since my wheat beer had come 1st in the NSW Comp but was placed last at the AABC...However it was understandable as I had brewed the batch at the end of June for the NSW Comp in August but as I suspected it didn't last until October as a sip of a remaining bottle last week revealed exactly what the judges said that the beer had lost freshness and flavour...Unfortunately as I was overseas until the end of September there was no time to brew a fresh batch in time...Ah well at least the beer got to the AABC...Thanks to the judges for their constructive comments...

Cheers
Geoff

You also have to take into consideration that, although your beer came 1st in NSW, all other beers it's competing against on national level also became either 1st, 2nd or 3rd at state level.

So your beer now plays in a different league, so to say, with 'stronger opponents' (in theory) than on a single state level.

 

[dr K]

It is always important to remember that you really are competing against the best beers in Australia, they have already been through one filter.
Possibly that is why the tables were reduced to two judges each.

K

 

[drmush]

You also have to take into consideration that, although your beer came 1st in NSW, all other beers it's competing against on national level also became either 1st, 2nd or 3rd at state level.

So your beer now plays in a different league, so to say, with 'stronger opponents' (in theory) than on a single state level.

Hi Florian...

Please don't think I'm whinging about this...but the wheat was second at ANAWBS too...If anything maybe the time between when the wheat was brewed in late June and judged in October was too long...Also remember that the beers which were second and third in NSW ended higher than mine. Point is maybe the NSW Comp needs to be closer to the AABC..

Cheers
Geoff

 

[waggastew]

Time between comps definitely is a factor. In the case of my beer it worked in its favour. My AIPA had detectable levels of diacetyl at NSWAHC and got a third place. By the time it hit the Nats the diacetyl dropped to background/undetectable and the beer got a 1st place. I had no time/plans to rebrew as I didn't expect the beer to even get a place at NSW but it all worked out for the best. In fact the beer was originally placed 4th at NSW due to an admin error so it was a close call even getting the entry to Melbourne in time.

As you say something like a wheat beer really needs that freshness to shine.

Stew

 

[tallie]

Please don't think I'm whinging about this...but the wheat was second at ANAWBS too...If anything maybe the time between when the wheat was brewed in late June and judged in October was too long...Also remember that the beers which were second and third in NSW ended higher than mine.

You also need to take into account that different judges perceive different things at different times, and you shouldn't assume that a single competition result is representative of the beer. The more results you get, the better the consensus will be.

It is always important to remember that you really are competing against the best beers in Australia, they have already been through one filter.
Possibly that is why the tables were reduced to two judges each.

Taking dr K's first comment further, one of those entries has to come last. Obviously it would be ideal for the entries to appear in the order they qualified in (assuming the same beers in the same conditions), but there is always going to be some variability between competitions. I'm fairly certain there was no decision made to reduce the number of judges (in fact some categories did have three) - it would have been more to do with getting the competition done on time and the number of judges available on the day.

By the way, I judged that category at the AABC; let me know if you can't read any of my scrawl

Cheers,
tallie

 

[raven19]

In the case of my beer it worked in its favour. My AIPA ...and the beer got a 1st place

It was tasty as! Enjoyed that beer immensely. Congrats again fella!

 

[waggastew]

AABC 2013 announcement of dates! Nice amount of time between NSW and AABC, will enable the lucky few to rebrew.

Also announced 3 new styles, American Amber, American Stout, American Wheat or Rye

http://www.aabc.org.au/

 

[koots]

When I check the website none of the state comps are updated with dates. What date is the NSW comp and how did you find it?

 

[barls]

state comp is in august and is the castle hill comp. have a look in this thread. it came up 3rd result when i searched comps
What NSW comps are on this year?

this is due to the fact that nether nsw representative has made themselves apparent in 3 years.

 

[waggastew]

Anyone know if you are allowed to have one or two entries per STYLE? (not category)

 

[barls]

the rules will be very similar to what they were last year.
but for a definite conformation pm stu and ask

 

[Bribie G]

Until now you could have two entries per category in the National comp, but to qualify for "exhibiting" you had to win places in the State comps in that style. But say you were placed in the State Comp with an Aussie lager and a Pale continental lager, you were allowed at the Nats level to completely change track and enter a Dortmunder and a Helles if you wished as they are two styles within the category.

IIRC I once got a placing with a FES in the state and entered a RIS in the Nats. However I would not have been eligible to enter a dry stout instead as that's a different category.

Edit, wish I hadn't read this thread, I had forgotten that American Wheat was a new style - I had my entries already planned. Oh no here we go again, rod for my own back coming up ...... :lol:

 

[tcc]

the QABC website is down does anyone know when the cutoff date is this year?

thanks..

 

[tallie]

the QABC website is down does anyone know when the cutoff date is this year?

This year's dates are now up: http://qabc.org.au . The site seems to be a little temperamental, so try refreshing if it doesn't load immediately.

 

[clarkey7]

New AHB topic created for this years QABC, http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/72899-queensland-amateur-brewing-championship-2013/
Go QLD !!!

 

[TBird]

I'm having problems downloading labels and entry form for the AABC. No problem with QABC though.

Anybody else able to do this?

Thanks

 

[manticle]

You have to win eligibility for aabc - it's not open entry.

 

[Online Brewing Supplies]

You have to win eligibility for aabc - it's not open entry.

And be a Pro member :lol:
Nev

 

[TBird]

You have to win eligibility for aabc - it's not open entry.

OK newbie here re entering comps.

Who fills in the entry form for the AABC as detailed on the QABC site? Do you have to wait until the entries in the state comp are completed and then fill in the form?

Sorry if I've missed something here

Cheers

 

[tallie]

You have to win eligibility for aabc - it's not open entry.

QABC entrants are being asked to submit a second bottle to this year's comp (with the AABC form) so we can forward on the qualifying entries on their behalf. Saves us a lot of running around after the comp, especially this year with it being so close to the nationals.

I'm having problems downloading labels and entry form for the AABC. No problem with QABC though.

Anybody else able to do this?

Thanks

I've contacted the organisers and they're working on getting the form uploaded. PM me if you are planning on dropping your entries off before it's available.

Cheers,
tallie

 

[manticle]

You need to place in your state comp first. In vic, the organisers of the comp (vicbrew) then organise and post eligible entries. Not sure if qabc and others follow suit - check with them.

 

[MartinOC]

You need to place in your state comp first. In vic, the organisers of the comp (vicbrew) then organise and post eligible entries. Not sure if qabc and others follow suit - check with them.

Wot he said. State qualification first.

QABC entrants are being asked to submit a second bottle to this year's comp (with the AABC form) so we can forward on the qualifying entries on their behalf. Saves us a lot of running around after the comp, especially this year with it being so close to the nationals.

Hmmmm.... 'Sounds to me like some smart fellas up there have worked-out a way of getting a supply of half-decent beers from the "also-rans"... Mind you, storing twice as many bottles than required "just-in-case" sounds like a logistic nightmare from my perspective.

 

[TBird]

Thanks tallie

PM on the way

Cheers

 

[bradsbrew]

Hmmmm.... 'Sounds to me like some smart fellas up there have worked-out a way of getting a supply of half-decent beers from the "also-rans"... Mind you, storing twice as many bottles than required "just-in-case" sounds like a logistic nightmare from my perspective.

Well bugger me, I did not even think of the left overs. Not that I really give a rats, but what happens to all the left overs after judging?

 

[DU99]

vicbrew