Babbs Mini Comps - Who's Going To Compete?

[lonte]

Brad: you picked up a place (joint third?) - I didn't get a place as my Yorkshire Bitter with Maris otter, 1469, Fuggles, EKG and Styrian Goldings lacked the hallmarks of an English Bitter :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: Maybe we should send some of these dudes on a study tour, however not to worry it's only a club comp and a bit of fun, the real stuff starts later in the year.

Some time ago the committee discussed and acknowledged the somewhat 'lottery' nature of mini-comps and so chose to use them more as an educational opportunity to assist people with beer evaluation and judging technique - leaving the results more or less as a secondary outcome. Given the recent interest in the results and the nice prizes offered it has been brought to the committee's attention that this may require a rethink. The committee mailing list has been running hot this morning with discussion and comment.

 

[Bribie G]

Yes totally agree. It shouldn't be about the results placings, really - it's an opportunity for members to read and follow the BJCP guidelines as printed and offer feedback to the entrants, so ideally, each minicomp should be a good training exercise and hopefully newer members may develop a desire to train and become a judge eventually, so the process could be a source of new blood. Also a valuable source of feedback to members who are not all on our forum here, and whose visit to the club once a month is perhaps their only contact with fellow brewers. Perhaps a more 'even' mix of old hands and new chums at each table could be a good checks-and-balance exercise because there are many people in the club now with BJCP experience and they could be spread around the room. The club is going from strength to strength member wise so this should be feasible ??

 

[browndog]

The minicomps should be about getting quality feedback on your beer so that come the championships (be they BABBs or QABC) you know exactly what you need to do to brew a top class beer. With BABBs being the mainstay of the QABC, I can't see QLD ever rising above the bottom of the ladder in the nationals unless something major is done at the grass roots level and that being our monthly comps. I have a few ideas, eliminating the ability to hide behind anonynimity on the score sheet being one of them. I'll pass them on the the Head Steward.

cheers

Browndog

PS. I don't enter beer comps for prizes.

 

[Ross]

Tony & others...

Our next committee meeting is on the 9th February March, where mini comp judging will be high on the agenda.
Please ensure any ideas are forwarded to the committee before this date.

Cheers

Ross
Brewmaster.

Edit: Thankyou Tony B)

 

[browndog]

Tony & others...

Our next committee meeting is on the 9th February, where mini comp judging will be high on the agenda.
Please ensure any ideas are forwarded to the committee before this date.

Cheers

Ross
Brewmaster.

Sorry Ross, my time machine is currently being serviced

 

[bconnery]

The minicomps should be about getting quality feedback on your beer so that come the championships (be they BABBs or QABC) you know exactly what you need to do to brew a top class beer. With BABBs being the mainstay of the QABC, I can't see QLD ever rising above the bottom of the ladder in the nationals unless something major is done at the grass roots level and that being our monthly comps. I have a few ideas, I'll pass them on the the Head Steward.

cheers

Browndog

PS. I don't enter beer comps for prizes.

Tony,
That would be an ideal situation, to a certain extent. Unfortunately and fortunately, that isn't the only reason they are run.
They are also meant to be a learning process for brewers and potential judges who aren't necessarily confident of the judging and evaluating process to gain experience and hopefully encourage people to get more involved so that we have a stronger base of brewers and judges.
As a club we want to encourage members to learn more about beer, that means you have to cater for those who already know a fair bit and want to improve their brewing from a good to a very good or great level, but also those who are entering the world of judging and brewing.
The trick is to cater for both. There is probably never going to be a guarentee that you'll get Babbs comp or QABC level feedback at the minicomps. Hopefully you will, or close to it.

That being said, last night's effort was absolutely shocking and nowhere near good enough and you can rest assured that steps are already underway to address this.

The committee takes on board all feedback, and there's been a bit already, even if we don't agree on all the points.
I think it's fair to say that the club is undergoing a bit of a shift in emphasis as the member base changes a little, and we try and stay ahead of the curve, but sometimes we have to drag people along after the fact a little.

Edit: I should add, these are of course my opinions, as someone who happens to be a committee member, not an official response on behalf of the committee
I should also add that I hope this doesn't stop you entering next month because well, its American and an American ale minicomp without Browndog just wouldn't be right. However, should you not wish to waste your beer on the potential for below par judging just deliver it to me and I'll drink judge it :icon_drool2:

 

[browndog]

Tony,
That would be an ideal situation, to a certain extent. Unfortunately and fortunately, that isn't the only reason they are run.
They are also meant to be a learning process for brewers and potential judges who aren't necessarily confident of the judging and evaluating process to gain experience and hopefully encourage people to get more involved so that we have a stronger base of brewers and judges.
As a club we want to encourage members to learn more about beer, that means you have to cater for those who already know a fair bit and want to improve their brewing from a good to a very good or great level, but also those who are entering the world of judging and brewing.
The trick is to cater for both. There is probably never going to be a guarentee that you'll get Babbs comp or QABC level feedback at the minicomps. Hopefully you will, or close to it.

That being said, last night's effort was absolutely shocking and nowhere near good enough and you can rest assured that steps are already underway to address this.

The committee takes on board all feedback, and there's been a bit already, even if we don't agree on all the points.
I think it's fair to say that the club is undergoing a bit of a shift in emphasis as the member base changes a little, and we try and stay ahead of the curve, but sometimes we have to drag people along after the fact a little.

I didn't want to air our dirty laundry on AHB Ben, it is not the place. I stick by what I said. I will discuss the matter with the Head Steward.

cheers

Tony

 

[Paul H]

Tony,
However, should you not wish to waste your beer on the potential for below par judging just deliver it to me and I'll drink judge it :icon_drool2:

Ben,
With all respect I don't think you're being fair to Tony, I'll need a couple of bottles as well. :icon_cheers:

Cheers

Paul

 

[beersom]

That being said, last night's effort was absolutely shocking and nowhere near good enough

If I may ask on a public forum, what was/went wrong ? ... in basic form.

 

[NickB]

+1

as a BABBs member who doesn't regularly make it to meetings, I would be interested to hear what happened.

Cheers

 

[bonj]

let's just say that the judging and particularly the feedback quality of the tables were highly inconsistent.... to the point where some score sheets were returned with extremely minimal feedback, which isn't particularly what a brewer who is looking to improve his/her brewing wants to see.

 

[browndog]

If I may ask on a public forum, what was/went wrong ? ... in basic form.

PM sent

 

[bconnery]

Ben,
With all respect I don't think you're being fair to Tony, I'll need a couple of bottles as well. :icon_cheers:

Cheers

Paul

No Paul.
One bottle. Two judges, that's enough for evaluation.
Don't forget, you're allowed two entries

 

[bradsbrew]

When I have judged the mini-comps we have had an experienced brewer/member to guide us through the judging. I have been lucky enough to listen to the comments of Ross and Ian at different nights which helps with the interpretation of the guidelines and identifying certain flavours both good and bad. I now use this when brewing and tasting beers, but I am certainly no expert. I thought it was just a given that an experienced member would be placed at each table to help guide the judging and feedback on judging sheets.

My reasons for entering the mini-comps is to get feedback on ways to improve but I understand that it is really going to be inconsistent and to be used as a guide. But the BABBS annual comp will be used as a seriuos guide for QABC which will used for AABC if my beers qualify.

After tasting Ross' Bitter at the shop on saturday I didnt think my beer would get a look in because of the vast difference. But.....I did like the caramel in mine....

Bring on next month. Is there a link for feedback to committee on Babbs site??

Cheers Brad

 

[Ross]

[email protected] is the contact.

cheers Ross

 

[bconnery]

[email protected] is the contact.

cheers Ross

I'm not sure if that one get's through. I think only committee members can post to it.
The first rule of committee is...

Email [email protected], or [email protected] and it will get through for the meeting.

Cheers
Ben

 

[Ross]

Whoops....Thanks Ben

Cheers Ross

 

[hefevice]

Feedback from an outsider (hopefully not for much longer) witnessing the Mini Comp for the first time as a visitor last year, I thought it was a fantastic concept. I couldn't attend the last meeting so I can't comment on any problems that might have arisen.

My read at the time was that the main value came from exposing members of varying level of experience to the beer evaluation and judging process, while promoting a better and deeper understanding of styles and interpreting style guidelines. I felt that the competitive side added a bit of fun to the process along with an opportunity to get some practice at competitive brewing, but was secondary to the practical educational value for the attendees. Mind you, a varying level of quality in the score sheets is good preparation for entering "real" competitions.

There was a fairly wide range of experience around the table I joined, and this worked really well as the more experienced were able to guide and explain the process and style interpretation to the less experienced.

I can see how it would become difficult with a large number of entries, and the resulting time pressure on the judging process.

My main suggestions to improve the process would be:

1. Give a short talk prior to judging explaining how to fill out the score sheet, give good feedback, and outlining the key points of the styles being judged.
2. Arrange for at least one person with evaluation/judging experience to sit at each table to guide the evaluation process, and ensure the quality of feedback is adequate.

I look forward to participating in many Mini Comps in the future, both as an entrant and an evaluator.

 

[DKS]

I'm not sure if that one get's through. I think only committee members can post to it.
The first rule of committee is...

Email [email protected], or [email protected] and it will get through for the meeting.

Cheers
Ben

Maybe a bit off topic but to bring attenion to Babbs e-mail correspondance, Ive tried three times in recent months with out reply. Gave up. Maybe they're not getting through at all.
Daz

 

[winkle]

Daz,

The highest scoring beer of the night scored 40 but was entered as a 'for comments only' as someone's second beer

Wasn't someone we know was it?