Quick Comp Category Question

[Darwin18]

I brewed an American Pale Ale with spruce tips.

Does it go in 21A - Spice/Herb/Veg or 23 - Specialty. My gut says 21A - Spice/Herb/Veg but I have a nagging feeling that I'm wrong.

Thanks

 

[AnOldUR]

If the spruce tips are notable, 21A.

If you say they're there but the judge can't pick them out, you'll get dinged.

edit to say:
I have a heather tip beer that took third in 21A recently

And yes, you could go in either, but do you really want to compete against the onslaught of Black IPA's?

 

[douglasbarbin]

Not that I'm an expert or anything, but I think that it could go in either.

 

[Darwin18]

Definitely pronounced but well balanced. I'll stick in 21A and see how it does.

 

[zmanzorro]

23 is just a catch all for everything that doesn't specifically fall into another category. Could go in either category, but would have less competition and a better chance of winning in 21A.

 

[Brettomomyces]

I would also suggest 21A for the reasons zmanzorro listed. There are a lot of bad beers in 21A sometimes...and you'd be up against ridiculous specialty stouts and IPAs in 23

 

[AnOldUR]

There are a lot of bad beers in 21A sometimes...

So, you're saying my Heather Tip beer actually sucked, but I got a ribbon by default?

 

[Brettomomyces]

Hey I said sometimes!

But, it couldn't have sucked that bad! Cutoff is usually 30 for ribbons