Hi all, I got a terrible score in a competition.
So a brew this Stong Ale based on the recipe published by Fullers for their 1845, a beer I love and regularly drink, which btw is Listed as one of the style's example in the bjcp guide.
Finished brewing this beer feeling that, from all what I brewed so far, this is the one I did the best technically. Beer ferments, conditions for a few weeks and I am loving it. No need to pay for this baby anymore, I thought.
If I was ever to get a medal, this was going to be the beer to deliver it. Bang on the middle of the style, following the best example mr. Stong could find and aside chill haze, I could not personally fault it (which shows how little I know).
Shared the beer with two work colleagues, hardcore real ale drinkers, and I get requests to brew whole kegs for them. So I am feeling confident.
Beer goes to competition and does not place. Ok, fair enough, I am measuring myself against lots of very talented brewes... Maybe next time.
Then the score comes in and it is a 20. Yes, a 20. And I go from feeling confident to just having the sandcastle kicked hard.
Bearing in mind I am still waiting to read what the judge said. I am wondering how could I have got it so wrong.
I cracked open one a few minutes ago (I never crack open one on a Tuesday! But I am like, I need to figure this out) and I am liking it as much as I did a week ago when I thought I had a winner ... Still trying to figure out what's wrong with it .. :/
I will do a side by side with a 1845 to see if I can spot where the defects are, but 20? Really? That's like a I cannot drink that **** score, right?
So a brew this Stong Ale based on the recipe published by Fullers for their 1845, a beer I love and regularly drink, which btw is Listed as one of the style's example in the bjcp guide.
Finished brewing this beer feeling that, from all what I brewed so far, this is the one I did the best technically. Beer ferments, conditions for a few weeks and I am loving it. No need to pay for this baby anymore, I thought.
If I was ever to get a medal, this was going to be the beer to deliver it. Bang on the middle of the style, following the best example mr. Stong could find and aside chill haze, I could not personally fault it (which shows how little I know).
Shared the beer with two work colleagues, hardcore real ale drinkers, and I get requests to brew whole kegs for them. So I am feeling confident.
Beer goes to competition and does not place. Ok, fair enough, I am measuring myself against lots of very talented brewes... Maybe next time.
Then the score comes in and it is a 20. Yes, a 20. And I go from feeling confident to just having the sandcastle kicked hard.
Bearing in mind I am still waiting to read what the judge said. I am wondering how could I have got it so wrong.
I cracked open one a few minutes ago (I never crack open one on a Tuesday! But I am like, I need to figure this out) and I am liking it as much as I did a week ago when I thought I had a winner ... Still trying to figure out what's wrong with it .. :/
I will do a side by side with a 1845 to see if I can spot where the defects are, but 20? Really? That's like a I cannot drink that **** score, right?