Competition Update

Well to update everyone on my alt bier.  As it turns out it picked up a 3rd place in a competition.  This one competed as a North German Altbier vs. a Dusseldor Alt.  Still the score sheets had saying that it had more roast character than would be to style.  I got similar notes on my last score sheet for this beer as well.  Looking at some of my books and some research, I believe the problem was using Carafa instead of Carafa Special.  It seems that switching would help in dropping out some of that roastiness and lend some of the biscuity flavours that would be more to style.  

So...how did it do.  Well lets roll through it.  It was position 4 of 7.  The first judge had it 9/12 for aroma; 2/3 for appearance; 14/20 for flavor; 4/5 for mouthfeel; 7/10 for overall impression.  For a total of 36/50.   The second judge had it at 9/12 for aroma; 3/3 for appearance; 15/20 for flavor; 3/5 for mouthfeel; 7/10 for overall impression.  A total for that was 37/50.  This put me with an average of 36.5 for this competition.  Putting me at the high end of very good.  I have to say that so far this is the highest score that I've picked up for a beer in competition.  I've had a mead take a 37.  

Whats next?  Well there is an award ceremony this Sunday.  So even if I don't pick up any new hardware this weekend atleast I'll get a few more score sheets to provide some more data points.  Speaking of which I found several of my old score sheets but I know that there are two more floating around.  One is fairly current, the other is one of the first competitions I entered.  I know the old one wasn't anything to brag about, but I'd like to have them so I can have exact numbers on how it did.  But back to now...After this weekend the next is the Mazer Cup, which should be 21 March.  Last year they had a webcast of the awards and I'm hoping they will again this year.  Then I have some entries to submit to the first round of the NHC.  As it turns out I have another entry and enough bottles of the Volksmarch Altbier for round one.  

I think that should about wrap it up.   Happy Brewing to all and to all a goodnight!