I entered in a local homebrew comp

[Cody]

And I ended up getting fourth place and a score of 40/50 for my hefe!

Now I realize that this was only a couple of judges, and this doesn't mean I'm necessarily a great brewer, but it sure gives me a little bit of validation that my beers actually taste good like I think they do (or at least this one does). I'm especially pleased that impartial parties were unable to find any bad flavors. I didn't taste any, but it's good to know that people who aren't my friends and don't know the maker of this beer also don't taste anything off. So basically, I'm feeling really good about my brewing and much more confident in my skill level. Just thought I'd share!

[Elbone]

And I ended up getting fourth place and a score of 40/50 for my hefe!

Now I realize that this was only a couple of judges, and this doesn't mean I'm necessarily a great brewer, but it sure gives me a little bit of validation that my beers actually taste good like I think they do (or at least this one does). I'm especially pleased that impartial parties were unable to find any bad flavors. I didn't taste any, but it's good to know that people who aren't my friends and don't know the maker of this beer also don't taste anything off. So basically, I'm feeling really good about my brewing and much more confident in my skill level. Just thought I'd share!

Yeah- that's one of the best reasons to enter competitions. Once you've gotten some good, blind, un-biased feedback on your beer you can be confident that it really doesn't suck! (Or at least now you know if it does suck.) Congrats on the score, BTW! Highest score I ever received in a comp was a 42 on a Belgian-style Dubbel. Didn't place.

[4taps]

The best score I got without placing was a 41 for an American Wheat. I think my best score ever was a 42. I love getting the feedback but I get annoyed at score sheets with hardly any comments

[Cody]

Yeah, it's not helpful without critiques. I got a lot of "spot on" with style comments, which was pretty good, and they also wanted more cloves. I just had two of them last night, almost couldn't stop drinking. Gonna go really well with a hot day...if we ever get those.

[justwondering]

I love the write-ups. I think they can be very telling.

Case in point. Couple years back, my friend entered a homebrew contest, put in this amazing porter in the Robust Porter category. Well, he entered a whole bunch other great beers but thought this one would win big. He did really well in all the other categories. He winds up getting an honorable mention. Curious, he asked the judges what they thought. Their feedback was that it was terrific, best in category, probably Best In Show. But one judge felt that coffee (they used is espresso in the beer although it wan't a full blown coffee porter) was not indicative of the style and he pushed only for the honorable mention; it warranted consideration on taste alone but not officialy placing.

Two things. Accord to the BJCP guidleines for a robust porter, they mention coffee as one characteristic the style. Moreover, two of the beers they mention in their commercial examples are coffee porters.

Here's the best part. So the eventual winner of the Robust Porter category also wins Best In Show. And the judge who wrote-up the score sheet and objected to the beer? Turns out to be the brother of the guy who submitted the winning beer.

Very telling, indeed.