February 2021 comp - Dark beers

[Broken Toe]

Started early with some of the sub 6% or "light" beers! The scoring is getting really hard, now have a joint 1st and new second with 1 point in it, but difficult decision comparing different styles.

Plan is to finish by end of weekend and I'll get the full feedback out next week. Cheers for the patience (and some great beers)

God speed

 

[Mrhandsome]

It's a tough job....

 

[Subtle Duck]

It's a tough job....

But someone's got to do it

 

[xozzx]

Finally results are in! It was very interesting tasting so many different beers brewed by different people. Its a shame I had to do it myself as it would have been a lot of fun to have done it with 2 or 3 others, it would also have removed preference towards different beer styles and personal taste. My wife did help out a little but she is not a beer fan, she was quite good at picking out different flavours and aromas tho.

I used the BJCP scoring guidelines as it seemed a fair and sensible way to do it, scores were out of 50 overall, split as below

Aroma -12
Appearance - 3
Flavour - 20
Mouthfeel - 5
Overall - 10

With so many entries and many of them really good there was a tie for 3rd and 2nd but 1st taken by only 1 point!

3rd - 43 points
@samale - Dark Winter saison
@dalecek - Winter stout

2nd - 44 points
@Moe - Oatmeal stout
@Subtle Duck - Bills mother RIS

1st place with 45 points
@Broken Toe - American Brown

Ill get feedback out as soon as I can, work has suddenly got really busy so might be a small delay but should get some time in the evening to type it up.

@Broken Toe Congratulations! a damn fine beer. It was just soo easy drinking, smooth and refreshing but with plenty of flavours well balanced, none of them too overpowering. This is the kind of beer that would be great to always have on tap as it would work well all year.
First prize is the below t-shirt, if you pm me your size and address Ill amazon one to you.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Well done all!!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Congratulations @Broken Toe

That’s a huge score too!

 

[samale]

Well done @Broken Toe and to @xozzx for scoring all the beers.

 

[Subtle Duck]

Well done xozzx, Thank you for scoring the monstrous amount of beers and surviving thorough to the end. bravo @Broken Toe

 

[dalecek]

Congrats @Broken Toe and thank you @xozzx for judging all the beers!! :small

 

[RichardM]

Thank you @xozzx and well done @Broken Toe

 

[Broken Toe]

Thank you so much @xozzx ! Congrats @Moe @samale @dalecek @Subtle Duck. I wasn't expecting that. I do agree with how easy it goes down. It's cost me some unexpected hangovers.

 

[samale]

@Broken Toe I don't think I have ever made a brown ale. Can you post the recipe

 

[Moe]

Thanks @xozzx that looked a mammoth effort to judge. I’m buzzing with second place, it was my first competition

Congrats @Broken Toe

 

[Torshon]

Definitely took one for the team lol

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

Congratulations to all the winners. It looked a close run thing and must have been really tough to judge.

 

[Broken Toe]

@Broken Toe I don't think I have ever made a brown ale. Can you post the recipe

I've attached my notes from the book. A point to note is my initial impressions. This is definitely a beer that needed a but of time to come into its own.

 

[xozzx]

Thanks @xozzx that looked a mammoth effort to judge. I’m buzzing with second place, it was my first competition

Yours was a great beer. I had it a bit cold at first which made it kind of thin but as it warmed the flavours really shone through, well balanced and easy drinking, really enjoyable beer and no off flavours at all.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I've attached my notes from the book. A point to note is my initial impressions. This is definitely a beer that needed a but of time to come into its own. View attachment 43344

Might have to copy this one, can't quite read the bit on the right? Does it say pitched 20c CML Hell?

 

[samale]

Is an American amber similar to an American brown ale

 

[Broken Toe]

CML Hell?

The CML FIVE. I think it's the same of not very similar to the US-05?

Is an American amber similar to an American brown ale

Great question. I'm not wholly sure. Based on the UK versions of both I would guess that the brown is darker than the amber. But it could just be semantics.