National Homebrew Competition

[JockyBrewer]

It's a myth that NEIPAs have little bitterness, personally I think their flavour benefits a lot from a "bitter backbone" (and there can be other advantages to an early addition, as hop acids suck up some iron & copper to reduce staling)
21B. Specialty IPA: New England IPA :
The perceived bitterness can be somewhat low to *medium-high*, often being masked by the body and finish of the beer.

But you're light on the ABV and may not be hop-saturated enough for a NEIPA. Really what we need is a "juicy bitter" category to reflect what's really going on in British beer at the moment.

But one option would be a "double 21B" if it feels NEIPAish but weaker -

"21B Specialty IPA with a base style of 21B. Specialty IPA: New England IPA with Session strength"

But if you're looking at something that is effectively like the bottled version of Oakham Citra, then 12A. British Golden Ale does allow
"Good to brilliant clarity...Medium to medium-high bitterness. Hop flavor is moderate to moderately high of any hop variety, although citrus flavors are increasingly common....Hop bitterness and flavor should be pronounced....Once brewed with English hops, increasingly American citrus-flavored hops are used....Often uses (and features) American hops, more so than most other modern British styles. Balance of hoppiness between a Blonde Ale and an American Pale Ale.
IBU 20-45
ABV 3.8% - 5%

And if all else fails, you've got 34B. Mixed-Style Beer with a base style of BGA or APA, but in general you want to try and avoid 34B if you can.

This is completely correct.

I think most suitable would be 21B and call it a session Hazy IPA.

 

[Braufather]

I think most suitable would be 21B and call it a session Hazy IPA.

Good call. Should have done that!

but I think the cut off was last night so it’s going in the american pale ale.

 

[DocAnna]

Hmmm … home from a week away and having to fast carb my lager for competition- and on tasting it is neither clear nor properly ready. Personally I’d like 4 more weeks to finish this properly. Question. Do I submit a not that great lager anyway or do I leave it for another time?

 

[AnimatedGIF]

Hmmm … home from a week away and having to fast carb my lager for competition- and on tasting it is neither clear nor properly ready. Personally I’d like 4 more weeks to finish this properly. Question. Do I submit a not that great lager anyway or do I leave it for another time?

I'd send it, as entries can't be changed and have already been paid for. You'll at least get some feedback, and maybe some that doesn't relate to the two issues mentioned that you're already aware of.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hmmm … home from a week away and having to fast carb my lager for competition- and on tasting it is neither clear nor properly ready. Personally I’d like 4 more weeks to finish this properly. Question. Do I submit a not that great lager anyway or do I leave it for another time?

If it was me I'd keep it back, as it'd lower my self-esteem to get negative feedback.

I know one of your entries upset you before when you expected a higher score xx

 

[Braufather]

Two of my beers are t ready yet and the other one is now past it’s best. May as well send them in though! Hoping another 7 days may help the first two!

 

[Braufather]

Packaging. Seems low bubble wrap is nor welcome? I have one of those boxes with dividers but it for 12 bottles.

what do people use?

also is sellotape ok to fix labels?

 

[Stu's Brews]

Packaging. Seems low bubble wrap is nor welcome? I have one of those boxes with dividers but it for 12 bottles.

what do people use?

also is sellotape ok to fix labels?

I think the suggestion to not use bubble wrap is just because they've seen breakages as a result.

I normally wrap each bottle in bubble wrap and then fill the space in the box with paper/cardboard cuttings/packing noodles.

The main thing is stop the bottles from crashing around into each other. I suspect some people just use a bit of bubble wrap thinking that will be enough but still allow the bottles to move about inside the box.

Sellotape for attaching labels to bottles is normally fine, that is what I do.

 

[AnimatedGIF]

Packaging. Seems low bubble wrap is nor welcome? I have one of those boxes with dividers but it for 12 bottles.

what do people use?

also is sellotape ok to fix labels?

A lot depends if it's pet or glass bottles to be honest. I have sent pet wrapped in plastic bag and taped up. Got sent away from one post office as they said all liquids need to be wrapped in bubble wrap, which is just not true. The next one I tried had no issue.
I know the organisers have put out on twitter asking people not to use bubble wrap.
I used sellotape to fix address. Note that a member of my local club advised not printing the label off the site, or at least not the bit with the sender's address, as they once had an entry returned to them as the sender address is so large on the printed labels.

 

[nickjdavis]

I think the suggestion to not use bubble wrap is just because they've seen breakages as a result.

I normally wrap each bottle in bubble wrap and then fill the space in the box with paper/cardboard cuttings/packing noodles.

The main thing is stop the bottles from crashing around into each other. I suspect some people just use a bit of bubble wrap thinking that will be enough but still allow the bottles to move about inside the box.

Sellotape for attaching labels to bottles is normally fine, that is what I do.

Advise against bubble wrap is partly due to breakages but also because of the vast amounts of packaging that needs to be disposed of. Remember you are sending these boxes to an individual person who have to dispose of the packaging materials....bubble wrap takes up a huge amount of space.

Cardboard boxes and cardboard dividers can all be flattened.

Packing noodles are not desirable either.

 

[Braufather]

is putting 6 bottles centred in a divided box for 12 ok?

 

[nickjdavis]

is putting 6 bottles centred in a divided box for 12 ok?

That is exactly what I did. There is plenty of "crumple zone" around the outer side dividers that will protect the bottles....probably the best solution in my opinion.

All I did was to stuff some scrunched up packing paper down the "holes" around the neck of the bottles to hold them steady within the divided sections so the dont rattle about. Also...should there be a slight leak from a cap (due to "vigorous handling") then the paper will soak a bit of the beer up....though obviously wont do much good if the cap comes off!!

The point is...with tightly packed bottles...there is no "give" in the event of "crush"...eventually the weakest bottle will crack.

 

[Braufather]

Cheers. That’s what I’ll do then!

 

[Stu's Brews]

Advise against bubble wrap is partly due to breakages but also because of the vast amounts of packaging that needs to be disposed of. Remember you are sending these boxes to an individual person who have to dispose of the packaging materials....bubble wrap takes up a huge amount of space.

Cardboard boxes and cardboard dividers can all be flattened.

Packing noodles are not desirable either.

Yep, that's a very good point.

 

[Broken Toe]

That’s one less person getting a better score than me!

That would be me... remember to take off beer labels folks

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve just gone to bottle my entry only to find I’ve ran out of gas! Hopefully I’ll get a canister on Wednesday

 

[Deadhead]

Hmmm … home from a week away and having to fast carb my lager for competition- and on tasting it is neither clear nor properly ready. Personally I’d like 4 more weeks to finish this properly. Question. Do I submit a not that great lager anyway or do I leave it for another time?

Hrm. Me, I'd send it anyways, even if it's not that great. I sent an English Bitter that hadn't carbed up enough to BrewCon. It was paid for so I sent it. Overall the beer got marked very well for flavour and style, except that it's carbonation level and mouthfeel. I knew it wasn't going to score well and I was okay with. In the end, it scored much higher than I thought it would, and the feedback for flavour and hopping was good because at least I knew I was in the right ballpark.

I mean, it's only gutting if you're quite happy with the beer you sent and it scored badly (maybe oxidisation during bottling or something) - But you may also be pleasantly surprised as well!

 

[YeastFace]

My entry is being collected by Parcelforce today. Bit pricy, but they collect from mine and bring the label with them (I've no printer), and have not let me down on my previous 3 entries I've sent with them.

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve just gone to bottle my entry only to find I’ve ran out of gas! Hopefully I’ll get a canister on Wednesday

My gas supplier told me they have 5 in stock so I’m going to rush out at lunchtime to switch my canister over and get it bottled tonight at HT in the football then posted tomorrow!

 

[Alastair70]

I completely missed the bubble wrap thing. Mind you, I needed help with the basics on Saturday so I’m not surprised. Apologies to any organisers who pass by this way.