23 replies to this topic

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I never said that I wasn't a fan of rye and agree with your description. But it seems that APA or IPA would be a lot better place to judge ryePAs than Cat 23.

While I haven't brewed a rye beer I've drank some commercial examples and I agree. It has a lot in common with APA and IPA. The other option would be to give rye ales their own category.

[Thirsty]

Kinda OT, but is there a database/directory of competitions I can look at to find comps in my area?

There is a comp at the Topsfield Fair in sept, you can drop off your beers at the HBS in w Boylston. I didnt enter this one last year, but I know there are going to be some good local (Boston) veteran brewers entering this year, so it should be some good competition.

While I haven't brewed a rye beer I've drank some commercial examples and I agree. It has a lot in common with APA and IPA. The other option would be to give rye ales their own category.

Technically they do, 6D is American Wheat or Rye. However the style is more traditional, and a rye IPA is suggested to get put into 23. The specialty categories (16E & 23) can be a great catchall, if the proper ingredients are listed and make it to the judges. A defined base style, and ingredient description of why it is special, NEED to be inluded to get judged properly, but I have tasted many high scoring specialties. To me it is one of the most fun categories to judge.

[zymot]

The BJCP guidelines are a noble attempt to quantify by an objective process a personal and subjective event: Does this beer taste good?What if you tried to put together a score sheet to determine who is a better composer: Beethoven or Mozart?They do a good job, but I doubt it is possible to get to the point that is beyond criticism.

[MtnBrewer]

The BJCP guidelines are a noble attempt to quantify by an objective process a personal and subjective event: Does this beer taste good?What if you tried to put together a score sheet to determine who is a better composer: Beethoven or Mozart?They do a good job, but I doubt it is possible to get to the point that is beyond criticism.

Good analogy and to extend it a little, to judge Mozart and Beethoven, you'd have to create different standards by which to judge them. Mozart you'd judge according to the "rules" of classical music; Beethoven would be judged by the "rules" of the romantic era. This is exactly what the BJCP has done. They have formalized a number of different styles that are commonly available or were at one time. These form the basis of a set of standards by which to judge all beers on an equal footing. Not every style is represented but as new styles emerge, these often are added as in the case of IIPA in 2004.