Contest Results And Opinions

[deafcone]

Hi all,

I entered a sweet stout in a contest last week and my scores were 36, 37 ,39 for an average of 37.3. I was happy since it was only my second contest. Aroma, appearance ,and mouthfeel were prety much the same among the judges. the taste catagory had comments ranging from roasty, no hops, needs to be sweeter. scores ranged from 13 to 15 in the flavor catagory so that's where I need to concentrate improvements. But how can I do that without altering the other catagories? One thing I think I need to do is lower the fermentation temp. my beers have been fermenting at about 73 to 75 degrees. I have just installed a thermostat in a fridge to allow for lagers and though I'd make the same beer and ferment at 65 degree range. But does temp have much an affect on flavor or do I need to rethink my ingredients?

here's the recipe:

4 pds DME
1 pd lactose
1/2 pd victory malt
1/2 pound caramel malt 40 L
1/2 pd honey malt
3/4 pd debittered black patent
3/4 pd english chocolate malt
1/2 pd molasses
1/2 pd pale wheat

1 oz target hops 60 minutes (8.5 AA)
Muntons dry yeast


DC

[beerking]

Proper temperature for the yeast strain, and style being produced, may be the single most important factor on flavor of a clean, well made beer. 73-75 is pretty high. I am betting there are some fusels in your beer (although this is somewhat dependent on your starting gravity, which you don't give), which may not be strong, but hamper the flavor at its base. Keeping fermentation down to 60-65 F will make a difference, and likely a big one.
Just to be sure, you should send me a couple of bottles of your beer so I can give you a more complete analysis. :D

[deafcone]

Proper temperature for the yeast strain, and style being produced, may be the single most important factor on flavor of a clean, well made beer. 73-75 is pretty high. I am betting there are some fusels in your beer (although this is somewhat dependent on your starting gravity, which you don't give), which may not be strong, but hamper the flavor at its base. Keeping fermentation down to 60-65 F will make a difference, and likely a big one.
Just to be sure, you should send me a couple of bottles of your beer so I can give you a more complete analysis. :D


Starting gravity was 1.051
FG was 1.020

where you live?

DC

[beerking]

Virginia.
Your starting gravity is low enough that you probably did not get much fusel, perhaps none.

[markaberrant]

Just my opinion, but when I score a beer in the upper 30s, there typically is very little wrong with the beer. At that scoring level, you typically just need to refine or tweak whatever it is that is holding back a "good" beer from being "outstanding."

I would definitely take Beerking's suggestion and try fermenting the next one a little cooler. That seems like an obvious place to start.

Be proud of your achievement, and always strive for continous improvement and consistency.

[deafcone]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll be making a pompkin ale the weekend and it's getting fermented in the fridge. Same with next batch of the stout.


DC

[beerking]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll be making a pompkin ale the weekend and it's getting fermented in the fridge. Same with next batch of the stout. DC

Just make sure you have a temp controller and don't get an ale below ~60F, where it might stop the yeast dead in their tracks.

[Mad Scientist]

Just my opinion, but when I score a beer in the upper 30s, there typically is very little wrong with the beer. At that scoring level, you typically just need to refine or tweak whatever it is that is holding back a "good" beer from being "outstanding."

I would definitely take Beerking's suggestion and try fermenting the next one a little cooler. That seems like an obvious place to start.

Be proud of your achievement, and always strive for continous improvement and consistency.

Yeah, he is right...that is a real good score. How did it place comapred to the other stout entries?

[deafcone]

Yeah, he is right...that is a real good score. How did it place comapred to the other stout entries?

2nd out of 6 entries. Not a big contest but the score is what I like. Didn't expect that high of a score.


DC