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barleypopmaker
06-13-2005, 10:44 AM
I am going to be entering in my first homebrew competition in September. But I was going through he BJCP guidelines to make sure my beers will fit within the style guidelines. I brew an American Brown Ale with an SRM of about 30-35. Which is within the guidelines (18-35 srm) I got in PDF format, but I was looking at the chart on the BJCP Exam study guide and on the chart on page 40, it lists the guidelines for this style to be between 15-22 SRM. Does anyone know which guidelines they use? Does it depend on the judge? The Region? I don't want to enter in the Specialty category if I don't have to. Any Insight would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jason
steveh
06-13-2005, 11:49 AM
The BJCP recently modified and updated their guidelines, it looks like American Brown Ales were one of the categories to be adjusted - in favor of your recipe, too.

Here's the link to what is probably the same as the PDF you down-loaded:
http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category10.html#style10C

Good luck - where are you entering?

S.
barleypopmaker
06-13-2005, 12:04 PM
Good. Thanks for clarifying that for me. I will be entering a contest that will be in Racine. Not far from Northern Illinois ;) The contest is on September 19th. Here is the link if your interested. http://www.hbd.org/kbs/schooner. Besides the American Brown, I will also be entering a Saison.
fretlessman71
06-13-2005, 12:37 PM
And an SRM is....? (For the rest of us mouthy-but-uneducated folk...)
Payson
06-13-2005, 12:42 PM
SRM is a measure of color (Standard Reference Measure) which is originally photometrically determined. Once a "standard" is known, color swatches suffice.
fretlessman71
06-13-2005, 12:53 PM
So this is sort of a darkness scale? Is a higher number darker or lighter?
Payson
06-13-2005, 01:00 PM
The higher the # the darker it is.
steveh
06-13-2005, 01:17 PM
Originally posted by barleypopmaker
http://www.hbd.org/kbs/schooner.

That's the competition I'll be judging! For an extra special *donation,* I could get my name on the Brown Ales and Saison list... ;)

S.
steveh
06-13-2005, 01:22 PM
BTW - this is the second year for the Great Lakes Beer Fest (the fest this competition is connected with), last year's inaugural was quite good -- except for want of a new "o" ring on the Capital Autumnal Fire tapping system. :(

S.
brewmonkey
06-13-2005, 08:33 PM
Since they have no way of measuring SRM other then by eye I really would not worry about it unless you are so far out of range that it is too dark or not dark enough. Even those guys who bring the little "color slide" are guessing.
barleypopmaker
06-14-2005, 07:24 AM
Originally posted by steveh
That's the competition I'll be judging! For an extra special *donation,* I could get my name on the Brown Ales and Saison list... ;)

S.

Sweet!
danno
06-14-2005, 05:13 PM
one more thing about color: on the fifty point BJCP scale, appearance is a grand total of three points, and that covers color, clarity, and head. so even if your color is way off, you "should" only get penalized one point...
BrewDog
06-14-2005, 09:00 PM
But doesn't the 'overall impression' section also play into this as the place the judges use to go after things like this that are way out of whack?
steveh
06-15-2005, 05:44 AM
Originally posted by BrewDog
But doesn't the 'overall impression' section also play into this as the place the judges use to go after things like this that are way out of whack?

I've judged with laid back judges, novice judges, horribly picky judges - all kinds. That's the good part of a diverse group; you go through the entrants one-by-one, discuss as you go, then go through an overview and (try to) get on the same track for the whole batch - not a single opinion making the decision.

Overall impressions are just that - overall, balanced. If a beer is damn good, but is a shade off in color, it won't make a big difference. If it's been entered in the American Porter category and is the color of a Dortmunder - well, something's not right. On the other hand, if it was the color of a Dortmunder, and still tasted like an American Porter - that would certainly make for an interesting debate of overall impression!

S.
barleypopmaker
06-15-2005, 01:01 PM
Well, this all puts my mind at ease. I am excited, and a little nervous. I think my beer is good, my friends and family think it is good (or at least that is what they tell me to my face). But to have some complete stranger who knows what to look for, and has no connection to me or my beer is kind of liberating and nerve racking. Still, it will be good to know where I stand. I know for sure I will be entering in the Brown Ale catagory for sure, I have not fully made up my mind on the Saison yet, but it's a good beer.
Payson
06-15-2005, 01:10 PM
Enter the saison as well. If nothing else, for a few bucks you get good feedback. You may even be pleasantly surprised! :D
barleypopmaker
06-21-2005, 08:23 AM
Originally posted by Payson
Enter the saison as well. If nothing else, for a few bucks you get good feedback. You may even be pleasantly surprised! :D

Yeah, I suppose your right. The entry fee is only $5/style so what the heck. I just didn't want to enter a beer if I didn't feel it would have a chance at placing.
HogieWan
06-21-2005, 08:33 AM
Originally posted by barleypopmaker
Yeah, I suppose your right. The entry fee is only $5/style so what the heck. I just didn't want to enter a beer if I didn't feel it would have a chance at placing.

feedback from judges will help future beers place if this one does not