Garrison's 2012 Ultimate Brew-off Challenge

[jeffsmith]

Remember to bring a few of your beers if you have any left, we'd like them for the 31st. I'm still working on how to drop them off.

Ok if I bring you a few on the 24th?

[Bryan]

Remember to bring a few of your beers if you have any left, we'd like them for the 31st. I'm still working on how to drop them off.

Not a problem... I'll have to bottle them before St. Paddy's day, or there might be none left!!

[BBrianBoogie]

I just got another email from Garrison saying that the FOAD email does indeed apply to all 3 SAAZ entries.
I had high hopes for these beers this year. I wouldn't be surprised if brewing cost is a factor in the judging.

That's a big assumption and I find that pretty insulting to the other brewers honestly. There were a lot of entries from a bunch of really good brewers. I'm sure there were many excellent beers, taste is subjective and nobody automatically has a spot in the final four. I have no doubt there was stiff competition for those.

[vgoreham]

Another loser here.

[mr x]

I just got another email from Garrison saying that the FOAD email does indeed apply to all 3 SAAZ entries.
I had high hopes for these beers this year. I wouldn't be surprised if brewing cost is a factor in the judging.

That's a big assumption and I find that pretty insulting to the other brewers honestly. There were a lot of entries from a bunch of really good brewers. I'm sure there were many excellent beers, taste is subjective and nobody automatically has a spot in the final four. I have no doubt there was stiff competition for those.

I don't think Andy's intent was to slam anybody, and I have no doubt the beers in the final could be awesome, and it would be even more awesome if you win, but the past is the past and Garrison hasn't got much of a reputation for integrity. Without the release of a time machine, that's something they have to live with. I fully support some kind of competition for homebrewer's in this region, and so long as Garrison is doing it, that's fine, I don't want to do anything that would take away from that. So I'll keep my mouth shut and wish everyone good luck. I'm sure it will be a fun event.

[akr71]

That's a big assumption and I find that pretty insulting to the other brewers honestly. There were a lot of entries from a bunch of really good brewers. I'm sure there were many excellent beers, taste is subjective and nobody automatically has a spot in the final four. I have no doubt there was stiff competition for those.

There was certainly no insult intended and I'm happy that at least one Brewnoser made the cut (I hope there's more). Why would I think I'm automatically entitled to a finalist spot? I've never made it there before. I will be pulling for ANY Brewnoser in the final 4 and I have no doubt that weeding down from 62 to 4 was incredibly difficult - especially for just 1 person.

Excellent beer can be made from simple ingredients and it wouldn't be surprising if such a beer had an edge over a beer with a more complex grain/hop bill. Garrison is a business after all and they expect to make money off this.

[mr x]

Remember to bring a few of your beers if you have any left, we'd like them for the 31st. I'm still working on how to drop them off.

Ok if I bring you a few on the 24th?

Yup.

[akr71]

I just got another email from Garrison saying that the FOAD email does indeed apply to all 3 SAAZ entries.
I had high hopes for these beers this year. I wouldn't be surprised if brewing cost is a factor in the judging.

I had a good chat one time with Daniel about the process and it's completely blind to them. The entries are a number and they only look at the final four names and recipes after they are choosen. When I was dropping off my samples this year he wouldn't come near me, I had to go over and talk to him cause he didn't want to see what my bottles looked like just in case.

That was really more of a tongue in cheek comment & not meant to be taken to heart.

I am however quite happy that I can attack that keg and not worry about saving any for next week.

[jeffsmith]

I am however quite happy that I can attack that keg and not worry about saving any for next week.

Rye IPA for St. Paddy's day!

[BBrianBoogie]

That's a big assumption and I find that pretty insulting to the other brewers honestly. There were a lot of entries from a bunch of really good brewers. I'm sure there were many excellent beers, taste is subjective and nobody automatically has a spot in the final four. I have no doubt there was stiff competition for those.

There was certainly no insult intended and I'm happy that at least one Brewnoser made the cut (I hope there's more). Why would I think I'm automatically entitled to a finalist spot? I've never made it there before. I will be pulling for ANY Brewnoser in the final 4 and I have no doubt that weeding down from 62 to 4 was incredibly difficult - especially for just 1 person.

Excellent beer can be made from simple ingredients and it wouldn't be surprising if such a beer had an edge over a beer with a more complex grain/hop bill. Garrison is a business after all and they expect to make money off this.

I guess what I'm getting at is would you have made the same comment if your result in the comp was different? I'd feel the same if I had made it through or not. To me it sounds like an insinuation that the brewers actual skill or recipe wasn't a deciding factor in who went to the next round. I'm as surprised as anyone that I did, but still find that insulting. If you don't see my point, that's fine. I've got less than no interest in any drama and will leave it at that.

[jeffsmith]

I guess what I'm getting at is would you have made the same comment if your result in the comp was different? I'd feel the same if I had made it through or not. To me it sounds like an insinuation that the brewers actual skill or recipe wasn't a deciding factor in who went to the next round. I'm as surprised as anyone that I did, but still find that insulting. If you don't see my point, that's fine. I've got less than no interest in any drama and will leave it at that.

I think that might be reading a bit much into Andy's comment. And just so you're aware it was a point of discussion between a few of us well before we were aware of the results of the eliminations. At that, we wondered if it might be a point of consideration (as Andy worded it, a factor), not a sole reason negating a brewer's skill or the qualIty of their product.

[akr71]

Well, like I said, it wasn't meant as an insult and yes, I did have the impression before yesterday's email that the entries were going to be judged on criteria that we may not be aware of... LD say that Daniel told him otherwise.

I still stand by my statement that excellent beer can be made from simple ingredients - seems to me I'm stating the opposite - that the brewer's skill was instrumental. If that is still insulting, there's not much I can do about it.

I'm happy that at least one Brewnoser made the cut (I hope there's more). I will be pulling for ANY Brewnoser in the final 4.

I do, however, regret not prefacing my comments like Jeff did, to give them some context.

[XmonikerX]

In for the win baby

Yours pretty damn tasty Brian can't wait for your win.

[Jayme]

I just got my losing email as well. Luckily, I do enjoy drinking it! And, it means I can take some to my friend's Paddy's day kegger. What volume are people taking on the 31st? I'm pretty sure I can make it that day and will save an appropriate amount.

[chalmers]

If you can spare a growler, that would be great, otherwise a bomber or two is good. I think there's going to be ~20 of us, so we should plan accordingly.

[Jayme]

Cool - I'll save at least a growler.

[mr x]

That sounds about right.

[amartin]

Hooray! Mine finally finished carbonating. It's too late to help me in the competition, but at least now I have something good to bring on the 31st. I did mine as a lager, and didn't think to add fresh yeast at bottling time. Oops.

[Jamie D]

I was very surprised that mine has made the finals as well. I enter because I like supporting the event, but never thought I had much of a chance against so many good brewers. I also like that it forces me to make a style that I wouldn't normally brew.

[jeffsmith]

Congrats!

[akr71]

Congrats BBB & Jamie D! Looking forward to trying both on Thursday

[chalmers]

Excellent! Looking forward to meeting you and trying the beer Thursday. Would you be able to save a couple bottles or a growler for the "real" competition on the 31st?

[mr x]

Excellent for both of you. Can I assume that I don't need to remind you where the recipe section is.

In fact, I think I'd like to start a recipe thread dedicated to this contest's recipes. So long as our star pupils care to share, lol. And before Garrison makes you sign waivers.heehee

[Jimmy]

Congrats ladies

[homebrewcrew]

yeah good work cant wait to give them a try.