Best of Brew NZ and Beervana

[Steph]

Thought I'd start a thread to give some "mad props" to my favs from Brew NZ and Beervana. Here goes:
- The great guys from stewarding. It was much harder work than I thought but I had a great time hanging out with Martin, Stu, Craig, Chris and the gang.
- Smelling how good one particular beer was in the pouring judge, looking up its number and then finding out it was Armegeddon and realising how privileged we all are.
- Being privileged enough to score some fantastic beer, including an awarding winning and delicious His Majestys in the bottle and being given one by the Yeastie Boys in the rigger.
- Meeting some of the awesome judges. Dave Logsdon was just fantastic and it was great chatting with Shane (from Steam) and Richard from Wig and Pen (among others).
- Hanging out with the guys from Renaissance Brewery. Brian is a legend for buying me coffee on the Saturday morning session of Beervana. Along with Andy and Soren that lot are the nicest brewers around.
- Meeting all the volunteers, including all you lot from RealBeer. There were some super cool people who let me boss them round a fair bit and didn't seem to mind too much.
- Laughing when Daniel from the beerstore introduced himself and said "you seem to drink a lot". And, explaining to lots of poeple that that is how I managed to get involved with BrewNZ and Beervana!!
-Almost forgot....Awarding best shirt to Matt from Harringtons for two awesome shirts on mash-in and at the awards. Big ups to Stu's shirt and pant combo and Paul Mecurio's hilarious beer shirt at Beervana.

Phew, and sure I've missed a bit out....Like the beer. I'll have to get back to it.

[Stu McKinlay]

In defence of myself:

I was asked to be head steward by OUR committee (I assume this was based on the work I started two years ago, the first year ever where judges were excluded from judging their own beer). I initially accepted but then I thought about it and sent a message to the guild asking them to consider someone else as head steward seeing that I had beers entered (recommending Craig Bowen due to his experience as a steward and in logistics).

As someone entering their beer into BrewNZ I have far more issues with the judging than the stewarding but I will present those thoughts to the Brewer's Guild forum before I post them here. They are reasonably developed anyway and are not of much interest to the general man on the forum. A positive point that I can say is that ever single beer that received a medal this year was well and truly worthy... there were plenty more that deserved medals (in my opinion) but missed out.

And, going back to something I saw earlier in this thread, after watching people judge various competitions for 5 years, I can categorically tell you all that you do compare beers against each other - whether you like to think you do or not. I'd be reasonably happy to see ALL NZ judges removed but for a few of them to sit in as "consultants" on NZ styles and hop characteristics etc.

ps. I'm so glad that I spat into the jug of every other "Stout and Porter" before it was served this year... it was the only thing that got PKB through.

[Geoff Griggs]

This is the most heartfelt, most useful discussion I have yet read on the subject of the categories and judging; a subject that's very close to my heart!

Let me say straight away that I was as amazed as anyone to see brewers of the calibre of Three Boys, Twisted Hop, Founders and Croucher (and many others) not picking up a single medal. I anticipate some full and frank discussion when they receive the judges notes - especially when they start comparing scores (assuming the brewers actually receive their scores. Will they? I don't know!).

I am currently organising a meeting of all the Marlborough brewers with the intention of analysing what happened this year and what can be done in the future. Meanwhile, I intend to point as many people as possible (including Dave Logsdon and the BGNZ Exec committee) to this thread.

I urge all interested parties not to just vent here, but to submit their views and suggestions directly to the Guild.

Excellent debate, keep it up!

[nzbrewer]

I think comparing scores if useless if comparing between styles/classes. I think the points system is dumb and too hard to control, as humans are subjective and change throughout the day.

As an example to prove this I bet the gold and best in class points for Baltika 7 would be different from Epic Armageddon IPA.

I think making assumptions on what breweries should have won something based in how you feel about the brewers, their brands and the previous beers you have tasted is about as useful as what you are arguing as the failings of the judging process and the classes. Based on that I would have put money on Invercargill winning Best Brewery.

It's the beer on the day. If they haven't presented well then that is how they are judged.

[666 Brewing]

But isnt something on paper better than judges agreeing with others because they feel they have too! Yes, maybe too hard to control and often brewers get conflicting feedback but if you work on 'law of averages' you should get a more consistent result. Saying that I dont know if points are the way to go either....

Ive said it too - its the beer on the day, not how it tasted two days ago, or two months ago.

[Greig McGill]

Based on that I would have put money on Invercargill winning Best Brewery.

I did! :(

[Steph]

Me too...

[Greig McGill]

Hrm, not that I mean any of that as a slight on Emerson's. Just that Emerson's are consistently good (a few speed wobbles with infection and new malt/brewery adjustments notwithstanding) whereas for my money, Invercargill have just been mindblowing this year. Anyway, if I carry on with this, I'm only going to make enemies, so I'll shut up now! ;)

[Steve Nally]

We don't even know how they were judged, If I emailled, phoned the guild to see the procedures, system etc on how the entry is treated, judged, reported there would be nothing, zip, nada.
I sent the Guild how I see the awards system, gave them a proposal in Feb 2009, they didn't even contact me to say piss off, I did that all by myself...

[Tony]

I am extremely disappointed and jealous, that I didn't make it this year. May I add, although I am not a professional brewer, I know some who are and hang a lot on getting awards. For those of you who may not have received awards, don't worry about it. You beer is still awesome. Personally, I couldn't give a crap about awards, as long as the people that matter, still appreciate and drink your beer. That's the biggest kudos, IMHO. Comps are so subjective and the fact that Export Gold won over Hoprocker, says it all for me, no comparison.

I'll never forget the sight at the beer festival in Auckland, earlier this year. Peps crowded around the Croucher stall, while the Steinlager groupies were sadly looking on, priceless.

[josh scott]

There is an answer in here somewhere and more discussion the better. A good discussion for the guild members when the time comes!!!!

My last post on this.........

Promote New Zealand beers (lets try and mirror the wine industry success with there awards system eg AIRNZ wine awards, cuisine) Isn't this what Beervana is all about??

BrewNZ for New Zealand beers only (maybe have international section) encouarge as many brwers to get involved with Beervana as possible

More medals to good quality NZ beers, create the interest, then you can tigten up the quality parameters as time goes by.We don't need to sell masses of imported beer in New Zealand, lets keep that segment small and specialised not grow it (like wine industry does)or worst promote it.

Drop old "must show good hop aroma and not have an IBU over 25 etc etc" system, adopt a new system, with simple classes, rewarding quality and exciting beers, not beers that fit into a certain style.


I really want to see craft beer grow in New Zealand and I see BrewNZ as a good way to get stores to really open up their shelves for not just puting 1 or 2 craft beers in a but a decent range.

Having a beer that is not only good but has a independent endorsment means a lot to the decison makers/buyers

It a hard graft to get shelf space, I would like the tools to make it easier.(As I believe a lot of good brewerys missed out)
This I would hope have the flow on effect of consumers asking for craft beers in Bars/Resturants and see even better distributuion for craft brewers and less souless list.


And finally, I have always found it great when , in the wine idustry the day after the awards we have a trade tatsing, so all the beers entered are lined up in classes and then we are free to taste. This way you really get an idea on what the judges were seeing

[BeerNZ]

Great last point Josh - will have to put the entry volumes up from 4 litres to 40 litres...!!!

CB

[nzbrewer]

and there will have to be a $10 surcharge for sending a keg