I'm free...freefallin'...

[alan_marks]

As of 3:00 pm CST I am officially divorced.
Now it's time to start planning my entries for the 2012 NCH!

Just like Lance Armstrong and his training for the Tour d'France, my goal is to enter at least 12 beers into the first round of NHC, focusing on styles that are simple, yet elegant. I want to focus my brewing this year on bringing my best to NHC and only NHC. I'm thinking American light lager, premium lager, cream ale, porter, Belgian pale ale, dubbel, trippel, strong dark ale, California common, American amber ale...

I would appreciate any ideas and suggestions along the way, with honest and critical tastings from those who have the skill and credentials to provide a fair and honest feedback.

I've never entered any competitions before, but when talking with my co-worker John Dean, brewmaster of the Blind Tiger in Topeka, he told me "shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll end up among the stars". I KNOW I can make brew better beer, everyone who has tried my stuff loved it, so any assistance along the way would be greatly appreciated.

In parting I can only say...

...motering....<grin>

brewing better beer,
Alan

[BDawg]

Good deal on going for it-

i'd nix American Amber, because there will be a zillion and a half APAs and browns. American Ale is ALWAYS one of the biggest categories.

Good deal on the light lagers and cream ale. They tend to get amongst the smallest entry counts, though the entries tend to be better because it takes balls to even attempt them.

The English Browns get smaller entry counts too. Good ones are simple but elegant. I'd consider this instead of Porter.

Cal common is a great idea. Consider doing both of the Alts, too.

I'd stay away from Belgian Pale. Not very many people are very familiar with the style, and it's competing with the Saisons, Wits and the Biere de Gards (which are on an upswing). There's a very good chance you can brew a fantastic one but get a 33 because the judges don't know the style. Remember, the NHC 1st round gets LOTS of novice judges simply to handle the volume. That makes it more of a crap shoot. Even though we always put ranked BJCP judges with the novices, the newer Certifieds and Recognized judges may not be as familiar with some of the more obscure styles.

HTH-

[Bugeater]

Good for you! I did pretty much the same thing after I got divorced. Brewed 14 styles and entered 8 of them. Had the best results with a roggenbier, strong scotch ale (wee heavy), and English Barleywine. It's almost too late for those really big beers. I usually do them in March for entry the following year.

Good luck!

Wayne

[tavish2]

I'd stay away from Belgian Pale. Not very many people are very familiar with the style, and it's competing with the Saisons, Wits and the Biere de Gards (which are on an upswing). There's a very good chance you can brew a fantastic one but get a 33 because the judges don't know the style. Remember, the NHC 1st round gets LOTS of novice judges simply to handle the volume. That makes it more of a crap shoot. Even though we always put ranked BJCP judges with the novices, the newer Certifieds and Recognized judges may not be as familiar with some of the more obscure styles.

HTH-

They need to drink some dekonick then BPA is an AWESOME style. such a soft delicate style I acutally brew up a 5 and then a 10 gallon batch of it getting my golden strong yeast going.