National Homebrew Competition: Thanks for Playing

I got my NHC scoresheets in the mail last week. Two of my beers (Fruitcake Ale and amber rye ale) scored in the low 30s and earned a silver certificate. My other entries (an attempted Black Butte clone and the autumn seasonal Oktober Surprise) did quite a bit worse in the low 20s, thus earning a womp-womp.

NHC scoresheet for Amber Ale. Judge's info
redacted (poorly).

Even though the NHC version of the score sheet is abbreviated - lots of checkboxes - I got more feedback than I was expecting. One judge even offered a few pointers on mash pH and fermentation temperatures for my acetone-tinged Black Butte clone. The most cutting comment was on the lack of hop character in Oktober Surprise: " It's not bad, but it's not beer."

I made one rookie mistake with my flavored beers by listing what I put in it rather than what can actually be detected. You're more likely to get dinged for something you say is there but isn't apparent to the judges.

The Fruitcake Ale has a lot of stuff in it, which I documented in this blog. The citrus and apricot were drowned out. Ginger, cherry and allspice have been the most prominent flavors in several judges' eyes (or tongues and noses). I'm entering Fruitcake into at least one more competition, so I now know what to declare.