Hoperatives

3:05 pm (Tom): Folks are still hard at work. Unfortunately we won’t be able to be here for the results, so this is our last dispatch. I’m bottling my first batch ever tomorrow, so needless to say, I’m a bit intimidated.

If you ever have a chance to work or attend a competition, take it! It’s fun, educational, and there’s beer.

2:30 PM (Carla): After a tasty lunch of brats and burgers, the second round of judging has begun. We’re not stewarding this round because we have to leave about 3:30 pm. Still fascinating to watch the judging process.

LUNCH BREAK!

12:50 PM (Tom): My judges have been amazingly consistent with one exception. That led to an interesting conversation that led to a reevaluation. Then on the next they locked right up again. And had the beers come in a different order, it probably wouldn’t have happened.

12:45 pm (Carla): Just finishing up the morning session, but some of the other categories had as many as 10-12 entries so they’re still going. My nose is telling me that someone has fired up the grill which is good after tasting these beer entries! (Yep, they let the steward taste them too!)

12:13 pm (Tom) On the last of 4 Irish Reds. Two strong Scotch Ale’s and two English Pale’s to come.

12:02 pm (Carla): At the Light/Amber/Dark Lager table, the judges already did a Munich Helles and are judging a Vienna Lager now. My judging pair is a nice mix of experience (10 years brewing and BJCP certified) and new (1 year brewing and first time judging). I’m learning from listening to them interact. The other two entries are a Oktoberfest and a Schwarzbier.

11:55 am (Tom): Now on the 3rd beer of the morning flight of 9 in the English Pale/Scottish/Irish category. Looking around the room, it’s impressive to see the concentration. I’m learning a lot, mostly that I have a lot to learn. I may be hooked. This is cool.

10:57 am (Carla): In the interest of learning more about everything that is “better beer”, we hit the road today to serve as stewards at the Bloatarian Open, a club-only home brew competition. We’re going to try live blogging the event so you get an idea what a home brew competition is like.

We arrived at the Reading Terraqua Club about 10:30 in this morning. Entry check-in had begun 30 minutes before that. Bottles of all shapes and sizes were carefully organized around the room. We were told that our steward training would come in about 30 more minutes.

On the judges’ tables, there were the usual scoresheets, pencils and such as well as bottles of water and saltines. While the club is predominantly male, there are about eight to women in attendance (including two who are judging).