My why do I enter reasons have evolved over time. The first competition I entered was for just that - competition. Quickly learned that not everyone thought as highly of my beer as I did. Competitions soon turned into a source for improving my brewing techniques. Later, when the score sheets contained less comments like "watch sanitation, temperatures, boil, etc." and turned more towards "doesn't have enough of this or that" - I used them to fine tune recipes. This still happens. But judges comments can be confusing. In the MCAB last year a BJCP National judge said my porter was too sweet, while a Certified judge said it was not sweet enough? Not all the score sheets will be accurate or even helpful. But if you enter the same beer in more than one competition and get a common thread to the feedback it becomes very helpful. As many have already stated, competitions are fun, help the hobby grow, meet people with the same interests. If you win then you get the hardware and prizes (I like hops and yeast) and some notoriety among your peers. You also get to drink beer with your buddies. Most of all entering competitions makes me brew MORE BEER! Got to do something with it. I brew a lot more than I can drink! Oh yeah, I like the medals too. As Kathy puts it "beer is taking over my life", I think she means in a good way? Curt Stock St. Paul Homebrewers Minnesota Home Brewers Association Prairie Homebrewing Companions -----Original Message----- From: allan.boyce(a)usbank.com [mailto:allan.boyce@usbank.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:15 AM To: mba(a)thebarn.com; St. Paul Homebrewers Club - Public Mailing List Subject: [SPHBC Public] Why do / don't you enter Beer Contests? Curt Stock and I have been kicking around why people do or don't enter beer contests. What's your reasons, either way? Discuss! - Al _______________________________________________ Sphbc mailing list Sphbc(a)sphbc.org http://truthbrew.com/mailman/listinfo/sphbc_sphbc.org