For my 4th batch (2nd batch doing All-Grain) I brewed a Winter Warmer. For the heck of it I dropped a bottle off at my local Home Brewing Supply store (where I get my ingredients/equipment, etc.). This Home Brew shop also has a Craft Brewery next door that is run by the same owners/staff. The head brewer is a BJCP and I asked if he would do a review for me. I just got the results. Scored 35 out of 50. I'm extremely happy, didn't think I would get even close to that kind of rating. Just wanted to share. Thanks everyone for answering all my questions over the past year, you have been an extremely valuable resource!!!
Congrats and your welcome. As a new brewer I used to be in awe of the ability of a BJCP judge . . . then I became one. On balance the feedback they give is solid, but the more beers you submit for judging the more likely you'll see inconsistencies. Grading is very subjective. One judge's 40 is another's 32. The system isn't flawed, it's just a product of human subjectivity. Plus there is a big range in judge's ability . . . usually (but not always) reflected in their ranking. That said, I find feedback is overall positive to make improvements in your brewing process. The beauty is it is all anonymous, a newbie (you) stands as good a chance as Gordon Strong. But randomly you can be steered in the wrong direction (which is likely I've done to others). You've probably already discovered it's very hard to get the unwashed masses (i.e. casual beer drinkers) to give solid feedback as friends don't want to diss your beers. So the blind judging fills this need. I encourage you to enter some comps . . . submit your beers and get formal gradesheets. Better yet, do some judging. Yep, many clubs let unranked brewers help judge, usually with a senior judge. That's how a lot of us started. Then I realized judging made me a better brewer. None of this "there has to be caramel in it because I put it in it" . . . rather the beer tells it's story and the judge interprets. I joke that I don't declare the style I'm brewing until it's finished and tasted. So check your area for upcoming comps (I usually plan 4+ months in advance) even if it involves shipping your beers. Talk to the judge of your beer about how you could get started. The AHA is starving for new judges. You ever got that 2-stroke running?
My competition experience is low but it coincides with Port Largo's comments about judging: subjectivity and score variability are a thing. Makes sense to pay close attention to comments that are repeated by multiple judges in multiple competitions, and not get too wrapped up in scores and random one-off comments. Congrats on making a beer that you enjoy. For me, that is where the satisfaction of the hobby comes from. There is no more important judge in this hobby than the homebrewer.
Just to piggy back on @PortLargo even if multiple judges get the same exact flavor and aroma on a beer, they can still disagree on the rating. I've judged the same table as Jamie Floyd (Ninkasi's Brewmaster/Owner) on a few occasions. We did IPAs together once. We had the same descriptions across the board but the ratings were off. He has a preference for what an IPA should taste like (think Total Dom). I prefer them to have other characteristics (not a huge fan of Total Dom). He is very much a PNW IPA guy, I'm very much a SoCal IPA guy. Needless to say, none of the NEIPA submissions got any love from either of us. I've also judged with a few guys who walked in hanging hard from the night before to judge. Really good judges, but just didn't take it seriously. I've been out with these guys sober and they know their beer. Not on point for judging comps though. All this to say, keep entering comps, be excited when you get good scores and feedback, don't trip if they call your beer garbage. Look for pointers - a good judge won't simply say there is something off, they will give feedback on possible things to adjust in the future to get your beer from a 35 to a 42. Even if your beer scores a 42, they should tell you why it wasn't a 45 or 48 or 50, and what you can do to make it better. Sometimes judges suck, sometimes they rock. Also look on the coversheet to see what number in the flight your beer was... 5th+ in aggressive styles, most judges' palates are shot... your not getting accurate feedback from a judge who has already judged 5 IPAs before yours.
