Buddies and I are having a homebrew contest in early August and I just can't decide what to make. The audience/judging group will contain about half men and half women. Almost all are straight macro brew drinkers so I don't want to get too heavy or explosive with the taste. Also being in August, I think it will need to be refreshing and light. I was leaning towards a fruity wheat or some sort of witbier or a blonde but I just can't decide. Any suggestions?
Take a classic pilsner recipe and use 1056 or another neutral yeast and ferment cool for low esters and lightly hop with a unique hop. Something different but still accessible to macro drinkers.
In my experience, true macro drinkers seem to be more hop-averse than anything else. I'm gonna' second the motion for a hefe. Go fruity.
I don't disagree. I wouldn't make something as hoppy as a pale ale...or fruity/spicy as a belgian. Just something slightly different. Just interesting enough for macro beer drinkers to notice.
Hefe or wit- you know your audience- they will be macro drinkers who are blown away by Bluemoon/Shocktop. Give them just that but super fresh and not watered down with corn syrup.
My experience with an Oktoberfest homebrewing contest that I have participated in each year for the past three years tells me that two things are important when the "general public" is judging your beers: (1) make it clean, and (2) make it bold -- lots of flavor for whatever the style is. Last year the three favorite beers of the contest were a Baltic Porter, Arrogant Bastard clone, and American IPA (all of which I made). While are were quite good, the best beer in the competition (according to my palate, anyway), an Alt made by another homebrewer, didn't receive a single vote!
I would make a California Common. I have not served this type of beer to too many people that did not like it.
Make an English Bitter, cask condition it and open it about two days before the contest to let it oxidize slightly. MMMMMMMM!!! If you use higher quality ingredients and get a good mouthfeel and head retention, it will essentially be just like the great bitters served in England (my personal favorite). Of all the beers I've served at parties and to friends etc..., this was the hands down favorite.
A friend of mine made a budvar clone that already won this one before it even starts. I'm not ready for lagers yet, but that's what I would brew. I also like the bitter idea, but then I love bitters. However, they're non-threatening and not likely to be utterly hated by your typical bud light drinker. I would steer away from anything that can be described as "oily with hops," "hop bombs," or "malt bombs." A good fruit beer might be a winner... the same friend made a great apricot tincture light lager for his wife that was fantastic.
