AFC 2009

[brahn]

Should an Irish Red Ale be dry and lack estery fruitiness?

According to the BJCP, yes:

Medium-dry to dry finish. Clean and smooth (lager versions can be very smooth). No esters.

[jward]

Thanks. Sounds like a good reason not to brew to style.

[backyard brewer]

John, your red ale is very good, but it's an American Red Ale, not an Irish Red Ale. At least, IMO.

[jward]

I hear you. With each batch I ask, is this more of an Irish Red Ale or American Red Ale? American Red Ale is judged as American Amber Ale which seems mean IPA to many judges.

[brahn]

Yea, it's too bad that it doesn't neatly fit into what judges are expecting. I agree that it's more of an American Red than Irish, but it wouldn't surprise me if it scores better in the Irish category simply because of the judge's expectations of an American Amber/Red. That's one very broad category, and typically I think you'll see the bigger, more aggressive, beers do better there.

I vote for brewing what you like and saying to hell with the styles.

[BrewMasterBrad]

Yea, it's too bad that it doesn't neatly fit into what judges are expecting. I agree that it's more of an American Red than Irish, but it wouldn't surprise me if it scores better in the Irish category simply because of the judge's expectations of an American Amber/Red. That's one very broad category, and typically I think you'll see the bigger, more aggressive, beers do better there.

I vote for brewing what you like and saying to hell with the styles.

That's how I feel about the competitions most of the time. I brew what I like, not for competition. I am usually happy with my score sheets if they provide constructive feedback and don't find any real flaws in my beer. If I brewed to the extreme end of the style guidelines, I may do better in competition, but fewer people would enjoy drinking my beer. You gotta give the people what they want.

[backyard brewer]

Yea, it's too bad that it doesn't neatly fit into what judges are expecting. I agree that it's more of an American Red than Irish, but it wouldn't surprise me if it scores better in the Irish category simply because of the judge's expectations of an American Amber/Red. That's one very broad category, and typically I think you'll see the bigger, more aggressive, beers do better there.

I vote for brewing what you like and saying to hell with the styles.

That's how I feel about the competitions most of the time. I brew what I like, not for competition. I am usually happy with my score sheets if they provide constructive feedback and don't find any real flaws in my beer. If I brewed to the extreme end of the style guidelines, I may do better in competition, but fewer people would enjoy drinking my beer. You gotta give the people what they want.

I agree as well. Towards the end of last year and so far this year I just haven't been all that eager to compete. I haven't really tried to bottle anything and I'm not sure I will this year.

It was also much nicer when I could ship my entries from work.