TOPIC:

Whatever about the method of judging etc. what are people's opinions on an 'ICB Beer of the year' award, and a 'Beer of the festival/special recognition to someone who made an extra effort' award?

For example, using last year's beers, Carlow's cask stout, if it had won beer of the year wouldn't have been available for 364 days of the year. But if someone is going to go to the effort to do a one-off special for the festival I would be all for recognising that. Of course if more than one brewer did a special the award would hold more merit.

Opinions?

&amp;quot;beeristhereason&amp;quot;:pugzivzb wrote: it is going to be harder to organise a full panel of judges to taste all drinks on offer than it would be to organise one or two judges to sample a particular style and vote for their favourite.[/quote:pugzivzb]I wouldn't be so sure of that <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> but I take your point. The general system does not [i:pugzivzb]require[/i:pugzivzb] all judges to try every beer; but most judges will need to try most beers: expect sharing of halves. It allows for circulation and socialising while judging happens. Those who want their votes counted should be aware that they are expected to have an opinion on as many beers as they can: no sitting in the corner with pints of Druid's.

With categories you get small amounts of high quality data; with generalised you get large amounts of slightly fuzzy data. I think the second is a better measure of real ICB opinion.

&amp;quot;noby&amp;quot;:2tpxt06k wrote: Whatever about the method of judging etc. what are people's opinions on an 'ICB Beer of the year' award, and a 'Beer of the festival/special recognition to someone who made an extra effort' award?

For example, using last year's beers, Carlow's cask stout, if it had won beer of the year wouldn't have been available for 364 days of the year. But if someone is going to go to the effort to do a one-off special for the festival I would be all for recognising that. Of course if more than one brewer did a special the award would hold more merit.

Opinions?[/quote:2tpxt06k]
i think that is a great idea, it might even entice more breweries to bring specials. this should definitely be made an award regardless of the outcome of the poll.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:94152b78 wrote:

&amp;quot;beeristhereason&amp;quot;:94152b78 wrote: it is going to be harder to organise a full panel of judges to taste all drinks on offer than it would be to organise one or two judges to sample a particular style and vote for their favourite.[/quote:94152b78]I wouldn't be so sure of that <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> but I take your point. The general system does not [i:94152b78]require[/i:94152b78] all judges to try every beer; but most judges will need to try most beers: expect sharing of halves. It allows for circulation and socialising while judging happens. Those who want their votes counted should be aware that they are expected to have an opinion on as many beers as they can: no sitting in the corner with pints of Druid's.

With categories you get small amounts of high quality data; with generalised you get large amounts of slightly fuzzy data. I think the second is a better measure of real ICB opinion.[/quote:94152b78]

well true but being of a marketing background all indications point to the fact that small amounts of high Quality data are infinitely more useful than a scattergun approach, that said i do realise that we are not doing market research for a large company but imho having high quality data that is relaible would serve the ICB and the microbrew industries in ireland infinitely more than having some good but "fuzzy" data, I have to point out that i Have no Visions of Grandeur for this award but at the same time my marketing side will not leave me let go of the idea that good info is what's important

&amp;quot;noby&amp;quot;:aev35k3a wrote: a 'Beer of the festival/special recognition to someone who made an extra effort' award?
[/quote:aev35k3a]Great idea, but I think it should be kept totally separate from the other awards and judged on different criteria: innovation, size of the brewery etc., as well as the taste. Declared by consensus according to the 2007 rules, perhaps? <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:2wr9wv6n wrote:

&amp;quot;noby&amp;quot;:2wr9wv6n wrote: a 'Beer of the festival/special recognition to someone who made an extra effort' award?
[/quote:2wr9wv6n]Great idea, but I think it should be kept totally separate from the other awards and judged on different criteria: innovation, size of the brewery etc., as well as the taste. Declared by consensus according to the 2007 rules, perhaps? <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->[/quote:2wr9wv6n]

Absolutely. Just some sort of recognition.