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I've never been to such a festival, but how are the beers presented ? It would make sense, I think, to have standard bottles, no label, and only numbers to track them. Otherwise, as pointed out by TBN, the judging would be biased before the first sip.

Re:the size of the measures, doesn't it exclude aesthetic parameter from the judging ? I'm thinking head color, retention, the beer robe etc...

Every brewery has it's own stall, with tap and till. Most beers were draught/cask last year, although there were bottles too.

Don't forget to have fun guys, the festival is about so much more than judging <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

some good new ideas being presented here, Ichiban's post is as i see it very useful as it offers a good compromise (beers from a hat/ roaming packs etc.). With regard to the best beer/ best beer of festival award, it is understandable that a national contest should be based on more of a national opinion and have every beer available to vote on it, the internet /government e-polling machines (well they're not being used) could be used to generate a yearly national contest. this competition should maybe be seen as more of an award within a festival rather than an award of the festival, always stressing that any ICB Awards only reflect the views and opinions of the ICB membership.

If need be these awards could be considered the national awards for now, but ultimately an award structure for the national award should be available to all via the site.

and as bigears said let's have some beer fuelled fun

Fun!? This is serious! <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

As I've said previously I'm stepping back from any formal judging, as it's not really my thing, and I'll be there to enjoy pints of good beer. But each to their own, I guess, and it's as well to debate the format here to have it nailed down, so people that will be judging will know exactly what to expect on the day. Then we can all have a good day.

&amp;quot;eeelpoulpo&amp;quot;:2hoqnmxj wrote: doesn't it exclude aesthetic parameter from the judging ? I'm thinking head color, retention, the beer robe etc.[/quote:2hoqnmxj]No: it's not like we'll be asking for 30-60ml servings. Well I won't be. It's one pint per ten judges <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

&amp;quot;bigears&amp;quot;:2hoqnmxj wrote: Don't forget to have fun guys, the festival is about so much more than judging <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->[/quote:2hoqnmxj]Nonsense. This is serious business and anyone seen smiling will have their votes deleted from the mainframe database. And their punch-cards confiscated.