TOPIC:

"Dr Jacoby":3gykri2i wrote: Setting aside the legal issues for a moment, I'd be interested to hear what people's opinions are on how such an event (or qualifying event) should be judged. Some possible options:

(a) Anyone who wants to put themselves forward as a judge can do so, and then a panel could be selected randomly from this pool.

(b) A group vote could be taken of the people in attendance at the event (assuming this is practical).

(c) Beoir members (or people registered on the forum) could elect a panel of willing participants to do the judging.

Personally, I favour option (b), but would be happy to endorse option (a) as well.

Option (c) is less appealing, mainly because I don't see any reason to privilege any particular person's opinion over anybody else's.

What do you reckon would work best?[/quote:3gykri2i]

Option (d): Half the panel are voted on by the forum and the other half are randomly chosen. This allows us to invite professional brewers or beer writers etc but also gives everyone else a chance to be a judge.

I don't see option (b) as practical because it involves people putting themselves up for nomination on the night and perhaps having to say a few words and then involves a vote count and essentially just eats up a lot of time.

"irish_goat":2ukdddxv wrote: Option (d): Half the panel are voted on by the forum and the other half are randomly chosen. This allows us to invite professional brewers or beer writers etc but also gives everyone else a chance to be a judge.

I don't see option (b) as practical because it involves people putting themselves up for nomination on the night and perhaps having to say a few words and then involves a vote count and essentially just eats up a lot of time.[/quote:2ukdddxv]

Why is a professional brewer better qualified to judge the merits of a beer than an amateur beer enthusiast? And why is the fact that someone writes about beer relevant at all? The simplest solution would surely be to open up the judging process to any Beoir member/forum participant who fancies a go.

Also, I don't think option (b) need take up much more time than any other option. You could easily limit speeches and choose a simple vote counting process. The only potential problem I can see (apart from making the event accessible to the broadest possible range of people) is to give everybody enough time to taste all the beers. But this doesn't strike me as an insurmountable difficulty.

Let’s learn from previous experience. I’d be interested to hear from the judges from the first Trouble Maker competition. Looking back, there were 13 beers from 11 participants; was this a manageable number – could you comfortably have judged more or would you have preferred less? Would a larger judging panel work well?
If we could estimate what level of interest there would be in a new competition, we could use this info to help plan the format required.

"Dr Jacoby":1jtbyx6j wrote: Why is a professional brewer better qualified to judge the merits of a beer than an amateur beer enthusiast? And why is the fact that someone writes about beer relevant at all? The simplest solution would surely be to open up the judging process to any Beoir member/forum participant who fancies a go.

Also, I don't think option (b) need take up much more time than any other option. You could easily limit speeches and choose a simple vote counting process. The only potential problem I can see (apart from making the event accessible to the broadest possible range of people) is to give everybody enough time to taste all the beers. But this doesn't strike me as an insurmountable difficulty.[/quote:1jtbyx6j]

A professional brewer adds a bit of prestige to the award and being realistic, a professional is going to know more about beer tasting and brewing so will be better placed to offer constructive criticism.

To me option (b) adds hassle and there's no real benefit wasting time voting for judges on the night when that can just be done on the forum beforehand. Plus it would be awkward given how noisy the B&C tends to be, especially if we are all spread over 3/4 tables.

I knew the post might get some momentum ! If the money was put to one side - I think we are pretty much fair game.

Seriously - I really don't see the the coppers bustin down the doors of a hall / GAA or rugby club because there is an entrance fee of a tenner.

Lets be a little practical - if its initially an annual event in Dublin to get the ball rolling.

I would much prefer we organise a national annual homebrew competition on our own merit and not be handheld by a Microbrewer because we cant wipe our own arses !

We really need to man up here.

For example
- legally when you get a tour of a microbrewery in Ireland you cant get a taste of a beer after
- legally you shouldn't bring your beer to B&C on a Thursday as you are sharing and its not personal use.

But sometimes you just need to get stuff done.

"Dr Jacoby":8zpws2qy wrote: Setting aside the legal issues for a moment, I'd be interested to hear what people's opinions are on how such an event (or qualifying event) should be judged. Some possible options:

(a) Anyone who wants to put themselves forward as a judge can do so, and then a panel could be selected randomly from this pool.

(b) A group vote could be taken of the people in attendance at the event (assuming this is practical).

(c) Beoir members (or people registered on the forum) could elect a panel of willing participants to do the judging.

Personally, I favour option (b), but would be happy to endorse option (a) as well.

Option (c) is less appealing, mainly because I don't see any reason to privilege any particular person's opinion over anybody else's.

What do you reckon would work best?[/quote:8zpws2qy]

Good suggestions - maybe a little of A and B ?

Pre elected Panel with angry mob input.