What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

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Bill Lawrence
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What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Bill Lawrence »

With entry submission coming up pretty soon I thought it a good idea to remind folks that that the entry deadlines are approching and of course it would be nice to win this sucker yet again. This year, I'll be entering the following beers in no particular order:

CAP
Munich Dunkel
Oktoberfest
Milk Stout
ESB
Best Bitter
English IPA
American Brown Ale
Imperial IPA

I also helped out with an Imperial Vanilla/Bourbon Porter which I brewed with the Cougars. I need to brew the last two on my list and I will be no doubt freezing my butt off Sunday while doing the American Brown Ale (but I will get to try using the Hop Rocket I got for Christmas this year so it should be fun).

For the new folks in the club, enter this contest. Competative brewing will only make you better and after all, it's all about making the perfect pint, right? Anyhow post up what you intend to enter this year, let's try and create some excitement as a prelude to winning this contest in 2015. :D
Remember, brewers make wort, only yeast make beer
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BigWally
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Location: Carrollton

Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by BigWally »

Bill, thanks for getting this topic started.

Guys and Gals it's definitely time to get your beers ready for the Bluebonnet. There is still time to knock out some lower gravity ales. Anything big or lagers should already be in the bottle and have had time to properly age and lager.

For anyone who is interested, here are the categories from last year and their entry counts.

1. Light Lager - Total Entries: 36
2. Pilsner - Total Entries: 34
3. European Amber Lager - Total Entries: 36
4. Dark Lager - Total Entries: 27
5. Bock - Total Entries: 30
6. Light Hybrid Beer - Total Entries: 52
7. Kolsch - Total Entries: 24
8. Amber Hybrid Beer - Total Entries: 25
9. English Pale Ale - Total Entries: 20
10. Extra Special/Strong Bitter - Total Entries: 21
11. Scottish and Irish Ale - Total Entries: 30
12. Strong Scotch Ale - Total Entries: 25
13. American Pale Ale - Total Entries: 46
14. American Amber Ale - Total Entries: 28
15. American Brown Ale - Total Entries: 19
16. English Brown Ale - Total Entries: 33
17. Brown and Baltic Porter - Total Entries: 28
18. Robust Porter - Total Entries: 25
19. Dry Stout - Total Entries: 20
20. Sweet/Oatmeal Stout - Total Entries: 38
21. Strong Stout - Total Entries: 12
22. Imperial Stout - Total Entries: 25
23. English IPA - Total Entries: 7
24. American IPA - Total Entries: 61
25. Imperial IPA - Total Entries: 26
26. German Wheat & Rye Beer - Total Entries: 38
27. Belgian Wit and Farmhouse Ales - Total Entries: 43
28. Belgian Pale And Specialty Ales - Total Entries: 30
29. Sour Ale - Total Entries: 32
30. Belgian Strong Light Ale - Total Entries: 24
31. Belgian Strong Dark Ale - Total Entries: 31
32. English Old Ale & Barleywine - Total Entries: 35
33. American Barleywine - Total Entries: 13
34. Fruit Beer - Total Entries: 29
35. Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer - Total Entries: 71
36. Smoke Flavored Beer - Total Entries: 21
37. Wood Aged Beer - Total Entries: 34
38. Specialty Beer - Total Entries: 50
39. Traditional Mead - Total Entries: 15
40. Melomel - Total Entries: 20
41. Metheglin & Other Mead - Total Entries: 16
42. Standard Cider & Perry - Total Entries: 31
43. Specialty Cider & Perry - Total Entries: 13
44. New Entrants - Total Entries: 34
Maybe the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.
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Jimmy Orkin
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Jimmy Orkin »

How about sorting that list.
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mtodd
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Location: Houston, TX

Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by mtodd »

Man I cannot wait for the Bluebonnet. I missed last year because it coincided with the wife's spring break and we spent the week installing hardwood floors in the house.

I know I am not part of the NTHBA any longer but I am entering the following as a member of the CIA.
Wee Heavy
English Mild
Irish Red
Bochet
Rye Whiskey barrel aged Wee Heavy
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BigWally
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Location: Carrollton

Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by BigWally »

Sorted by number of entries:

BB Category # Style Number of Entries
23 English IPA 7
21 Strong Stout 12
33 American Barleywine 13
43 Specialty Cider & Perry 13
39 Traditional Mead 15
41 Metheglin & Other Mead 16
15 American Brown Ale 19
9 English Pale Ale 20
19 Dry Stout 20
40 Melomel 20
10 Extra Special/Strong Bitter 21
36 Smoke Flavored Beer 21
7 Kolsch 24
30 Belgian Strong Light Ale 24
8 Amber Hybrid Beer 25
12 Strong Scotch Ale 25
18 Robust Porter 25
22 Imperial Stout 25
25 Imperial IPA 26
4 Dark Lager 27
14 American Amber Ale 28
17 Brown and Baltic Porter 28
34 Fruit Beer 29
5 Bock 30
11 Scottish and Irish Ale 30
28 Belgian Pale And Specialty Ales 30
31 Belgian Strong Dark Ale 31
42 Standard Cider & Perry 31
29 Sour Ale 32
16 English Brown Ale 33
2 Pilsner 34
37 Wood Aged Beer 34
44 New Entrants 34
32 English Old Ale & Barleywine 35
1 Light Lager 36
3 European Amber Lager 36
20 Sweet/Oatmeal Stout 38
26 German Wheat & Rye Beer 38
27 Belgian Wit and Farmhouse Ales 43
13 American Pale Ale 46
38 Specialty Beer 50
6 Light Hybrid Beer 52
24 American IPA 61
35 Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer 71
Maybe the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.
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Bill Lawrence
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Bill Lawrence »

Ok, so this post is for some of our newer members who may not have yet entered a competition. There are three things you need to do to win metals 1) make good beer 2) enter, and by that I mean enter alot and 3) be a little smart about which categories you put entries in.

There are guys/girls in this club that can help you make better beer; if you have questions by all means ask. We have many members who just love to pontificate about how to make the perfect pint (and some of them actually know what they are talking about). If you want to win a metal, don't just tie your hopes on one entry (no matter how good you think it is). Sadly, the best beer doesn't always win for a plethora of reasons plus of course the concept of "best" is extremely subjective. To increase your chances of walking away with something I would admonish you to enter several beers in different styles. Also (and I have extensive experience with this) what you think is your best beer may not do shit but one of what you consider your lesser efforts may win a metal; I've done it several times (made beers that don't do shit that is). Finally, be a little smart about which style you enter. For instance, I'm pretty sure that Jesus Christ himself couldn't win in the American IPA category; there are just way too many entries (see the sorted list provided by Walter above).

Let's say for sake of argument that you are a new brewer and I have convinced you to enter but don't have a beer you deem worthy right now. Harken back to yesteryear when you started dating in high school. Would you start off by dating the hotest guy/gal in the school; hell no. You would pick the girl/guy with a reputation for being easy, right? Same thing with competition brewing. To summarize, you want a beer that is forgiving, is relatively lightly entered and is small enough that it will be ready in time for the contest. I see several styles that can be ready in time that are within the reach of a newer brewer. English IPA, ESB, English Pale Ale/Bitters, American Brown ale just a few of the styles where I see opportunity. What will you be doing this weekend (I for one will be brewing, an Imperial IPA)?

Oh and by the way, never brew something you don't personally like (only Jimmy Orkin can do that and win). :D
Remember, brewers make wort, only yeast make beer
Texarado_Brewer
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Location: McKinney, TX

Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Texarado_Brewer »

This competition is really exciting. I just recently joined the club after moving from Colorado. Unfortunately, because of the move I will only have two, maybe three, beers ready.
Robust Porter
Irish Red
Hefeweizen (maybe)
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Bill Lawrence
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Bill Lawrence »

Enter them, enter them all. You want your heffe really fresh so do it at the last minute. By the way, depending on how "Robust" you porter is you might consider entering it as both a brown as well as a robust porter. Oh and good luck. :D
Remember, brewers make wort, only yeast make beer
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Bill Lawrence
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Bill Lawrence »

Well I have now gotten all my entries bottled and have just now paid my fees. All I have left to do is print my bottle labels and get them into a case box. Assuming I can handle those mundane chores now all I have to do is wait for my annual pounding by the judges. :D
Remember, brewers make wort, only yeast make beer
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BigWally
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Location: Carrollton

Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by BigWally »

I have my paltry 5 entries logged in. I may have one more entry, but that will be a last minute decision.
Maybe the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.
Mike Grover
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Mike Grover »

For me it all comes down to one barleywine entry.
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case...coincidence? I think not. - Steven Wright
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Jimmy Orkin
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Re: What Do You Plan to Enter Into the Bluebonnet?

Post by Jimmy Orkin »

I tasted my Imperial Stout this morning. It is going in.
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NTHBA Competitions Coordinator 2022
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