Just got my results back from NHC San Diego!!

[Larkin W.]

I entered the Madison region. Looks like they didn't finish in the first weekend so the wait may be another week or so

[EagleDude]

My results from the San Diego region came in the mail Wednesday. I was actually really impressed with the quality of comments received (not all good of course, but very helpful). Additionally, I am super excited to have my Golden Strong going to the second round after receiving a Silver! And Yes the BN is my club!

C-ya in June!

[JohnF]

I entered the Madison region. Looks like they didn't finish in the first weekend so the wait may be another week or so

So that is three regions so far that haven't finished on time.

Time to stop growing this competitions, IMO. First step: two bottles for the first round.

I judged IPAs in Denver. Mini-bos with some bottles opened 3 hours ago and some opened 15 minutes ago? Crap situation.

[TheDarkSide]

I entered the Madison region. Looks like they didn't finish in the first weekend so the wait may be another week or so

Same in the NE. From what is being said, it wasn't very organized and there is something like 230 entries in 10 categories left to judge.

Hope my beer isn't sitting open on a shelf somewhere

[BDawg]

NW Region had the score sheets in the mail on the Monday after the comp. (April 4).

[TheDarkSide]

NW Region had the score sheets in the mail on the Monday after the comp. (April 4).

All this means is next year if they keep the same system, everyone is going to send their entries to the NW region, so they get their scoresheets back quicker, and they will fill up in a day.

[leaky_porch]

I second the two-bottle entry idea. Also seems like we need more regions so that we can stay under the 750 cap and have enough judges. Naturally, the regions need to be spread out enough so that they're not contending for the same judges, but our Old West region might work better as two regions. The judging/drop-off was in Denver before this year and is in Dallas now. If those two cities were in different regions, they wouldn't be competing for judges and they'd have a more manageable number of entries.

However, this would put more strain on the final round since there would be more entries advancing if we still took the top three from each region and increased the number of regions. Hate to suggest it, but maybe we need three rounds? What does the Sam Adams Longshot competition do?

[JohnF]

I second the two-bottle entry idea. Also seems like we need more regions so that we can stay under the 750 cap and have enough judges. Naturally, the regions need to be spread out enough so that they're not contending for the same judges, but our Old West region might work better as two regions. The judging/drop-off was in Denver before this year and is in Dallas now. If those two cities were in different regions, they wouldn't be competing for judges and they'd have a more manageable number of entries.

However, this would put more strain on the final round since there would be more entries advancing if we still took the top three from each region and increased the number of regions. Hate to suggest it, but maybe we need three rounds? What does the Sam Adams Longshot competition do?

Denver and Dallas were both judging sites this year. Denver finished on time, Dallas didn't get close.

Frankly there are enough judges in Dallas and Austin (and I know a bunch came from further than Austin) to get it done so ultimately it comes down to the judges deciding how much effort they want to put into letting this thing grow and I think the answer this year is: not enough to get it this big.

The Saratoga Springs location was just a bad idea I think, you at least have to pick an area with a high concentration of local judges and then pray they get off their ass and show up.

My wife and I flew to Denver from KC (effectively Denver, Dallas, Madison, Indy and Nashville are all the same 1000 miles from us) to judge so I don't have too much sympathy for the argument that Austin to Dallas is too far to drive. But if all the judges are in Austin, crazy idea here, judge the beers there and not Dallas.

No offense to Leroy and the other Dallas staff and judges who were among the few that did step up.

Two bottle is a no brainer though. It improves the quality of the top competition in the country and it will suppress entry numbers, which seems like a good idea at this point. I know this is condemning the local organizers to handling 1500 bottles but at this point it seems that judging is a far bigger bottle neck than bottle handling.