So, about that "Fence Juice" Beer...

[ViperMan]

I had mentioned to everyone that the "Fence Juice" Extra Special Bitter was at a competition the same Saturday we were at the fairgrounds...


Well, it tanked.  Lousy score.  No medals.


But the bottles I had shipped were the SAME beer that was in the keg under the tent - the keg that was kicked before we even left that day.  They were bottled a few weeks prior however.  Just before we left FOR Carlisle, I filled a few more bottles (some of which you guys bought) and I sent two of THOSE bottles to ANOTHER competition in Indiana.  ALL of this was from the same batch of beer.


Last weekend that same beer took a bronze medal with 36.5 points (out of 50) - one of the highest scores I've ever received.


I think the first batch may have overheated in a UPS truck somewhere, and it also wasn't as carbonated as the more-recent batch.


Anyways, thought you'd like to know!

[ChallengerHK]

Congrats. You may be right about the truck and the heat, but judging something like that is extremely subjective regardless of the rules in place to make it objective. I think the difference between the two results shows the subjectivity.

And, BTW, I thought it was great.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Jeff,

  Sorry I missed the "fence juice". I know you introduced me to my first bitter beer last year at the Fredrick beer festival, so if this was similar, then I can see it being subjective.  More along the lines of love, or what the h@ll is this??

Overheating is very well possible with shipping. Most wineries out West won't ship during the summer months for that reason. Those UPS trucks don't have AC either.

So...I'll steal a line from ChallengerHK in saying that you have a right to do what makes you happy. I'm glad you have a passion for it. Don't worry so much about the judging. My '70 Challenger got a first at Carlisle one year, and nothing all the other years. You can't figure people out, no matter how hard you try.   

[734406pk]

Congrats Jeff! An award well deserved! Your double IPA was best ive had in years, Thank You!