The Brewing Contest
We can't quite remember how it started.
No, wait! We remember now! It's because more than a few of our founding folks were dabblers in the brewing arts and wanted to compare notes. Anyway, we've had a brewing contest at our gather since, like, forever, and we're not about to stop now. But how to judge these brews has been a growing issue, much like the yeast which creates them.
We tried the "juried" approach, but then the judges had all the fun (and got way over-saturated) and we festivants ended up with the dregs. We tried the democratic appoach of every sampler gets a vote. But for varying reasons, that also became unwieldy. (YOU try counting the hands of 20+ pagans and 20+ brews with only three tiki torches and a campfire for light!) We also decided that because of our varied palates, it just wasn't fair to pit the dry against the sweet against the ales. And we decided that some folks just have too much brewing time on their hands, and the process was just taking too long and we were getting <ahem!> over-saturated. So, reluctantly, we came up with a set of rules:
The Rules for the 10th Annual Earth House Midsummer Gather Brewing Contest:
There shall be 4 categories of entries:
1) Ales/Beers/Cysers/Ciders,
2) Dry Wines/Meads/Melomels/Hydromels,
3) Sweet Wines/Meads/Melomels/Hydromels,
4) Cordials/Liqueurs.
All entries shall be from a registered festivant who was intrinsic in the brewing process. If you helped brew or bottle it, you can enter it. No brokering your cousin's neighbor's cyser, no matter how good it is! (If they want to enter it, they need to attend.)
There shall be a maximum of two (2) entries per bottling-source per category. Therefore the maximum number of entries from one bottling source is eight. (Multiple "labels" from one household do NOT count as different sources!)
Judging will be by group sampling, but the number of judges must remain constant for the category. That is, if you join the circle late, you may sample, but not judge. If you leave early, your votes will be discarded. (Exceptions will be made for allergic sensitivities.) You may, but are not required to judge in all categories.
Judges sample first. Non judging samplers get the leftovers.
Ok, we lied.
There is a fifth category:
5) Surprise Me! We will accept one entry per source. (This would be where the Curry Cooking Mead or the Bill The Cat Pail Ale could be entered.)
If and only if there is general concensus, we will name a "Best In Camp" award.
We hope that by the institution of these rules we can both avoid saturation and give the excellent dry brews a fighting chance against the good sweet brews. (Observation suggests that good sweet will win over excellent dry in a popular vote.)
So, if you dabble in the brewing arts (that is, are legally considered a "home brewer,"), bring a sample to share! |
The Talentless! Contest
(Yes, really!)
Move over, "American Idol!"
Step aside, "Dancing With The Stars!"
We've got the contest to end all contests, every year at our gather!
The rules for our Annual Talentless Contest (Directly from the Judge) are ...
1) If you are good, you get booted. Quickly.
2) If you are bad or make me laugh hysterically, your whole performance gets seen and you have a fair chance at winning.
3) The judge is bribable; 100% open to graft. If you want to win, a bribe is your best bet. Please contact the judge directly with bribes. No third party (except my wife) is authorized to take bribes on my behalf or make any kind of deals. Void where prohibited. California residents add applicable sales tax. MI and IA are required to deposit 5-cents.
Thank you for your interest in our contest rules.
We hope this answers your questions.
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