For us Amateurs, this event has become a great social event (more comments on the educational side later.) Basically, if you put in one beer ($20) you get two tickets to attend the tasting on Saturday 25th October (1pm to 4pm and then we kick on after). At the tasting you get to taste all the amateur and craft and commercial beers. It is great fun and no other beer comp does that!!!
As for judging for amateurs, this comp, every year is more and more ignoring amateurs. This year, I will only put in one beer as last year the resources allocated to amateurs was ridiculously low. Worse still, this year, they have offered a $1,000 prize but guess who it goes to? - "Best Commercial Beer of the Show". That is totally ridiculous. A $1,000 to a commercial brewery is nothing. The award itself is worth heaps.
Anyway, just make sure you pay for one beer entry by 5th August (was 29th August originally). Enter online here and maybe, don't even bother sending a beer in - I might even do that as a protest!
Not as bad as my good mate up the road who sent me an email when he heard about the thousand dollar prize to commercials, "I'll enter my fiver year old exploding stout."
Regardless
Make sure you are there on the day and available after. It's a great day.
[center]Key Dates and Times[/center]
5 PM Friday 5th September - Paperwork Due. Can be done online here.
10 am - 4 pm Mon 13th or Tue 14th October - Entries Due at Showgrounds.
1pm to 4pm Saturday 25th October - Exhibitor's Tasting at Showgrounds
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