Disappointed in the NHC first round "check box" score sheets

[cdburg]

One of my score sheets had no comments. The other 2 had a comments in the drinkability section. I had a score in the very good range, but not much help for improving.

That's my exact complaint. I'd even settle for just a sentence or two at the end to describe how to improve the beer. Some judges tried to do that with my beers, but not many. Without that information, the score is pretty useless. It's all just guesswork as to what the judges were thinking.

[BDawg]

I agree a summary would be better feedback than zero, no question.
I also like the 'normal' score sheets better, no question, both as someone who fills them out and someone who receives them.

However, look closer at what IS on there. It is (hopefully) not just a blank sheet with only a number for a score with no backing information at all.

If they filled it out right, an "x" indicates what the judge sensed.
A "no smoking" sign checked off means it was there but shouldn't have been.
A circle indicates something that was expected but wasn't there.

Hopefully there was enough of the markings to tell you what was there, in what intensity, and whether it was appropriate or not, even if it wasn't written out in English.

[Whitebeard_Brewer]

This was the first time I had ever judge using these sheets, had never even seen one before. I guess it would have been nice, if someone had taken the time to explain to the judges how to correctly fill one out.

That said, I tried to leave as much constructive critism as those little blank spaces would allow.

[cdburg]

If they filled it out right, an "x" indicates what the judge sensed.
A "no smoking" sign checked off means it was there but shouldn't have been.
A circle indicates something that was expected but wasn't there.

Maybe, like Whitebeard said, better explanation is needed before next year's judging sessions. Half of my score sheets don't use the "no smoking" sign column at all, and the scores aren't high enough to be faultless beers. None of the sheets use a circle. If the circles and the "no smoking" column were used by all judges consistently, it definitely would have helped to make up for a lack of the written comments.

[BDawg]

That sucks.
I did explain to the Seattle Region judges how to use that sheet before we started, though unfortunately, I've heard back that even with that explanation, some of the sheets were still like yours.

I know for certain that Don Blake is organizing an "organizer's summit" at NHC this year, for the 1st round organizers to get together and discuss the way things went this year. I cannot attend but I'll add this to my list of stuff that I'm going to send so that it gets back to the AHA.

<== Not happy.

[cdburg]

I know for certain that Don Blake is organizing an "organizer's summit" at NHC this year, for the 1st round organizers to get together and discuss the way things went this year. I cannot attend but I'll add this to my list of stuff that I'm going to send so that it gets back to the AHA.

Thank you! I appreciate it.