thanks to the BN, I just won a couple 2nd place finishes in my first competition. My German altbier and Rye IPA each got second place finishes in their categories. The porter didn't place (in the combined porter and stout category). Looking forward to receiving my actual score sheets to see the comments and suggestions.

The altbier was in a combined category of "European Amber Lager, Dark Lager, Bock, Amber Hybrid" which had 10 entries, and my Rye IPA was not in the IPA category, but in the "specialty" category due to the amount of rye. Specialty had 20 entries. The Rye IPA was my attempt to clone Founder's "Red's RyePA"

Merrimack Valley Homebrew Competition results are posted. http://www.mvhbc.com/competition/

Thanks to Jamil Zainasheff (his altbier recipe) and the Brewing Network podcasts and forums which continue to provide great info. I started with a MrBeer gift two Christmases ago, jumped to 5 gal extract after a couple months, and then made the move to all grain (with a Denny Conn type of set-up) last Summer. Cheers to the BNArmy!

Congrats man! Sounds like someone has been bit by the competition "bug"..... Keep brewing those tasty beers!

Not sure that I would take the time and planning to brew specifically for comp, but this one just happened to be timed right. These were all first attempts at the styles as I've only been all-grain for less than a year. The alt was actually JZ's Cowboy Alt which is a Dusseldorf altbier. I entered it as a North German alt as I didn't feel there was much of a bittering hop "firmness". Of course, I don't have any true examples to compare against. Regardless, I loved the beer when it was done. Bottled and then lagered in the fridge for a month.

The robust porter I just happened to still have a couple bottles in the basement so why not? And the rye ipa was the first beer I've attempted to clone.

right now I have about a case of amber based on Tasty's recipe, a 12 of the rye IPA. the california common from BCS is still bubbling slowly in the primary.

Got such a good response from friends, and now from other brewers judging the comp, that I may just have to brew it again soon. Many friends have said nice things about my beers, but they're friends. Having some good feedback from other home brewer types has really given me a shot in the arm though.

Your welcome!