Comments on: Czech Winners at the World Beer Cup http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/ Notes on beer from the homeland of Pilsner Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:51:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Honza http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-578 Honza Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:20:49 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-578 I just swa ratings of Orto Mundo Golden Ale, Strong REd Ale in last issue of BEerAdvocate mag:). The REd ALe did quite well... I just swa ratings of Orto Mundo Golden Ale, Strong REd Ale in last issue of BEerAdvocate mag:). The REd ALe did quite well…

]]> By: Pivero http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-432 Pivero Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:31:52 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-432 Thanks for the answer. Otro mundo competed in the Strong Ale category, but they didn't win anything. There were other craft brewers from Argentina, but I don't know what they presented, and they didn't bring home any medals either. Thanks for the answer.
Otro mundo competed in the Strong Ale category, but they didn’t win anything. There were other craft brewers from Argentina, but I don’t know what they presented, and they didn’t bring home any medals either.

]]> By: Honza http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-430 Honza Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:39:31 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-430 To Pivero - the PU guys already sent a PR story(and came third in bohemian pilsners, first in non alcoholic) I dont know - I have no idea which beers, I mean brands, I was judging. Just categories. But I did Latin American Sub Tropical Light LAgers. So if they have such a beer, I might. Honza To Pivero - the PU guys already sent a PR story(and came third in bohemian pilsners, first in non alcoholic)

I dont know - I have no idea which beers, I mean brands, I was judging. Just categories.
But I did Latin American Sub Tropical Light LAgers. So if they have such a beer, I might.
Honza

]]> By: Pivero http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-428 Pivero Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:18:33 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-428 I wonder what the marketing people of Prazdroj will do now. Will they deservedly boast about the gold medal for Gambrinus Premium or will the shut up and pretend nothing happened? Honza, Might be a silly question, but, did you get to taste the beers from Otro Mundo, an Argentine brewery? I know they were at the comptetition. I wonder what the marketing people of Prazdroj will do now. Will they deservedly boast about the gold medal for Gambrinus Premium or will the shut up and pretend nothing happened?

Honza,
Might be a silly question, but, did you get to taste the beers from Otro Mundo, an Argentine brewery? I know they were at the comptetition.

]]> By: Honza http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-426 Honza Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:52:16 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-426 Yes, it will be a surprise to many people, I agree. So may be we should do another blind tasting for readers:) There were also some gold medals for small, even tiny breweries - Alpine- some 500 hectos year:). And also Hoegaarden took golden medal... About the competitions - to make it "fair", all the judges there would have to judge all the categories. But than it would take few weeks instead few days... Dont be jealous, come with us next time:) Yes, it will be a surprise to many people, I agree.
So may be we should do another blind tasting for readers:)
There were also some gold medals for small, even tiny breweries - Alpine- some 500 hectos year:). And also Hoegaarden took golden medal…

About the competitions - to make it “fair”, all the judges there would have to judge all the categories. But than it would take few weeks instead few days…

Dont be jealous, come with us next time:)

]]> By: Evan Rail http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-422 Evan Rail Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:06:06 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-422 Thanks for the note, Honza. I know you agree that the medal for Gambrinus will come as a surprise to many people here. (As did some of the ratings in my book, I'm sure.) The European Beer Star is exactly what I'm talking about when I say it seems myopic. In other words, why does the European event calls itself "European" while the American event calls itself a "World" competition? Why couldn't it be the American Beer Cup and the World Beer Star? Another observation: If I have it right, Sweden won as many medals as the Czech Republic. (Good news for me, as I'll be in Stockholm tomorrow.) Stan, I think Westmalle is definitely too bitter and not bitter enough. I'm still very meh, but maybe it's just because I didn't get to be there... and am jealous beyond measure. Thanks for the note, Honza. I know you agree that the medal for Gambrinus will come as a surprise to many people here. (As did some of the ratings in my book, I’m sure.)

The European Beer Star is exactly what I’m talking about when I say it seems myopic. In other words, why does the European event calls itself “European” while the American event calls itself a “World” competition? Why couldn’t it be the American Beer Cup and the World Beer Star?

Another observation: If I have it right, Sweden won as many medals as the Czech Republic. (Good news for me, as I’ll be in Stockholm tomorrow.)

Stan, I think Westmalle is definitely too bitter and not bitter enough.

I’m still very meh, but maybe it’s just because I didn’t get to be there… and am jealous beyond measure.

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-418 Stan Hieronymus Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:07:37 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-418 No need to revisit how strange the guidelines can be or the need for 91 categories . . . But who enters is certainly a factor. Michael Jackson wrote this years ago: http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001731.html At least Westmalle Tripel won something this year. The last two competitions it didn't get off the first table. And judge's comments included "too bitter" and "not bitter enough." No need to revisit how strange the guidelines can be or the need for 91 categories . . .

But who enters is certainly a factor. Michael Jackson wrote this years ago:

http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001731.html

At least Westmalle Tripel won something this year. The last two competitions it didn’t get off the first table. And judge’s comments included “too bitter” and “not bitter enough.”

]]> By: Pivero http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-416 Pivero Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:31:40 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-416 Well said, Honza. I really don't believe too much in this international award events, of any kind, be it beer, wine or any other product. The reason, how well each country is represented, who decides what is going to be there and what isn't. Are there some sort of qualifing rounds, as there are for the football world cup, for example? Or is it just brewers who independently go to present their products? That said, I don't think Gambrinus Premium is the best Golden Lager in the Czech Rep, let alone the world, the same I could say about Radegast Birrel. Or should I say, they are not the ones I like best? To me these medals are totally irrelevant. I don't doubt the transparency of the competition, nor the honesty of the judges. And I could say the same about any sort of ratings, be them in books, websites or specilised press. Well said, Honza.
I really don’t believe too much in this international award events, of any kind, be it beer, wine or any other product. The reason, how well each country is represented, who decides what is going to be there and what isn’t. Are there some sort of qualifing rounds, as there are for the football world cup, for example? Or is it just brewers who independently go to present their products?
That said, I don’t think Gambrinus Premium is the best Golden Lager in the Czech Rep, let alone the world, the same I could say about Radegast Birrel. Or should I say, they are not the ones I like best?
To me these medals are totally irrelevant. I don’t doubt the transparency of the competition, nor the honesty of the judges. And I could say the same about any sort of ratings, be them in books, websites or specilised press.

]]> By: Honza http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/04/21/czec-winners-at-the-world-beer-cup/#comment-415 Honza Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:17:47 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=150#comment-415 well,Evan, yes, I was there and I was judging both categories. But I start with few facts - there were about 130 judges, most of them non Americans. If you look at the numbers, nearly 3 000 beers, 60 countries, several hunderd breweries -yes, it is the biggest event of its kind. And I think to rate the whole event based on mistyping few letters is misleading... Ad non alcoholic beverages - we were judging all types together. Second came weizen and third came malt tonic with out fermentation. As far as I know, Bernard non alcoholic was not there. So to start with, you have judge whats avaible. And as you are complaining, there could be someone, let say from Canada saying..."how it is possible that our XX brand did not win?It is definitely better than YY"... Ad SPP- yes, the voted the BErnard as the best non alcoholic. But hey, VOTED this beer, they did not judge it. What would you write, if based on their judging came Birrel first? You know, I did quite few blind tasting with my readers, comparing let s say desitka - small, big, czech, moravian breweries. And there was always, I mean always, surprise in terms of final result. There were several czech breweries listed to send samples of their beers. If they did, I dont know. Ad czech lagers - same as above. There are people judging the category, if there were chosen different ones, the results might be different. But this is with every competition. We could start with your book. I think it is great one, covering deeply our liitle czech beer market, but I might disagree with few beer ratings ... And what about weizen beers? Do you think that Michael Plank weizens are the best? He received several medals. You traveled a lot to BAvaria. What about other brands?... What I wrote above does not mean, that I dont agree with you in all topics. I just wanted to put few notes from someone, who was there... MAy be one day the European Beer Star will be bigger event. At least american brewers sent samples of their beers last year. And won medals too. And i was judging one round with EBS organizers. They did not seem to be upset wiht WBC competition itself... Honza well,Evan, yes, I was there and I was judging both categories.

But I start with few facts - there were about 130 judges, most of them non Americans. If you look at the numbers, nearly 3 000 beers, 60 countries, several hunderd breweries -yes, it is the biggest event of its kind. And I think to rate the whole event based on mistyping few letters is misleading…

Ad non alcoholic beverages - we were judging all types together. Second came weizen and third came malt tonic with out fermentation. As far as I know, Bernard non alcoholic was not there. So to start with, you have judge whats avaible. And as you are complaining, there could be someone, let say from Canada saying…”how it is possible that our XX brand did not win?It is definitely better than YY”…

Ad SPP- yes, the voted the BErnard as the best non alcoholic. But hey, VOTED this beer, they did not judge it. What would you write, if based on their judging came Birrel first?
You know, I did quite few blind tasting with my readers, comparing let s say desitka - small, big, czech, moravian breweries. And there was always, I mean always, surprise in terms of final result.

There were several czech breweries listed to send samples of their beers. If they did, I dont know.

Ad czech lagers - same as above. There are people judging the category, if there were chosen different ones, the results might be different. But this is with every competition. We could start with your book. I think it is great one, covering deeply our liitle czech beer market, but I might disagree with few beer ratings …

And what about weizen beers? Do you think that Michael Plank weizens are the best? He received several medals. You traveled a lot to BAvaria. What about other brands?…

What I wrote above does not mean, that I dont agree with you in all topics. I just wanted to put few notes from someone, who was there…

MAy be one day the European Beer Star will be bigger event. At least american brewers sent samples of their beers last year. And won medals too. And i was judging one round with EBS organizers. They did not seem to be upset wiht WBC competition itself…

Honza

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