Experimental or Sweet Stout?

Traveling Fred · Post by **Traveling Fred** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:09 pm

Hello Everyone,

I have a sweet stout I brewed a few months ago that I would like to submit to the OC Fair. I'm just not sure what category to submit in. It has several of the characteristics of a sweet stout including lactose, cacao nibs, some roasted and chocolate malts, but I also added a few other things such as cinnamon, vanilla beans, dried ancho peppers and bourbon soaked oak chips. At this point I'm thinking experimental since it has a few other ingredients that are not traditional but wanted to get some options.

Thanks,

Fred

hjw · Post by **hjw** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:04 pm

Experimental is the way to go. Make sure you list all off the special ingredients.

CurtisG · Post by **CurtisG** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:50 am

I would definitely go with experimental.

Anything additions you made to the beer will drop the score in the sweet stout category because they are not to style, Even if they make the beer better.

Traveling Fred · Post by **Traveling Fred** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:55 am

Thanks fellas

bwarbiany · Post by **bwarbiany** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:00 am

If you can taste those ingredients, definitely experimental.

BTW if you can't taste an ingredient, you may want to leave it out of the description when you describe it for the category. Generally judges expect to be able to taste anything you mention in the description.

Justin H · Post by **Justin H** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 12:18 pm

Brad beat me to it. What he said ^

hjw wrote:Experimental is the way to go. Make sure you list all off the special ingredients.

Make sure that anything you list, you can taste in the beer. If you can't taste it don't put it on the sheet just because you used it. The judges are going to look for anything you list while they are judging it. If they can't taste it you are doing yourself any favors.

BrewMasterBrad · Post by **BrewMasterBrad** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:09 pm

bwarbiany wrote:If you can taste those ingredients, definitely experimental.

BTW if you can't taste an ingredient, you may want to leave it out of the description when you describe it for the category. Generally judges expect to be able to taste anything you mention in the description.

So true. I judge LA County Fair commercial competition last weekend. I had an "other Belgian ale" that listed vanilla as one of the ingredients. I didn't taste any vanilla and it cost the beer a few points.

Traveling Fred · Post by **Traveling Fred** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:09 am

Thanks guys. The cacao nibs and peppers definitely stand out the most with hints of cinnamon and vanilla.

Brewcommune

Experimental or Sweet Stout?

Experimental or Sweet Stout?

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