IBU Results

My dry stout entered in the 2010 Iowa Brewers Union Open earned no award and yet I am pleased with my finish. In my first competition, my beer finished with a final score of 31 out of a possible score of 50. That means the low end of "very good" out of the nine entries, well enough to leave me tickled.
Even better than the score, though, are the judges' score sheets. Those criticisms give me a somewhat detailed idea of how I can improve my beer. And at least two of those criticisms were my concerns entering the beer after sampling it myself so I feel better about my awareness of my own brewing faults.
The stout was over carbonated, as I expressed to some of those I shared it with before we sampled it. I used dried malt extract and upped the amount a bit after the last one seemed a little flat. It was also a bit sweet for the finish, as the judges said, I'm sure because of the brown sugar I used.
The overall impression by the certified judge was helpful. "A nice stout which has no significant flaws. Lacks somewhat in hop character and the roast bitterness is a tough sharp. Body is tough heavy w/a touch of residual sweetness. Not dry enough. Simple recipe mods will improve."
Next up, simple recipe mods. No brown sugar, more hops, less roasted barley and less carbonation. Of the 40 beers I've brewed eight of them have been dry stouts. I've been trying to perfect a dry stout for years and think I'm almost there. But of the eight I've brewed only one was quite as good as I though it should have been and that was years before I entered the last one in competition.
I'll begin tweaking the dry stout soon but first on the list is a pale ale for the wife, who helped me sample more than 30 beers over the weekend. Got to love a woman who's willing to sacrifice to help you reach the pinnacle.