OnTap Magazine

58 | Summer 2024 | ontapmag.co.za DAYS LEFT TO COMPETITION 05 I may have left things a bit late. I say "may have" because when I checked with the brew club's chairperson about this, he nodded sagely, gave me a little hug, and told me, "It'll be fine, I'm sure." Whatever. Time to bottle the golden nectar. Homebrew stardom awaits! DAYS LEFT TO COMPETITION 01 Bottling went well. I only tipped over three bottles with my auto-siphon and wrecked one crown cap with an enthusiastic, yet misaligned crunch of my ancient bottle capper. Fortunately, I only need to submit four bottles, so there are plenty left over to send to friends and family who want a taste of the good stuff. Make that: "award-winning" good stuff! This has been a rollercoaster ride. I feel confident and panicky at the same time. Maybe I should get some sleep. DAYS LEFT TO COMPETITION 00 Why do homebrew gurus always live in such obscure places? Driving to the club's competition coordinator’s house to submit my entries took me down roads and avenues that I'd never seen before. After one particularly nasty hairpin turn on a dirt road, my headlights illuminated either (a) a very hairy person or (b) Big Foot. My money's on Big Foot. 10 DAYS LEFT TO COMPETITION The results are in and judgments are final. I checked. Those BJCP- accredited folks are curiously resistant to bribery. It may come as a shock, but I didn't win. Or medal. My "Dog Day Afternoon IPA" limped in with a margin-defying 20. The comments from the judges were instructive. And haunting. I feel a bit bruised, I'm not gonna lie. Especially that comment about "Barnyard IPA." Ouch. But, I didn't make anybody throw up and when I checked online, my membership to the club hadn't been revoked. So basically, a "W" for me in that column. I've learned a lot. Like not to leave things too late. And maybe not do so many (or any) test brews. And I'm buying a new capper and a probe thermometer. Tomorrow.