I should have qualified the statement by stating those brewpubs and
microbreweries that _want_ to brew to style for the GABF. I would expect
some not to care what the style guidelines say, but then they should not be
surprised if they do not win, either. I agree with you too, that some
micros can brew consistently from batch to batch--I was probably
generalizing too much.

Kevin


"plutchak joel peter" > wrote in message
...
> Kevin > wrote:
> >The brewpubs and microbreweries don't have the millions
> >invested in consistency; their product varies from batch to batch, no
matter
> >how much they try to keep the consistency the same. Looking at it
another
> >way, the brewpubs and microbreweries are brewing as best as they can to
fit
> >the style guidelines set out by the GABF for judging.
>
> I agree with much of what you said. I'm not sure I put as
> much weight on the above, though. Craft breweries vary in
> their ability to brew a given beer recipe consistently.
> For example, I never got a lot of variation from the main
> beers of Anchor, Sierra Nevada, or Rogue, to name a few.
> (I've noted more variability among some smaller breweries.)
> The last sentence may be true of some of the breweries
> when preparing beer specifically for the GABF, but I don't
> think it's true for mostsmaller breweries most of the time--
> they could care less what GABF (or BJCP) guidelines say.
> --
> Joel Plutchak <plutchak@[...]> | Boneyard Union of Zymurgical Zealots
>
> "I don't like beer. I tried it once and thought it was terrible."
> - Overheard at a restaurant