I would like to second this sentiment. Here are some ideas for requirements.
Accept online entry data and output to a standard format.
Output category winners list in PDF, Excel, or some other standard electronic format.
Output points by brewer and club for use by regional competition circuit to keep totals for total brewer points, club points and team points.
Interface with PayPal or other payment options to gather data.
Be able to select categories for a competition that does not include all BJCP styles and/or groups styles in different categories. We have at least four such competitions in the Lone Star Circuit(Bluebonnet, Celtic, Limbo and Dixie Cup).
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If I may, there is already this type of software freely available to clubs that does most of the requested items above. It’s called Brew Competition Online Entry. I created and maintain the code just for this reason.
Go to http://www.brewcompetition.com to test drive an installation. Clubs can download the entire source code and install it on their web servers OR clubs can have their competition entry website hosted by brewcompetion.com for a very minimal fee.
My pleasure. We implemented version 1.0 for my club’s competition last year - that helped work out some bugs in the program, but on the whole, it worked like a charm for collecting entries and entry fees.
Since then, I’ve been working closely with Bruce Buerger of the Beer Barons of Milwaukee to get some features and functionality implemented for use in the Schooner Homebrew Championship, which is registering right now.
I already sent the link to a few clubs in my area, we’ve been talking about writing our own software since we don’t love any of what’s out there. I’m sure they’ll check it out.
This is definetly selfish… but a lot of us overseas would love to be able to enjoy some American Craft Beer. I’m in South Korea and the beer here is not good. Worse, I love hoppy West Coast IPA’s and strong American Stouts - neither are represented here in South Korea at all. I’ve been trying my best to facilitate the opening of the American Craft Beer floodgates… tried talking to Kona, Maui, Pike, and a couple other breweries, but there seems to be problems locally that make exporting to South Korea problematic. The biggest reason I’m told there are no American Craft Beers here is due to there lack of production capability domestically… so those of us overseas are just out of luck. We do get a Canadian beer pale ale here from a brewery in Alberta. It’s not bad, but not a Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA or Sierra Nevada Celebration… or (a beer I so desperately want to try) a Russian River Pliny Elder (or Younger). I make my own beer… not bad I think… but again, I don’t have a lot of time nor space in my tiny apartment.
Any help getting Great American Craft Beer to South Korea would be appreciated. It might also be a mighty market as the beer here is so appaulingly bad and there are millions of beer drinkers to exploit!!!
on the topic of promoting craft beer to the Korean market… as Denny said, that’s beyond the scope of what the GC can do. It’s beyond the scope of what the AHA can do …on its own. But don’t forget that the AHA is part of the BA umbrella. And this is not only within the scope of the BA, but it is actively working on promoting American craft beer on the world market. Perhaps not specifically to Korea, but certainly to Europe. And the scope of those efforts will likely widen as the initial efforts show some success.
It’d be great if the GC continues efforts to strenthen ties with our professional brethren. Those efforts were directly instrumental in the wildly successful ProAm category at the GABF. The GC rocks! Keep it up.
There is no one central document but if you go to the following website (http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/education-resources/find-a-school.html) and check only the schools that are listed are approved for attendance. I’ve personaly correspnded with the VA and associated schoolds and received the following responses:
UC Davis - Only for vets undergoing vocational rehabilitation; (Frankly this makes little sense to me)
Siebel - Not approved and they do not want to pursue approval according to their POC
American Brewers Guild - Not approved and they do not want to pursue approval according to their POC
MBAA - Not approved with the VA
Yes, UC Davis is an approved program. However, it is only for veterans under the rehabilitation program. If your a vet that’s not undergoing rehabilitation unfortunately you’re not eligible.
I also ran across what you quoted regarding non Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) training but according to the VA who I’ve contacted there are no approved brewers programs and thus no tuition assitance available.
VA programs are legislated. The AHA cannot initiate a bill. For that you or someone has to work with your reps in Washington to submit a bill. The BA/AHA can supply information and such, and put out a rally call when appropriate, but you need to get it started
Understand that, but it’s not necessarily a bill that needs to be initiated. The brewing schools just need to work with the VA to submit their applications so they can be approved to accept VA benefits. The governing comittee just needs to work with the schools to try and convince them this is a worthy cause and will not only benefit veterans but also benefit their instituitions while furthering the art and science of brewing.
