Introduction to the
BJCP and Judging
Andy Hejl
What is the BJCP?
• BJCP = Beer Judge Certification Program
• Roles
• Certifies beer judges (Exam)
• Tracks judge development and experience
• Sanctions competitions
• Develops style guidelines
Purposes of the BJCP
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Three purposes of the BJCP
1. Promote beer literacy
2. Promote the appreciation of real beer
3. Recognize beer tasting and evaluation skills
BJCP Exam Structure
• Newly updated in April 2012 – 3 levels
• Beer Judge Entrance Examination (Online)
• Beer Judging Examination (Tasting)
• Beer Judge Written Proficiency Examination (Written)
• Designed with several goals in mind
• Focus exam on practical judging skills
• Reduce grader workload
Beer Judge Entrance Examination
• New Online exam launched April 2012
• $10 exam fee, carried out on your own time/computer
• 200 questions in 60 minutes
• T/F, multiple choice, Check all that apply
• Scoring is Pass/Fail
• Must be passed before eligible for Tasting exam
• Can take up to one time per day until passed
• Passing score makes one a Provisional judge
• Provisional status is good for 1 year
Beer Judge Entrance Examination
• Exam questions cover several different types of areas
• Single style questions
• Comparing style questions (usually 2 styles)
• Program information (T/F in Study guide)
• Technical information (process, ingredients)
• Flavor characteristics
• Exam knowledge should be okay on a few sources
• BJCP Style guidelines
• General brewing book – i.e. How to Brew
Online Exam – Sample Questions
T/F Questions:
Düsseldorf Altbier typically has a light body and a medium
carbonation level.
It is a good idea to take a decongestant prior to a judging
event to increase your sensitivity to the aromas of beer.
Online Exam – Sample Questions
Which of the following characteristics is inappropriate for Southern
English Brown Ale?
A) Rich, malty sweetness
B) Notes of plums and raisins
C) Medium body
D) Moderate hop aroma
E) Low carbonation
A Doppelbock typically has:
A) More caramel character than Traditional Bock
B) More hop aroma than Traditional Bock
C) More melanoidin character than Traditional Bock
D) More astringency than Traditional Bock
E) More diacetyl than Traditional Bock
Online Exam – Sample Questions
Check all that apply. Acetic acid is perceived as having
which of the following characteristics:
□ Paper
□ Sherry
□ Vinegar
□ Sour
□ Vinous
Online Exam - Tips
• Read and understand the question asked
• Choose the “Best” answer on multiple choice
• Time management is crucial
• Don’t get hung up on questions that are complex or
that you don’t know
• Can mark questions to come back to afterwards
• Do this in advance of the Tasting exam, must be passed
• Can have review materials with you, on computer
• Do not have time to look up all answers
• Study your styles!
BJCP Beer Judging Examination
• $40 exam fee for new test takers
• 6 exam beers will be judged as in a competition
• Scores on the tasting broken down into 5 areas
• Scoring Accuracy
• Perception
• Descriptive Ability
• Feedback
• Completeness
Beer Scoresheet
Beer Scoresheet – Aroma
• What do you smell?
Aroma (as appropriate for style)
Comment on malt, hops, esters, and
other aromatics
Beer Scoresheet – Appearance
• How does it look?
Appearance (as appropriate for style)
Comment on color, clarity, and head
(retention, color, and texture)
Beer Scoresheet – Flavor
• What do you taste?
Flavor (as appropriate for style)
Comment on malt, hops, fermentation
characteristics, balance,
finish/aftertaste, and other flavor
characteristics
Beer Scoresheet – Mouthfeel
• Physical sensations of drinking
Mouthfeel (as appropriate for style)
Comment on body, carbonation,
warmth, creaminess, astringency, and
other palate sensations
Beer Scoresheet – Overall Impression
• What did you think?
• How to improve?
Overall Impression
Comment on overall drinking pleasure
associated with entry, give
suggestions for improvement
Beer Scoresheet – Style Grid
Stylistic Accuracy
Classic Example – Not to Style
Technical Merit
Flawless – Significant Flaws
Intangibles
Wonderful – Lifeless
Format of the BJCP Exam - Tasting
• Scoring Accuracy (20 pt.)
• How far your scores are from
the proctors consensus scores
• Lowest score for this is 9 pts.
• Grid is in Exam Scoring Guide
• One bad beer will not torpedo
your score
• Average score for all 6
beers is your Scoring
Accuracy
Variance
Points / Beer
0
20
1.5
19
2.5
18
3.5
17
4.5
16
5.5
15
6
14
6.5
13
7
12
8
11
9
10
10
9
Format of the BJCP Exam - Tasting
• Perception (20 pts.)
• How well do you sense the characteristics in the beer
• Use the cues to remind you what to comment on
• Note characteristics that are absent
• e.g. No diacetyl, no DMS
• Descriptive Ability (20 pts.)
• Describe each element of the beer
• Should include level/intensity, and quality
• “medium-low hop aroma with minty, pine notes”
• Use colorful, evocative language – word picture
• Do not use vague words
• Nice, good, solid, decent
Format of the BJCP Exam - Tasting
• Feedback (20 pts.)
• How can the brewer improve this beer?
• Stylistic improvements
• Technical improvements
• Should focus on the major flaws detected
• Be specific
• Be positive and encouraging
• Completeness (20 pts.)
• Fill up all the space on the score sheet
• Hit all of the cues that are mentioned on the sheet
• Add your score correctly
• Use the style grid checkboxes
BJCP Tasting Exam - Tips
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Top 4 sections factual, a record of what you perceive
Use descriptive language!
Assign each element a level and characteristic
Use the keywords for each section as cues
Provide specific feedback to address problems
• 2-3 suggestions is good, more for lower scores
• If you identify a fault, you should offer a correction
Fill up the sheet; white space is bad
Make sure scores are aligned with your comments
Know the styles
Practice so that you can judge a beer quickly
BJCP Written Proficiency Examination
• $15 one time fee
• Required to advance to National rank or higher
• 90 minute exam
• 5 essay questions – each is 20% of score
• 20 T/F Program questions – can only hurt your score
• Prerequisites for exam
• BJCP Tasting Exam score of 80
• OR Existing National level judge
• Minimum 10 Judging points
• Used to generate a composite exam score
• 50% tasting score / 50% written score
BJCP Ranks and Requirements
Rank
Tasting
Score
Composite
Score
Total
Experience
Minimum
Judging Pts
GM
Service?
Recognized
60
—
0
0
N
Certified
70
—
5
2.5
N
National
80
80
20
10
N
Master
80
90
40
20
N
Grand Master
80
90
100
50
Y
Addl GM Levels
80
90
100 ea
50 ea
Y
• This information will be tested in Online Exam
• Composite score is 50/50 avg of Tasting and Written exams
• Additional levels are temporary and not true ranks
• Provisional – passed Online examination (not yet BJCP member)
• Apprentice – Did not score 60 on Tasting exam (2 yr expiration)
• Scoresheet has other designations – Pro, Honorary, non-BJCP
What Happens at a Homebrew Comp?
• How to find upcoming competitions?
• BJCP competition calendar on website
• Will often receive emails from judge coordinators
• What to expect before competition
• Sign up 2-8 weeks before the competition
• ~1 week before competition get a reminder email
• Often get judge assignments 1-2 days before
What Happens at a Homebrew Comp?
• Morning of competition
• Arrive at designated arrival time, ~30 min before
judging
• Help yourself to some breakfast, coffee
• Look for a sign-in sheet, judge assignments
• Find your judging table and introduce yourself to the
other judges
• Tables will have pull sheets, scoresheets
• Listen for special announcements from coordinators
• There may be a calibration beer
• Designed so that people judging together get on
the same page
What Happens at a Homebrew Comp?
• How are judges assigned?
• Typically 2 people (or 3) make a judging group
• Inexperienced people often placed with veterans
• New people frequently on common categories
• Getting the beers
• Beers are stored cold apart from the judges
• Judges will request that the stewards bring out beers
• Can judge in order different than pull sheet
• Judges will open and pour the beers themselves
What Happens at a Homebrew Comp?
• How are beers sorted?
• Beers are split into categories
• May not line up perfectly with BJCP categories
• Queued judging common for large flights
• Judging process
• Each group of judges work through scoresheets
• After completion, consensus score determined
• Most judges will not discuss until both are complete
• Can ask questions if you are really not sure
• Mini-BOS when more than one group of judges
• Top 2-3 from each group tasted and places given
• Scores are not consulted during mini-BOS
What Happens at a Homebrew Comp?
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Lunchtime
Repeat judging for Afternoon
Some competitions may judge night before or day after
Best of Show judging
• Several higher-ranked judges (3 to 5) taste all the first
place beers (meads, ciders)
• Entries narrowed down and then Top 3 determined
• Announcement of Prizes
• Organizer submits points earned
• May see an email, will be in Online Judging record
Additional Resources
• BJCP Study Guide
http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCP_Study_Guide.pdf
• Mastering the BJCP Exam, G. Strong, S. Bickham
http://www.bjcp.org/docs/mastering.pdf
• BJCP Exam for Dummies, A. Boyce
http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCPExamForDummies.pdf
• How to Judge a Beer, P. Garofalo
http://www.bjcp.org/docs/How_to_Judge_Beer.pdf
• Zymurgy Commercial Calibration
• Beer Checklist Score Sheet
ttp://www.bjcp.org/docs/Beer_checklist.pdf