OnTap Magazine

The BJCP judging processes are not perfect, but they give us the framework to do the best possible job at running brewing competitions with fairness and objectivity. More than that, they help to promote more informed consumers, and a better standard of homebrewing. Judges are learning and practicing and trying to get better. If you have questions about a scoresheet completed for your beer, contact the judges involved and discuss with them. Good judges will always help you to understand their evaluation and will be open to reconsidering their interpretation of a particular style. As a brewer entering competitions I would encourage you to consult a BJCP judge to confirm your entry category. This can be a little tricky, especially when it comes to beers containing fruit, alternative grains, and innovative techniques, but judges will always be willing to help - and as mentioned above - any beer can fit into the guideline styles. I would also encourage brewers and beer fans to consider becoming BJCP judges themselves. It will improve your brewing abilities and give you a deeper appreciation for beer. So brew all your crazy beers, appreciate the beer you drink for what it is, and try to keep this all in perspective. Beer is supposed to be fun, and competitions can be a big part of that fun. The BJCP is here to help. of the beer, taking into account more subjective qualities such as creativity and drinking pleasure. Hopefully this reduces the chances of bland, yet stylistically accurate, mass-produced lagers winning awards in commercial brewing competitions. One of the biggest problems with BJCP judging in South Africa is the limited availability of classic examples of styles. This means that sometimes judges have not had the opportunity to taste a classic example of a particular style and are basing their knowledge solely on the guideline descriptors, which can be problematic. The guidelines are meant to be used alongside an experiential knowledge of classic beer styles. This has, and will continue to improve, as judges gain more experience, and more imported and local examples of various styles become available. ASK A JUDGE BECOME A JUDGE