If you’re interested in becoming a certified judge of craft beer, BJCP is an excellent option to pursue.
Here’s what you need to know:
First of all, BJCP is an organization dedicated to promoting beer culture and establishing standards for beer tasting and evaluation. If you want to obtain BJCP certification in relation to craft beer, there are some steps you need to follow.
Firstly, you should study the guidelines and beer styles that BJCP defines in their certification program. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to start. On the BJCP website, you can find all the necessary information to begin studying. You can also join online groups or attend tasting events where you can learn more about the different beer styles.
Once you feel comfortable with the different beer styles, it’s time to practice your tasting skills. BJCP organizes practice events in different parts of the world where you can taste beer and receive feedback from certified judges. You can also join online tasting groups or create one with friends. The idea is to get used to evaluating the appearance, aroma, taste, and body of the beer in order to distinguish between different styles.
Next, you’ll need to take a knowledge evaluation exam to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the different beer styles and the tasting and evaluation guidelines. The exam is online and can be taken from anywhere in the world. If you pass, you’ll be one step closer to becoming a certified judge.
Finally, you’ll need to take a practical exam where your ability to taste and evaluate different beer styles will be evaluated. This exam takes place at tasting events in different parts of the world. If you’ve passed the knowledge evaluation exam and accumulated enough points through beer evaluation at competitions and practice activities, you can take this practical exam.
Maintaining your certification involves participating in updating activities every three years. BJCP offers online courses, tasting events, and conferences in different parts of the world so that you can keep your skills up to date.
Good luck on your path to becoming a certified judge of craft beer!
Salud 🍺
Here are some useful links to get started:
- BJCP website: https://www.bjcp.org/
- BJCP guidelines: https://www.bjcp.org/docs/2015_Guidelines_Beer.pdf
- BJCP events: https://www.bjcp.org/events.php
- BJCP exam information: https://www.bjcp.org/examcenter.php