BJCP Guideline Question

[platypus]

So, I'm not ready for competitions, but may enter some in a few months anyway just for the learning experience. I've been playing with a couple of brewing softwares making recipes that I'd like to try brewing. My question is:

If I'm brewing a stout that I want to enter in competition and the BJCP guidelines state that it should be "jet black" with a SRM range of 30-40, and my SRM is higher than 40, would it be disqualified?

Not really expecting to win anything (yet), but think it would be fun to do nonetheless and at least want to be able to be considered. Thanks in advance for any info you guys have.

 

[Edcculus]

There is pretty much no way of actually telling SRM, esp in a competition setting. As long as your stout is dark nobody will care. Much past 30 SRM is pretty much opaque anyway. If you notice for most of the stout styles in the guidelines, it says something like "should be clear, but not required. If not clear, should be opaque". A beer really can't get disqualified. If its not to style, it just won't get scored very well.

Color usually comes more into play in lighter beers anyway.

I highly suggest reading up on the judging process at the BJCP's website

 

[platypus]

Cool. Thanks for the info and quick response!

 

[Edcculus]

No problem. I took the exam the weekend before last, so its all still fresh in my mind.

 

[passedpawn]

You just might win. I get beat all the time by newb extract brewers. Usually, because their beer was really, really good. Bit of a crapshoot, these competitions.

 

[Malticulous]

Over 40 SRM is fine to an extent. If its 120 SRM it will taste like it. :cross:

 

[platypus]

By you taking the exam, does that mean you'll be judging some competitions?

 

[Edcculus]

Yea, eventually. I'm moving back to Greenville SC from Cleveland at the end of the month. I have yet to get my scores back, but I highly doubt I got less than "certified" (70%). When I get back in the area, I'll hopefully be judging in competitions around SC, NC and GA.

 

[olllllo]

Appearance is 3 of 50 points or 6%. That said, if you score a 1 or 2, most probably something else will be amiss.

 

[passedpawn]

I'd bet he's (Ed) already judged a LOT of competitions. I have. You don't need to be certified, but for a BJCP sanctioned comp there must be 1 certified judge in the group.

Judging with knowledgeable people is the fast track to getting the experience to get certified yourself.

 

[platypus]

That's really cool. Hope you get certified!

 

[passedpawn]

Yea, eventually. I'm moving back to Greenville SC from Cleveland at the end of the month. I have yet to get my scores back, but I highly doubt I got less than "certified" (70%). When I get back in the area, I'll hopefully be judging in competitions around SC, NC and GA.

Good luck. I hear it takes time to get those scores back. I am very jealous.

 

[Edcculus]

Thanks, I'm expecting it to take a few months. Its entirely hand graded with a very in depth commentary from the grader about how you answered each question.

 

[remilard]

but for a BJCP sanctioned comp there must be 1 certified judge in the group.

For BJCP sanctioning there is absolutely no requirement that any BJCP judges be used, or that the BJCP guidelines be used.

As for the OP, there is a good chance your beer is not over 40 SRM as estimates of color based on recipe are only estimates and become poorer and poorer estimates for darker beers. Either way, if it is jet black and opaque, and the style guideline allows jet black and opaque, it is going to be viewed as within the guidelines.