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That's Right, I'm in the Club Now - Best Start Showing Me Some Respect

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Pappers_

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http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/The-Blog.html?entry=i-m-a-recognized-beer

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Outstanding job! Congratulations. I've got my exam on Saturday. Any pointers for me or just a general what to expect? Thanks.

Actually, even though I'm teasing Pappers (a lot) about this- he was extremely helpful to me in getting ready for the test.

I don't have a homebrew club and I live in the middle of nowhere, so I was prepping totally on my own. Pappers' advice helped me quite a bit with getting ready for the tasting portion. He tested about 6 weeks before me, but we got our results on the same day so our exams were scored at the same time.

His advice is helpful and I really appreciated it. It's probably more helpful to take a class or two through your homebrew club than attempting what I did and doing it alone- but my certificate is proof that you can do it on your own as well.

The tasting exam isn't hard at all- IF you know your beerstyles. In a real competition, it's much easier as you can have a copy of the guidelines in front of you as you score. During the test, you really have to exhibit that you know the guidelines for each style. You can't really say "too much" at all- but you can say too little.

A rule of thumb that Al Boyce told me is to give one piece of corrective advice for every 10 points under the score you give. That means, say, for a 30 point beer, you give two very good points of advice. Not "watch sanitation", which is easy to say. But to say, "The staleness could be signs of oxidation- make sure that transfers are done without splashing to avoid oxygenation" if you gig the beer for oxidation. If the beer is infected, talk about sanitation and how to avoid infection, not just "watch sanitation".

And if you've got a seat in a tasting exam- good for you! I know Pappers (who lives in a HUGE metro area) had to travel for his exam, and I traveled to Minneapolis for mine.
 
Congrats! How long did it take you to get certified?

I tested on September 9 or so, and got my results via email on January 6.

The test scoring is a huge process- the scores I got back were expansive and explained where I scored at "National", "Certified" or "Recognized". There were helpful hints on being a better judge, as well as some kudos for what I picked up. (and some gigs on what I missed!).

I had 13 BJCP points going in from prior competitions, so they added my judging points in and that's why I'm certified. Pappers scored higher than I did, and he'll be certified as well very soon since he's got a couple of competitions scheduled to judge.
 
I meant how long from the time you started pursuing being bjcp certified till you got certified.
 
Actually, even though I'm teasing Pappers (a lot) about this- he was extremely helpful to me in getting ready for the test.

I don't have a homebrew club and I live in the middle of nowhere, so I was prepping totally on my own. Pappers' advice helped me quite a bit with getting ready for the tasting portion. He tested about 6 weeks before me, but we got our results on the same day so our exams were scored at the same time.

His advice is helpful and I really appreciated it. It's probably more helpful to take a class or two through your homebrew club than attempting what I did and doing it alone- but my certificate is proof that you can do it on your own as well.

The tasting exam isn't hard at all- IF you know your beerstyles. In a real competition, it's much easier as you can have a copy of the guidelines in front of you as you score. During the test, you really have to exhibit that you know the guidelines for each style. You can't really say "too much" at all- but you can say too little.

A rule of thumb that Al Boyce told me is to give one piece of corrective advice for every 10 points under the score you give. That means, say, for a 30 point beer, you give two very good points of advice. Not "watch sanitation", which is easy to say. But to say, "The staleness could be signs of oxidation- make sure that transfers are done without splashing to avoid oxygenation" if you gig the beer for oxidation. If the beer is infected, talk about sanitation and how to avoid infection, not just "watch sanitation".

And if you've got a seat in a tasting exam- good for you! I know Pappers (who lives in a HUGE metro area) had to travel for his exam, and I traveled to Minneapolis for mine.

Thanks for all the tips Yooper, that's really helpful because I really have no idea what to expect walking in there aside from what I've heard from others who have taken the exam. I am in the same situation you were in about going it alone and having to travel. I live smack dab in the middle between New York and Boston, so there were no tasting classes available to me that were within a reasonable distance to drive every week for three months. My exam is taking place on eastern Long Island, so I actually have to take a ferry across Long Island Sound to get to mine. Thanks again and congrats to you, too! I didn't realize you weren't already certified because I think I remember you mentioning a time or two about judging in competitions.
 
I hope my comments have always showed the respect I have for you, if not, I apologize, oh judge!!!! I mean "Your Honor!"
 
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