Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 13:00:08 -0500
Message-Id: <199703311800.NAA01823 at synchro.com>
From: owner-judge-digest at synchro.com
To: judge-digest at synchro.com
Subject:   judge-digest V1 #1415
Reply-To: judge at synchro.com
Errors-To: owner-judge-digest at synchro.com
Precedence: bulk


judge-digest               Monday, 31 March 1997       Volume 01 : Number 1415

 ============================================================================
       J u d g e N e t   -   t h e   b e e r   j u d g e   d i g e s t
 ============================================================================

 Moderator:        Chuck Cox          <chuck at synchro.com>
 Archivist:        Spencer Thomas     <spencer at umich.edu>
 Publisher:        SynchroSystems     <info at synchro.com>

 Submissions:      judge at synchro.com
 Subscriptions:    judge-request at synchro.com
 Archive:          http://realbeer.com/spencer/judge
 BJCP info:        geninfo at bjcp.synchro.com

 ============================================================================
 contents:

 Style Guidelines for BJCP exam
 competition style guidelines
 Classic American Pilsner in competitions

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From: Scott Bickham <bickham at dave.nrl.navy.mil>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 13:49:00 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Style Guidelines for BJCP exam

Doug Mccullough asked:

> Twelve others and I in the Birmingham BrewMasters have been studying
> diligently since January to take the BJCP exam in May. Near the middle of
> our thirteen weekly study sessions the BJCP released Style Guidelines that
> diverge significantly from the AHA's. Our mentor informs us that we had
> better be prepared to answer exam questions per the BJCP Guidelines and
> not the AHA's. Isn't the exam tough enough without this added level of
> obfuscation?

As I posted here immediately after the BJCP Guidelines were approved,
the exam questions are independent of the style guidelines.  As long
as you use one or the other, in combination with Jackson's Beer
Companion, you should be in excellent shape.  For example, you will
not be asked to differentiate between North German and Duesseldorf
altbiers, but if you are asked to describe the altbier style in
general, it is helpful to know that there are variations.  The AHA
guidelines approaches this by using very wide ranges for the IBUs, while 
the BJCP guidelines have more fine structure.  Similarly, the
difference between the 1995, 1996 and 1997 AHA Guidelines are not
important.

> Rather than further balkanize the homebrewing hobby, perhaps the BJCP
> should explore cooperation and consolidation. The current environment
> diminishes both the AJA and BJCP.

Is AJA a reference to Steely Dan? ;-)  The AHA and BJCP are actually in 
full cooperation, as evidenced by the discussions here ~2-3 weeks ago.
A check of the archives would ease your concern over both of these
issues.

Good luck on the exam.

Scott Bickham
BJCP Exam Director

------------------------------

From: "Thomas, Andrew R " <thomaar at texaco.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 14:24:26 -0600
Subject: competition style guidelines

I read with interest the discussion about style guidelines and how to
eliminate mailing cost.  A couple of things come to mind.  One, style
guidelines have to be really thourough because competitions might get
out of hand and get 980 entries like the Dixie Cup here in Houston.  But
in a nice little friendly competition of 100-150 beers, the style
guidelines have to collapse down (my opinion here).  If some are so
inclined, different sets of guidelines can be assembled for different
sizes.  For example, a 150 beer event would not want to split American
Wheat from German Weisse.  Nor would it split Traditional Porter from
East Coast Porter.  Nor brown ale types.  So if Dion wants an internet
ready version of styles for his competition, he could put it together.
The BJCP is an all volunteer army at this point.  If Dion (and others)
wanted an expanded style scale, then use the BJCP's that is posted on
the home page.  The fact that the BJCP's and the AHA's are different is
certainly a problem, the AHA's will probably always be "bigger" because
they have to somehow make order out of the NHC which is pretty mf big.
Dont worry about theirs.  The BJCP can become the backbone of the
"regular sized competitions".  As the AHA's comp gets bigger and bigger
and bigger and bigger, it will resemble less and less what the real
average homebrew competition looks like.  Just let their style
guidelines go like a big hot air balloon that floats over the mountains
and lets get on with the regular business here.  

In summary, I applaude Dion's suggestion.  We have a big pre-competition
mail out postage hit in Houston.  Anything that would cut into that
would be super.  How about a BJCP home page with competition styles for
various sized comps (maybe two sizes) complete with bottle labels and
recipe sheets.  How many times has the homebrew community re-invented
that wheel?  

------------------------------

From: Jeff Renner <nerenner at umich.edu>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 16:28:26 -0500
Subject: Classic American Pilsner in competitions

Now that we've had three months with Classic American Pilsner in both the
AHA and BJCP guidelines, I wonder if competition organizers could give me a
rough idea of how many entries they are getting of this style and how they
have done, both general quality and if they've placed.  I get an email
about every week about CAP, stimulated mostly by my BT article of 18 months
ago, which is very gratifying.  Post if you think there's enough general
interest, or private email and I'll summarize.

Jeff

- -=-=-=-=-
Jeff Renner in Ann Arbor, Michigan c/o nerenner at umich.edu


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End of judge-digest V1 #1415
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