Subject: Digest for the period 4/27/2003 - 4/28/2003
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 01:02:04 -0400

Table of contents
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  1. Mead exam? 


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From: Gordon Strong  Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 22:33:46 -0400
Subject: Mead exam? 


While judging at the Mazer Cup competition this year, another judge asked
about a BJCP exam for mead.  The current BJCP exam just focuses on beer (and
doesn't touch on fruit, spice, herb, specialty, etc styles).  For those who
only make and judge meads (probably a small group), the beer judge exam
doesn't really fit.  While I am against the idea of style-specific beer
exams, I think the mead exam idea has some merit.

I've thought about it a bit, and think the current beer exam format could be
used for meads.  I don't see creating a separate program or way of tracking
the people who pass it.  I think I'd treat it as an alternate exam and track
experience points in the same way as is currently done.  It would be up to
the individual judges to only judge those categories they're competent to
judge (as it is today).  One side effect is that any current beer judge
could take the mead exam and have the best written/tasting scores counted
for advancement purposes.

If done this way, there's be a one-time setup (the creation of a set of
exams) and an ongoing need to have qualified people to give and grade the
exams (as there is today for the beer exams).  There's likely to be a good
study reference in Ken Schramm's forthcoming style book on mead (I look
forward to getting it when it finally is released in the next month or two).

Before floating this idea with the BJCP, I thought I'd see what kind of
interest there would be in this type of program.  If you'd like to vote on
the concept (i.e. would you want to take the exam?), please send me mail
directly.  If you'd like to discuss the idea, please post to the mailing
list.  After a week or so, I'll post any results I get back to the list.

Thanks,

Gordon Strong
strongg`at`earthlink.net

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Subject: Digest for the period 4/27/2003 - 4/28/2003
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 01:02:04 -0400

Table of contents
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  1. Mead exam? 


----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Gordon Strong  Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 22:33:46 -0400
Subject: Mead exam? 


While judging at the Mazer Cup competition this year, another judge asked
about a BJCP exam for mead.  The current BJCP exam just focuses on beer (and
doesn't touch on fruit, spice, herb, specialty, etc styles).  For those who
only make and judge meads (probably a small group), the beer judge exam
doesn't really fit.  While I am against the idea of style-specific beer
exams, I think the mead exam idea has some merit.

I've thought about it a bit, and think the current beer exam format could be
used for meads.  I don't see creating a separate program or way of tracking
the people who pass it.  I think I'd treat it as an alternate exam and track
experience points in the same way as is currently done.  It would be up to
the individual judges to only judge those categories they're competent to
judge (as it is today).  One side effect is that any current beer judge
could take the mead exam and have the best written/tasting scores counted
for advancement purposes.

If done this way, there's be a one-time setup (the creation of a set of
exams) and an ongoing need to have qualified people to give and grade the
exams (as there is today for the beer exams).  There's likely to be a good
study reference in Ken Schramm's forthcoming style book on mead (I look
forward to getting it when it finally is released in the next month or two).

Before floating this idea with the BJCP, I thought I'd see what kind of
interest there would be in this type of program.  If you'd like to vote on
the concept (i.e. would you want to take the exam?), please send me mail
directly.  If you'd like to discuss the idea, please post to the mailing
list.  After a week or so, I'll post any results I get back to the list.

Thanks,

Gordon Strong
strongg`at`earthlink.net

**********************************************************************
* JudgeNet - the beer judge digest                                   *
* Send plain text only, no HTML, MIME, encoded text or attachments   *
* Send subscription requests & changes to judge-request`at`synchro.com  *
**********************************************************************