[THC] more on judging and judges

[Dr. L. A. Swihart]

In case the judges in this group are interested, there were 33 IPAs at 
the AFC competition and my total panel was composed of three teams of 
two judges each.  Two English IPAs (one of them our first place winner), 
something like 20 American IPAs, most of them striving for what they 
call "west coast IPA" out there, and the remainder Imperial IPAs.  It's 
a tough job by golly, but *somebody* has to judge at beer competitions ....

Linda

PS I am thinking of running a class this summer if there is anybody 
interested in it.  It would meet twelve times for three hours each time, 
probably once per week but that is negotiable, at my house, and cost 
about $100 total per person.  That covers about $50 for "sensory 
evaluation samples," i.e., the beers, and $50 for the exam cost if 
you're taking it for the first time.  NOTHING is in it for me except 
doing a lot of work in exchange for a chance to be forced to learn a bit 
more myself.  We have to have five people commit in order for the BJCP 
to schedule an exam.  If there are not five people ready to commit by 
April 1, it's probably not going to happen.  We would schedule an exam, 
probably at LBC, in the late summer.  See 
http://www.bjcp.org/examcenter.php for more info about BJCP exam

PPS YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE TAKEN THE TEST to be allowed to judge as a 
"novice judge," usually.  In most competitions they are quite happy to 
have people volunteer to be novice judges.  All of us who have judged 
have met fun and capable novice judges.  Novices get paired with (a) 
more experienced judge(s).