D
I
R
E
C
T
O
R
A
T
E
 
U
P
D
A
A
T
E
S
Education and Training Directorate Updates
Randy Scorby, Education and Training Director
The Education and Training Directorate has been focused on updates to training material to reflect the new styleguides, Advanced Judge Training, and Grader Training
At a Glance
  • Training and education materials across the board are being updated to reflect the new 2014 style guidelines.
  • The CEP Program is working on "Advanced Judge Training", that will provide more in-depth information, and be taught on a regional basis.
  • Grader training took place at the 2014 National Homebrewers Conference. Video and slides from the session are available.
The Education and Training Directorate has been working on a number of efforts and addressing several requests from our membership.
2014 Style Guidelines
The 2014 style guidelines are in the finalization stage now. This will have several impacts on training and education materials. We are in the process of ensuring that all materials are up to date related to training and education. To facilitate this, we are adding two more members to the CEP team to address this issue as part of advanced judge training (see below).
Advanced Judge Training
We are expanding the CEP Program to create advanced judge training sessions. Our goal is to create half and full day sessions that provides in-depth training to those who want to increase their knowledge and skill level and/or improve their judge rank on a regional basis. Here are some potential topics (but we are not limited to these):
i. Advanced stylistic training – Side by side comparisons of similar styles, what makes them different; using the style guidelines to complement actual tasting experience instead of as a sole source; what is malt richness; etc. Understanding the new styles in the 2014 guidelines.
ii. Beyond the standard off characteristics.
iii. Recognizing oxidation beyond paper, cardboard and sherry.
iv. Differentiating phenols and their appropriateness in certain styles (German Weizen & Belgian Ales), causes and controls.
v. Sourness – appropriately identifying lactic vs. acetic, and other sour characteristics
vi. Writing advanced/master score sheets & how to provide concise and relevant feedback.
vii. Allowing one perceived fault to carry through into the entire beer.
viii. Recognizing palate fatigue.
ix. Characteristics of aged or oxidized hops.
x. Astringency vs. hop bitterness.
xi. Caramel character vs. Diacetyl.
xii. Understanding balance.
xiii. Residual sweetness in beer vs. finish.
xiv. Judging mead – Differences in sweetness levels, common off characteristics, acidity vs. tannins, malic/citric/tartaric acid characteristics, honey characteristics, how to properly judge, terminology.
Volunteers will be needed on a regional basis to help organize and instruct these sessions, and we will be requesting your help through your Region Representatives as we move forward with development.
The Exam Grader training session at the 2014 National Homebrewers Conference
Grader Training
As many of you know, we conducted our first ever Grader Training at this year’s National Homebrewers Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. We have recently added a video of that presentation (with many thanks to Chip Walton and Chop & Brew for handling all aspects of the video) that can be viewed by all members either above or on YouTube.
We are also working closely with the Exam Directorate to create more realistic score sheet “scenario” training. We have developed six score sheets of varying quality to cover the four dimensions (perception, description, feedback, completeness) on a single beer. Proctor score sheets, a proctor consensus score sheet, administrator exam beer description and the EGF were also completed to establish a realistic training aid for new and less tenured graders. The Exam Directors are grading the “set” and that information will be available for comparison to help create more consistent grading and scoring of judging exam score sheets.
Our goal is to create a comprehensive grader training course that covers specific topics during different sessions instead of trying to teach everything at once. We are in the process of determining the next phase of this project that we plan to provide at NHC 2015 in San Diego.
As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at [email protected].