BJCP Press Release 01 Apr 2008
Members will be glad to know that the BJCP Board of Directors has decided to move in a new direction for the coming year. Based on input from both members and the general public, the current scheme used for beer judging will be drastically modified, effective immediately.
The first, and biggest change to the current system will be in the scores awarded in competitions. We're switching to a 100 point scale, more like the method used by certain commercial organizations, replacing the 50 point scale now used.
The new judging scale will also be based on a new set of evaluation factors, as follows:
- Volume (20 points)
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The main thing the average beer judge cares about is whether he or she receives sufficient beer to get satisfaction. Filling the glass to the rim gets far more points than the measly portions usually offered at most competitions. Those organizers who provide pint glasses instead of those crummy little plastic cups will not only earn more organizer points, but will also ensure that the competition entries get rated higher, thus guaranteeing more entries next year.
Note: This does NOT mean that beer styles that produce large, fluffy heads are at a disadvantage. This problem is easily dealt with by simply serving them in larger glasses and leaving extra bottles on the table for topping up a judge's glass when required. - Envy (30 points)
- This criterion measures how much the judge would like to have been the brewer of the beer being evaluated. "Wow, if I had made this, I'd have several gallons of it waiting for me when I get home!" will score near the top of the range, while "Ohmygod, if I had made this swill, I'd never be able to show my face at a club meeting again!" will receive a significantly lower score.
- Recognition (30 points)
- Let's face it; we all like to show our friends how much we like them. If you encounter a beer that tastes a lot like something you've tried at your buddy's house, then give it a bunch of points just because. On the other hand, if you find a beer that's totally foreign, and seems unlikely to have been brewed by anyone you know, then it's perfectly appropriate to be stingy in this section.
- Repetition (10 points)
- This is a simple and completely intuitive evaluation of how many of these you could drink in an evening. We felt that due to the subjective nature of much of the other sections in the new scoresheet, it would be advisable to have one section that is absolutely objective and measurable.
- Nominative Innovation (10 points)
- Many brewers like to give each recipe a clever name, and we feel this should be encouraged. From now on, judges will receive a scoresheet that not only lists the style of the competition entry, but also the name provided by the brewer. Points should be awarded based on your perception of how well the name fits the beer.