In this issue we interviewed BJCP Judge Frank Christian
Provide a brief introduction about yourself, feel free to add anything you’d like to share.
I’m a BJCP National Judge based in Aachen, Germany. By day, I’m a biochemist with a drug discovery research background, which is a field that demands a lot of precision and a deep curiosity about complex biological processes. In a way, my passion for beer and brewing, which I’ve pursued since 2012, feels like a natural extension of that. I’m fascinated by the science of fermentation and the incredible spectrum of flavors that can be created through the combination and interaction of malt, hops, water, and especially yeast. It’s a hobby that perfectly marries my analytical and scientific side with my creative side.
What led to you becoming a Beer Judge with BJCP?
My homebrewing journey started in Scotland, where I was a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow for some years, and it began with a bit of a shock, to be honest! I had only been homebrewing for a couple of months when I took part in the local homebrew meetup for the first time. There, I met a couple of guys who were preparing to take the BJCP exam, and who were approaching everyone’s homebrews in a very analytical way. They had two surprises for me: first, you can analyze a beer, pin down off-flavors and give technical feedback for improvement by just smelling it, which seemed like pure sorcery to me at the time. And second, they were so amazed by my American IPA – only my second-ever batch – they recommended I enter it into the Scottish Homebrew Competition, which was organized by the prestigious Institute of Brewing and Distilling in Edinburgh. To my absolute astonishment, the beer went on to win first place. Part of the prize was an invitation to brew the winning recipe on a commercial scale at the wonderful Fyne Ales brewery on the Scottish west coast. That experience was completely eye-opening. Standing in a professional brewery, working with their team, and seeing my homebrew recipe come to life on that scale was the moment I realized this was more than just a casual hobby. It connected me to the wider world of brewing and ignited a much deeper passion.
When I moved to Aachen, Germany, in 2016, I was eager to connect with other local homebrewers. I had read about Kölner Bierhistoriker, a homebrew club in Cologne, which I immediately joined. Soon after, I also met a couple of homebrewers from Aachen, with whom I founded a monthly homebrew meetup, our Stammtisch, which grew quickly and showed me there was a real thirst for a shared beer culture. At the same time, there was no BJCP activity in Germany. In 2019, Kölner Bierhistoriker and the Heimbrau Convention (the largest homebrewing event in the German speaking area) organized the first two judging exams, and I had the opportunity to take part in the very first BJCP exam held in the country. It felt like a pivotal moment. Here was a chance for us to build a common framework and a shared language to talk about beer quality and style. It was not only a great experience to achieve the certification that helped boost my homebrewing career so early on together with my homebrewing friends, I saw it even more as the starting point of a community project. My motivation was to help establish and grow a well recognized system that could support and educate brewers here, so I got involved in organizing exams and competitions, teaching brewing and off-flavor courses, and doing whatever I could to help build the program from the ground up.
What is one thing you enjoy about being a BJCP judge?
Without a doubt, it’s the community. It’s getting to meet and know so many knowledgeable and open-minded fellow judges – many have become good friends. It’s also the learning from others’ perceptions during discussions at the judging table, or at a meetup. For me, the greatest reward is not personal rank or award, but the success of the community we’ve built together. As organizer or proctor, I’ve had the privilege of helping to qualify over 200 new BJCP judges in 20 different exams across Europe, from Madrid to Warsaw to Sofia. When you come into these local homebrew communities the people you get to meet are equally as excited about great beer, brewing and many other cultural aspects, too. They will introduce you to the best local food and drink (not just beer) and immerse you in their local culture. Then seeing those judges go on to become mentors themselves, to very successfully run their own competitions, and to elevate the quality of brewing in their own communities – that is the most fulfilling part of this journey. Being a judge has given me the opportunity to be a small part of so many other people’s stories, and that’s an incredible honor.
What’s your favorite category or style to judge?
That’s a tough question because I truly enjoy the variety! However, I have a deep affection for beer cultures that are steeped in history and tradition. I love to travel specifically to explore these cultures, and I’m particularly fond of the beer landscapes in Franconia, Belgium, and the UK. There is something magical about enjoying a perfectly conditioned cask ale in a British pub or a complex Trappist ale in its Belgian homeland. Franconian beers then teach you that lagers are anything but bland or uniform, providing entertaining complexity while at the same time being immensely drinkable. So, I have a soft spot for judging those classic, nuanced styles. That said, my scientific curiosity also draws me to the experimental side of brewing. I’ve been an active participant at Carnivale Brettanomyces, a wonderful community-driven blend of scientific conference and beer festival first in Amsterdam, now in Utrecht for years, and I love the challenge of judging beers that push the boundaries of flavor, like a barrel aged mixed fermentation Saison that combines fruity and wild Brett notes with balanced lactic acidity and subtle woody tannins.
Can you share any fun memories from your time as a judge?
The international judging circuit provides so many wonderful and fun memories. Judging in places like Prague, Wales, Split, and Poznan is a constant reminder that beer is truly a universal language. There’s a great sense of camaraderie and shared purpose when you can sit at a table with judges from several different countries and communicate perfectly through the beer in the glass. On one of the most memorable occasions we travelled as a group of 8 judges from Cologne to help judge the Prague homebrewing competition and immerse ourselves in the local culture, including Czech lagers and craft beers. A good time was had!
Other highlights include judging the finals at Germany’s largest homebrewing competitions, organized by Maisel’s in Bayreuth and Störtebeker brewery in Stralsund. These events also create opportunities to present workshops on sensory evaluation and spread the word about the BJCP. Beyond the homebrew circuit, it has been an honor to judge at commercial competitions like the World Beer Awards. Sharing a table and discussing beers and perceptions with internationally renowned experts like Michael Hanreich, the brewmaster of Schlenkerla, or Markus Raupach, Germany’s best-known beer expert, is both fun and enlightening.
Those moments of connection with people from completely different backgrounds over a shared passion are what make this hobby so special. It reinforces that the BJCP is not just an organization; it’s a global family.
Any closing thoughts for your fellow judges?
Be open-minded and treat every competition as a learning opportunity. Be open to the different ways your fellow judges perceive and describe sensory experiences; it’s one of the best and most fun ways to grow.
If you see a need or a gap for a competition or an exam study group in your area, don’t wait for someone else to step up – take the initiative and organize it yourself! One of the greatest advantages of the BJCP is its low-threshold offering and the many free resources supporting these activities. That’s how we build and strengthen our community from the ground up.
And finally, never forget to have fun! Immerse yourself in local beer cultures, whether at home or abroad. It’s a journey of passion, so make sure to enjoy every step of it!
photo credit to Markus Raupach