To help members learn more about “who’s running things’ at BJCP we want to spotlight the Board Members of the organization.
In this issue we interviewed Brian Cooper – BJCP West Rep and Treasurer
Provide a brief introduction about yourself, feel free to add anything you’d like to share.
This is a story of “full circle” moments, to me. I started judging back in 2008, quickly becoming very active in judging, and started assisting with and organizing competitions. I also proctored exams, and eventually began running study groups and administering exams of my own.
I joined the BJCP Officers as an Assistant Rep in 2017, and later became West Regional Rep / Treasurer in 2020. I had been at Master rank since 2011, and ranked up to Grand Master in 2019. I gained my Mead Judge endorsement in 2022. Looking to the future, I aspire to take the Cider Judging exam in the coming year or so, to complete the “trifecta.” Before going for it, I want to delve deep into ciders with knowledgeable friends in a study group, to do really well at it.
At one point I noticed I had a bit of a points imbalance – more than enough non-judging points, but not quite enough judging points to rank up to Grand Master II. So I made an extra effort to judge as much as I could the last couple of years, to get over the 100 judging points needed to rank up. Full circle moment: I finally earned the last points I needed to hit Grand Master II this spring, by judging in the very 1st competition I had ever entered – the World Cup of Beer, run by the Bay Area Mashers, which I had won my very first ribbon in, back in 2003.
What led to you becoming a Beer Judge with BJCP?
As an avid homebrewer, I had entered several competitions, but the first competition I actually assisted with was the Bay Area Brew-Off (or “BABO”), a.k.a. the Alameda County Fair homebrew competition, in the East Bay area of CA. It was 2007, and I had signed up to be a steward. The day of the comp, my friend Roger St. Denis suddenly asked me if I wanted to judge. I felt intimidated by the prospect, and said, “no thanks, I’d rather just be a steward.” After presenting beers and watching the judges do their thing (sharing tastes and comments with me), I wondered whether I had what it takes to join their ranks. It did seem like a lot of fun!
Only after meeting my judging mentor, (now GM8 judge David Teckam), and being told by him “you can do this!” as he handed me a syllabus for his current beer judging course, did I work up the courage to go for it. He helped our club start a study group, and the rest is history.
Another full circle moment – my club the Mad Zymurgists is now organizing the Alameda County Fair homebrew competition for the first time this year.
What is one thing you enjoy about being a BJCP judge?
I love the community and knowledge-sharing that happens amongst beer judges working together. To me, one of the most rewarding parts of being a judge is when you can inspire a potential judge to “take the plunge.” I enjoy leading and assisting with study groups, helping people along their journey. Often I see the same spark I had, when someone takes me up on my offer to informally grade a judging sheet. As I offer personalized feedback aimed at helping them to improve, they often keep sending me better and better sheets. I’ve also even inspired judges without knowing it. As a part of the Brewing Network’s “Dr. Homebrew” podcast since 2013, sometimes people I don’t even know will come up and tell me our show helped them along the way to becoming a judge.
What’s your favorite category or style to judge?
This may seem stereotypical for a self-proclaimed craft beer fan, but I have always enjoyed a good IPA. My love for IPAs started in the late 1990s in Portland, OR – a major epicenter of the budding craft beer revolution, especially for hop-forward beers. It has been interesting to observe how IPAs in particular have evolved and proliferated over the years. The sheer variety of hop flavors and aromas that can be expressed in such an admittedly “off balance” (by definition) style is astounding to me. I’m often left wondering, how did someone manage to pack so many fantastic hop flavors and aromas into one beer?
Can you share any fun memories from your time as a judge?
Judging the final round of NHC 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA was definitely a highlight of my judging career. After 3 days of non-stop judging, I ducked into a talk at HomebrewCon, thinking I was finally “off the hook” and able to participate in the conference. Then suddenly I got the call from the judge coordinator saying they had meant to tap me to judge the BOS table. Immediately I bolted back over to the judging hall, to go hit that table and take part in it, at times wondering to myself how I had ended up at this point, qualified to sit there and choose the best of the best.
Any closing thoughts for your fellow judges?
For those who aspire to become a judge or to rank up, please look up to the judges around you for inspiration, insights, and depth of understanding. Always keep learning. And one of the best ways to reinforce your own knowledge of beer is to learn by teaching. Organize or participate in a beer judging course for those just starting out and/or looking to rank up. Keep judging and practicing. And always do your best to keep a positive attitude. I’ve consoled friends who got a lower score than they earned in prior exams, only to see them work at it a little more and finally achieve their goals.
Along the way I always try to share my thoughts, philosophies, discuss strategies, and coach every judge who reaches out to me for help, as best I can. In so doing, I once again come full circle, essentially sharing the advice I was given long ago… “You can do this!”