Best BJCP prep course

The BJCP and Cicerone exams are two entirely different things. The BJCP tests much more than how one can taste beer, they test brewing knowledge, beer history to some extent and basically teach people how to brew world class beer. The judging part only cones in hand with homebrew competitions (which a lot of people are very passionate about entering) and helping fellow homebrewers brew better beer. They have little to do with commercial beer except using it to fine tune their palates to help critique homebrew. Yes there may be some bias on this post but there doesn't need to be any negativity towards them either. I don't agree with everything the BJCP says but I at least keep an open mind about things I don't understand and learn about then first before I start to criticize.

 

Why would you be against any kind of advancement in knowledge? That makes no sense.

If you love beer, then learn about beer.

I love beer so I decided to start studying for the Cicerone. I don't plan to work in the beer industry, but I want that knowledge.

Also studying for the Cicerone has opened my mind up to trying styles of beer I would never go near.

Who says you can't have a good time being a Beer Judge? In fact it would be awesome to be a beer judge since you'll be invited to try some of the best and rarest beers in the world. Granted you'll have to try a ton of beer you think is crap, but life experience is the most important part of living.

And whether you're a beer judge or a casual drinker, everyone has their biases on beer, since beer is very subjective.
I know plenty of people of beer drinkers who are not judges but are stuck up on beer. (I include myself in that statement )

 

BeerAssassin really derailed what was starting to be a useful thread for prospective BJCP judges. Ignore the troll and lets get back to the actual topic.

 

My 2 cents, as someone who has studied for and become a BJCP judge, a background in homebrewing is vital to being a well rounded beer judge. After that locate and acquire as many examples of classic styles, print out some BJCP judging forms and judge the beer to the letter of the BJCP style guidelines. Judge a beer every day, get comfortable analyzing beer.

 

You make some good points. Except you do the classic mistake. Your are speaking for brewers but you really mean is HOME brewers right?, and then we are TALKING American home brewers. Not to be mean here, but last time I looked BJCP is only started in 1985? So many brewers were making beer long before the BJCP was even thought about at least in Europe etc etc.

I cannot speak for brewers but I doubt many really go to the so called styles BJCP book when they design a beer. Unless we all want to say every extreme beer is a specialty style? Key here is BJCP is US centric. Another key until MJ invented styles there were none, well not really. he just defined them. right??? meaning what is a style? really

pale ale = bitter = IPA to many for hundreds of years. is it 3 styles or really just 1?

 

No wonder I didn't see what you and others were saying about someone coming in here and spoiling a good thread. That user is on my ignore list. Nuff' said.

 

If a brewery is entering a professional competition they use the BA GABF styles to the BA WBC styles. There are other competitions in Europe that have other style guidelines, European Beer Star awards, for example.

Sometimes a brewery creates a beer, then someday the styles catch up. I remember when there was no 14C, for example, as Homebrewers started entering a lot of DIPAs. No commercial examples of CAPs to speak of, but enough were entered to warrant 2C.

 

I'm with Kanger. I'm also considering taking the Cicerone exam for my personal edification. I don't plan on working in the industry or becoming a beer judge. I love learning whatever craft or hobby I develop an interest in.

While studying for the Certified Beer Server exam, I did study the BJCP style guidelines and tried almost all beer styles listed here on BA, 102 out of 104. That was an interesting journey in itself - researching, hunting, and finally tasting all the different types of beers.

My next beer journey I have not embarked on yet, but plan on doing so, is homebrewing. My goal is to brew an acceptable Alpine Nelson clone.

Craft beers in all its form is just a really neat and fun endeavor to partake in. So, what both organizations are doing to promote craft beers in different ways I applaud their efforts.

 

I wish the homebrew comps would use the Brewers Association guidelines than the BJCP...