Lesson 01 · Beer judging
From drinking
to evaluating.
The references, practice, and next steps behind the presentation.
Keep these close
Your tasting bookshelf.
Start with the style guidelines.
Return to the other references as you practice.
BJCP beer style guidelines
Read the aroma, appearance, flavor, and mouthfeel descriptions for the style you’re evaluating.
Beer Judge Certification Program (opens in a new tab)Sample judging scoresheets
See examples of completed scoresheets and how judges describe a beer’s qualities.
Beer Judge Certification Program (opens in a new tab)Beer faults reference
Explore common off-flavors and their possible causes. Use this as a reference alongside tasting practice.
Beer Judge Certification Program (opens in a new tab)Cicerone certification levels
Explore a structured path for learning about beer styles, flavor, service, and more.
Cicerone Certification Program (opens in a new tab)Brewers Association style guidelines
Compare the style descriptions used in the Brewers Association’s competition framework.
Brewers Association (opens in a new tab)Find a beer competition
Browse upcoming BJCP-sanctioned competitions and visit event websites to learn how to participate.
Beer Judge Certification Program (opens in a new tab)A guided tasting,
one observation at a time.
Put it into practice
Judge a beer
with Matt.
A separate demonstration will walk through a beer evaluation, from the first aroma to the overall impression.
The video will appear here when it’s ready. In the meantime, choose a style you enjoy and get familiar with its description in the BJCP guidelines.
Read the style guidelines (opens in a new tab)The presentation
Beer Judging: From Drinking to Evaluating
The full presentation video and downloadable slides are being prepared and will be added here.