How to Become a Certified Beer Judge

If you are a person who appreciates a good bottle of beer, then being a beer judge probably sounds like fun. However, if you are going to be a beer judge, you need to be prepared to taste the best and the worst of home brews. To be a professional beer judge, you must first get your certification through the Beer Judge Certification Program.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Visit the Beer Judge Certification Program website (see Resources) and look at the Exam Study Guide. Just as with any other test, you need to study for this one as well. When you feel that you are ready for the test, look at the BJCP exam schedule and arrange to take your exam in a city near you.

2. Know what to expect when you take the exam. The exam is three hours long and includes both an essay portion and a tasting portion. The BJCP will judge you on your knowledge of the aspect on how to brew beer, world beer styles and how the Beer Judge Certification Program works. Finally, during the tasting portion of the exam, you will judge four different beers, describing and scoring them just as you would if you were judging beers in a competition.

3. Become a certified beer judge by scoring at least 70 percent on your exam and earning five experience points by judging at homebrew competitions. If you want to be a national judge, however, you must score at least 80 percent on your exam and earn 20 experience points. You can also achieve higher status as either a Master or Grand Master judge.

Resources

• Beer Judge Certification program

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