So I take my BJCP exam on August 9th. Three hours, ten essay questions, fifteen judging process true/false questions, and four tastings. 20+ style categories, with multiple sub-styles in each style.
In addition to all of my studying for this exam, I’ve started a new job, I’m working on some freelance projects, starting Baltibrew — meeting is today at 6:30 pm at the Wind Up Space — writing a proposal and conceptualizing slides for a talk I want to do at Ignite Baltimore 4, and doing the best I can not to lose my mind as my wife and mother-in-law drag me around to look at houses. Saturday’s annual customer appreciation day at the Thirsty Brewer should help calm me down a little bit. Once I’ve plowed through all of this I’ll actually have time to post more “How do I do that?,” and maybe even a bit on specific styles.
To prepare for all of this, I asked our class leader— Les White — to set up a practice tasting and subsequent judging in the fashion we would expect to be tested on. My classmate and friend Stefin Clapham joined us at Max’s and we blew through three tastings. (more…)