The Class is designed for those serious about learning beer styles, ingredients and procedures in depth and how to critically evaluate beers.  It is particularly geared toward those who plan to take the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) exam.  

 

The classes will occur twice a month and last about 4 months.  We will meet from 6:00-7:30 p.m. prior to the normal Wednesday meeting at Moon River and also on the third Wednesday from 7:30-10:00 p.m. at Cork’s in Bluffton.  Our initial meeting will be November 4^th at MR.   Classes will include discussion of a technical topic(s), review of selected off-flavors, evaluation/comparison of classic styles of beer, and homework review (YES, there is homework—read below).

 

To encourage attendance, the classes will be FREE to all SBL members with the club picking up initial costs for off-flavor base beer & adulterants, any miscellaneous note paper, sample style beers for the first meeting, etc.   However, you must sign up for the classes to attend so that we know how much beer/handouts to bring.   “Walk-ins” can attend but may not receive materials/samples if not enough to go around.  Depending on the number of folks who intend to take the BJCP exam (a minimum of 5 must sign up), we will schedule an exam.  The exam typically must be scheduled with the BJCP about 4 months prior, so we will need firm commitments from participants.  A check for $50 will be needed from each, due prior to scheduling the exam ($30 for retakes).   The date for the exam will be discussed at the first class.

 

In lieu of fees for classes, each participant will be responsible for bringing a classic example of the 3 beer styles as shown in the schedule for at least one of the sessions (2-3 bottles each should be sufficient) depending on the number of participants.  We will assign these at the first meeting and spread the load out proportionally.  The Club will provide the style beers for the first class (we’ll discuss at the first meeting if Club will pick up all beers).

 

Again, in order to keep the class low-cost for participants, all materials will be delivered via email, forum or CD to participants and each participant will be expected to print out materials and bring to the class (and read over what’s to be covered prior to class).   Sometimes, in lieu of attachments a hyperlink to a website that contains pertinent information will be provided to cut down on email size.  Prior to the first meeting, you will receive a link to the BJCP Study Guide and 2008 Style Guidelines that you should print out and read – these are your “Bibles” that you will refer to often – along with an outline for the first session.  In general, emails/forum notices for subsequent meetings will go out the week before the meeting with a session outline and may also include supporting notes, example test questions/answers, blank and example evaluation sheets, and/or homework questions.  Sometimes, additional information will be brought directly to meetings. 

 

It is highly recommended that you keep your information organized in a notebook.  Supplemental information may be provided at each class to put in your notebook, so bring your notebook to each class!  A three-ring binder works great.  I will bring a hole punch to classes for general use.  If you do not have a computer or otherwise cannot print the materials, the notebook items can be furnished for a $10 fee.

 

FYI, on homework:  the homework questions are taken directly from the BJCP exam question pool and are your best way to practice for the exam.  To “encourage” study, there is a $1 penalty for not completing homework each session (on your honor) applicable to all attendees.  Funds go toward offsetting exam costs to the club or to the after-exam party, whichever is in need.

 

With the attached syllabus, this will give you time to collect and read the necessary books (check the SBL website for suggested reading) and attend some all-grain brewing sessions (or brew some yourself).

 

Homework prior to 1^st class:

Print and study the BJCP study guide at http://www.bjcp.org/study.html .  Place emphasis on studying the BJCP program requirements and evaluation of beers sections for the first class.

Study the 1. Light Lagers & 2. Pilsner categories of the Style Guidelines.  You can find at http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.html .  Print a copy of the Style Guidelines as we will refer to these at each class (and 60% of the test covers style questions!)

        

1. Intro (Sessions 1-3) – 1.5 hrs, starts @ 6 pm on club night – November 4 @ MR

a. BJCP, Ingredients, Process overview

b. How to evaluate a beer

c. 3 styles beer (German pils, Dortmunder, Munich Helles) – example evaluation

 

2. Ingredients (Sessions 5-6) – 3 hrs, 7:30-10 pm on 3^rd Wed. – November 18 @ Corks

a. Malt

b. Hops

c. Off-flavors – light struck, astringent,  bitter, acetaldehyde

d. 3 styles beer (Weizen, American Wheat, Wit) – evaluate 2

e. homework

 

3. Ingredients (Sessions 11) – 1.5 hrs – December 2 @ MR

a. Adjuncts

b. 3 styles beer (Robust Porter, Dry Stout, English Pale Ale) – evaluate 1

c. Homework

 

4. Ingredients/Process (Sessions 7-8) – 3 hrs – December 16 @ Corks

a. Water

b. Yeast & Fermentation

c. Off-flavors – wine/sherry, diacetyl, estery, sour (lactic & acetic)

d. 3 styles beer– (Brown Porter, Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier) - evaluate 2

homework

 

5. Process (Session 12)– 1.5 hrs – January 6 @ MR

a. Sanitation

b. 3 styles beer (APA, Amer Brown Ale, Cal Common) – evaluate 1

c. Homework

 

6. Process (Sessions 9-10) – 3 hrs – January 20 @ Corks

a. Mashing

b. Boiling & Cooling

c. Off-flavors – phenolic, DMS, cloudy

d. 3 styles beer– (Maibock, Traditional Bock, Doppelbock) - evaluate 2

e. Homework

 

7. BJCP structure, Judge Procedures (Session 4) – 1.5 hrs – February 3 @ MR

a. Question 1

b. 3 styles beer (Baltic porter, Imperial Stout, Belgian Dark) – evaluate 1

c. homework

 

8. Exam Format – 3 hrs – February 17 @ Corks

a. Mastering the BJCP Exam

b. Off-flavors – oxidized, alcoholic

c. Famous Brewing Cities (w/ beer from each of course)

 

9. Recipe Formulation – 1.5 hrs – March 3 @ MR

a. Recipe Formulation

b .3 styles beer (American, Foreign Extra, & Oatmeal Stout) – evaluate 1

 

10.  Off-Flavor Recap – 3 hrs – March 17 @ Corks

a, Off-Flavor/Troubleshooting Class

b. Off-Flavor “Exam”

 

Test TBD – April – June.  Additional review sessions as needed.

The ’09-’10 BJCP exam

study groupers page

(aka the School of Fish)

BACK to Calender

Additional Study Materials:

 

Instead of shamelessly copying lots of information here, if you want to review more info in your studies, use one of these links below where they have loads of it (for the club links, typically look for “BJCP” or “education” icon on their website):

· Beer Judge Certification Program

· State of Franklin Homebrew Club

· Carolina Brewmasters

· Cascade Brewers Guild

 

For other on-line help, John Palmer’s “How to Brew” handbook is great.           

 

For books, you need to review:

· Any book by Michael Jackson

· “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing” by Charlie Papazian

· “New Brewing Lager Beer” by Gregory Noonan

· “An Analysis of Brewing Science” by George and Laurie Fix

· “Principles of Brewing Science” by George Fix

· All the Classic Beer Style Series (CBSS) by Brewers Publications

· Also, Zymurgy and BYO magazines have valuable style, ingredient and process information in print and on-line.