Ethics, Levels & the Judging Process

Question 1

A competition organizer may serve as the judge director and may also serve as a judge, provided this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

**But the competition organizer can NOT receive judging experience points if they serve as a judge.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A competition’s judge director may serve as a judge, provided this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A competition organizer may serve as the judge director, provided this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A competition’s judge director may not serve as a judge, even if this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

A competition organizer may not serve as a judge, even if this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

Answer 5

False

Question 6

A competition’s judge director may serve as the competition organizer and may also serve as a judge, provided this person has no knowledge of the association between entries and entrants.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

An individual with knowledge of the association between entries and entrants may not serve as a judge.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

A member of the competition staff with access to information that associates entries with entrants may serve as a judge, provided this person does not divulge information about entries and entrants to other judges.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

The “head” judge at a table should try to tutor apprentice or lower-rank judges if time permits.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

The steward at the table has sole responsibility for completing the Cover Sheets for beers in each flight.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

The “head” judge at the table has sole responsibility for completing the Cover Sheets for beers in each flight.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

The “head” judge at a table should fill out Cover Sheets for beers in his or her flight as directed by the competition management.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

The “head” judge at a table has no responsibility for filling out Cover Sheets for beers in his or her flight unless directed to do so by the competition management.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

The “head” judge at the table has sole responsibility for completing the Cover Sheets for beers in each flight but with the agreement of the steward may delegate the completion of the Cover Sheets to the steward.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

The “head” judge, with the agreement of the steward, may delegate filling in of the Cover Sheets for beers in his or her flight to the steward.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

There is no need for the “head” judge to complete the Flight Summary Sheet – the competition organizer can obtain all that information from the cover sheets.

Answer 16

False

Question 17

If possible, there should be at least one BJCP-ranked judge in every flight.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

When Non-BJCP judges evaluate entries in a competition, each Non-BJCP judge should be paired with a BJCP judge.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Non-BJCP judges may only evaluate entries if authorized by the judge director, and Non-BJCP judges should be paired with BJCP judges when possible.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

To reduce stray odors and flavors present, beverages and foods other than water, bread or crackers should not be brought to the judging table.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

It is acceptable to bring food items other than bread, crackers, and water to the judging table.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

You must filter out strong scents from fellow judges or the environment from your mind rather than discussing the problem with the competition organizer.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

Strong scents from the environment or other judges or stewards should be brought to the attention of the competition organizer.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Because entries cannot have any identifying marks, it is OK for a judge to judge beers in a category he or she has entered.

Answer 24

False

Question 25

If a judge is assigned to judge a category that he/she has entered, that judge should ask the competition organizer to reassign him/her to another category.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

If a judge is assigned to a category that he or she has entered, the judge should go ahead and evaluate the entries in that category without notifying the judge director or competition organizer.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

Judges should not review the style being judged from the BJCP Style Guidelines while at the judging table prior to judging that style.

Answer 27

False

Question 28

Judges may invite stewards to taste the beers in a flight, if there’s enough sample to share.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

It is acceptable to change the order in which you judge the beers on your flight sheet from how it was printed.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Beers must be evaluated in the sequence specified on the flight sheet.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

If you have eaten spicy or greasy food within a few hours prior to judging, you should use mouthwash or antiseptic rinse before judging.

Answer 31

False

Question 32

You should avoid eating spicy or greasy food within a few hours prior to judging.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Spicy or greasy foods should be avoided prior to a judging event because they can reduce a judge’s sensitivity to the aromas and flavors of beer.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Perfumed shampoos and colognes should be avoided prior to a judging event because they can reduce a judge’s sensitivity to the aromas of beer.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

It is a good idea to take a decongestant prior to a judging event to increase your sensitivity to the aromas of beer.

Answer 35

False

Question 36

Calibrations beers are selected to be the standard against which entries should be judged.

Answer 36

False

Question 37

It is the responsibility of the “head” judge, in consultation with the other judges in a flight, to assign a consensus score to each entry.

Answer 37

True

Question 38

It is not necessary for scores produced by the judges on a panel to be within seven points (or less if directed by the competition director) of each other.

Answer 38

False

Question 39

After discussing the initial scores, judges should adjust their final scores to be within seven points (or less if directed by the competition director).

Answer 39

True

Question 40

Judges must adjust their scores to be within seven points (or less if directed by the competition director) of each other as part of developing a consensus score for the beer.

Answer 40

True

Question 41

The consensus score assigned to the beer is not necessarily an average score.

Answer 41

True

Question 42

When judging, It is important to evaluate entries quickly and also complete the score sheets thoroughly and completely..

Answer 42

True

Question 43

On average, experienced judges should be able to completely evaluate a beer, including arriving at a consensus, in 10 minutes.

Answer 43

True

Question 44

When there is a discrepancy in the scores for a given beer, the lower-ranked judges should yield to the opinion of the highest ranked BJCP judge at the table.

Answer 44

False

Question 45

It is acceptable to remove offensive smelling entries from the judging table after they have been evaluated.

Answer 45

True

Question 46

A judge must disqualify an entry if the bottle has raised lettering or the cap has identifying marks.

Answer 46

False

Question 47

A judge may disqualify an entry if it has an improper bottle or cap.

Answer 47

False

Question 48

Only the judge director or competition organizer can disqualify an entry.

Answer 48

True

Question 49

The results of the bottle inspection does not affect the scoring.

Answer 49

True

Question 50

Snide or rude comments are unacceptable on scoresheets.

Answer 50

True

Question 51

Pour each entry in a manner that gives it its optimum appearance, keeping in mind that some entries may be over- or under-carbonated.

Answer 51

True

Question 52

When you suspect an entry has been placed in the wrong flight based on the style being judged, you should request that it be judged in a different flight instead.

Answer 52

False

Question 53

When you suspect an entry has been placed in the wrong flight based on the style being judged, you should consult with the judge director or competition organizer.

Answer 53

True

Question 54

Sniff the entry immediately after pouring to ensure proper evaluation of volatile aromatics.

Answer 54

True

Question 55

There is no need to sniff the aroma immediately after pouring the entry into the glass.

Answer 55

False

Question 56

Judges should complete the evaluation of each entry before moving on to the next.

Answer 56

True

Question 57

It is not necessary to offer any feedback for improvement if you score a beer above 40.

Answer 57

False

Question 58

It is common practice to refrain from sharing your thoughts while judging a beer until the other judges have completed their scoresheet.

Answer 58

True

Question 59

If you are very familiar with a beer style, it is preferable to disregard the BJCP Style Guidelines and rely on your personal expertise instead.

Answer 59

False

Question 60

If rushed, it’s acceptable to write only comments and an overall score on a scoresheet, leaving the scores for the subsections blank.

Answer 60

False

Question 61

If rushed, it’s acceptable to write only 1-2 comments on a scoresheet as long as the numeric score is filled out.

Answer 61

False

Question 62

If a beer is a “gusher” or has an unpleasant aroma upon opening, a judge may assign a courtesy score of 13 without tasting and commenting on the characteristics of the beer.

Answer 62

False

Question 63

All beers should be tasted and scored, even if they are “gushers” or have an unpleasant aroma upon opening.

Answer 63

True

Question 64

It is appropriate to penalize the entrant if the beer is not served at the proper temperature.

Answer 64

False

Question 65

If the beers are not served at the proper temperature, judges should work with the competition staff to resolve the problem.

Answer 65

True

Question 66

In each section of a scoresheet, you should only comment upon the most prominent features of each entry, not subtle characteristics.

Answer 66

False

Question 67

Judges’ comments must not include phrases like “if you used ..”

Answer 67

False

Question 68

Judges’ comments must not include phrases like “did you ..”

Answer 68

False

Question 69

Judges’ comments must include a complete evaluation of the sensory aspects of the entry and how those aspects relate to the style guidelines.

Answer 69

True

Question 70

Judges’ comments should be constructive and reflect knowledge of the brewing, fermentation, bottling, and handling process.

Answer 70

True

Question 71

Judges’ comments need to provide information on how to improve the entry as warranted.

Answer 71

True

Question 72

Scores should not be assigned to the aroma section immediately because the entry’s aroma profile may change over time.

Answer 72

True

Question 73

Each section must be scored with a number prior to writing any comments, to best capture your first impressions.

Answer 73

False

Question 74

To assure objectivity, you should never write your full name or put contact information on the scoresheet.

Answer 74

False

Question 75

You should write your full name and judging rank on each scoresheet.

Answer 75

True

Question 76

You should always fill out the “Style Scales” on the scoresheet, as a good check against your scores.

Answer 76

True

Question 77

You should use the “Overall Impression” section of the scoresheet to refer to how the entry compares to other entries in the flight.

Answer 77

False

Question 78

You should use the “Overall Impression” section of the scoresheet to comment on how much you enjoyed the entry or provide suggestions for how to improve the beer.

Answer 78

True

Question 79

A score in the “Outstanding” range is reserved for entries that not only lack flaws but also have the hard-to-define “extraordinary” character that great beers have.

Answer 79

True

Question 80

The courteous lower limit for scores assigned to “Problematic” beers is 6 points, with one point for each section of the scoresheet.

Answer 80

False

Question 81

The courteous lower limit for scores assigned to “Problematic” beers is 13 points.

Answer 81

True

Question 82

If judges require more pours than one bottle to judge an entry, the “head” judge should ask the steward to request a second bottle from the cellar master. **The emphasis here is on learning to judge a beer with just a few ounces in your glass. Obviously, for a gusher you would request a second bottle if it was available but you should not ask for an additional bottle just because you are pouring too much.

Answer 82

False

Question 83

It is preferable to use ink on scoresheets so that your scores and comments cannot be altered by contest personnel.

Answer 83

False

Question 84

It is preferable to use mechanical pencils, rather than wooden pencils, on scoresheets so that wood odors do not interfere with beer aromas.

Answer 84

True

Question 85

It is acceptable to request a second bottle to give the entry a fair chance at an accurate judging if a beer is a “gusher” or tastes infected.

Answer 85

True

Question 86

Entrants may contact the judge, the competition director, or their BJCP Regional Representative if they are dissatisfied with any aspect of their scoresheets.

Answer 86

True

Question 87

When your flight has finished, you should avoid having conversations that might distract other judges who have not yet finished their flights.

Answer 87

True

Question 88

When your flight has finished, it is acceptable to visit other flights still in progress to see how beers you have entered are faring.

Answer 88

False

Question 89

Because it may have been entered by a person in the room, it is polite to refrain from publicly deriding a “problem” beer that you have scored during a competition.

Answer 89

True

Question 90

Judges from outside the table should not be consulted on a beer unless the judges at the table cannot reach a consensus score, and then only if they all agree to the consultation.

Answer 90

True

Question 91

BJCP Apprentice judges have not yet taken the BJCP Beer Judging Exam.

Answer 91

False

Question 92

Novice is not an official BJCP judge rank.

Answer 92

True

Question 93

One can obtain the BJCP Recognized rank without acquiring judging experience points.

Answer 93

True

Question 94

One can obtain the BJCP Recognized rank without acquiring non-judging experience points.

Answer 94

True

Question 95

To become a BJCP Certified judge, it is sufficient to pass the Entrance Exam, score at least 70% on the Beer Judging Exam and earn 5 judging points.

Answer 95

True

Question 96

To become a BJCP Certified judge, it is sufficient to pass the Entrance Exam, score at least 70% on the Beer Judging Exam and earn 5 experience points.

Answer 96

False

Question 97

The maximum score on the Beer Judging Exam for the BJCP Certified rank is 79%.

Answer 97

False

Question 98

To become a BJCP National judge, it is sufficient to score 80% on the Beer Judging Exam and accumulate 20 experience points.

Answer 98

False

Question 99

To become a BJCP National judge, it is sufficient to score 80% on the Beer Judging Exam and accumulate 20 experience points, with at least half of them from judging.

Answer 99

False

Question 100

One can obtain the BJCP National rank without acquiring judging experience points.

Answer 100

False

Question 101

One can obtain the BJCP National rank without acquiring non-judging experience points.

Answer 101

True

Question 102

BJCP Master judges must have a minimum score of 90% on the combined written and tasting exams and at least 40 judging points.

Answer 102

False

Question 103

BJCP Master judges must score at least 90% on the combined written and tasting exams and earn at least 50 experience points, with at least half of them from judging.

Answer 103

False

Question 104

The maximum score on the combined written and tasting exams for the BJCP National rank is 89%.

Answer 104

False

Question 105

BJCP Master judges must score at least 90% on the combined written and tasting exams and fulfill a Grand Master Service Requirement.

Answer 105

False

Question 106

BJCP Grand Master judges must score at least 95% on the combined written and tasting exams.

Answer 106

False

Question 107

BJCP Grand Master judges must score at least 90% on the combined written and tasting exams.

Answer 107

True

Question 108

Each additional BJCP Grand Master level requires an additional 100 experience points.

Answer 108

True

Question 109

BJCP Honorary Grand Master judges do not have to take the BJCP exam.

Answer 109

True

Question 110

The BJCP Honorary Grand Master rank is bestowed upon professional brewers when they judge at homebrew competitions.

Answer 110

False

Question 111

Honorary Master is a temporary rank bestowed on operatives of the BJCP.

Answer 111

True

Question 112

The BJCP Grand Master rank requires the same minimum score on the combined written and tasting exams as the Master rank.

Answer 112

True

Question 113

The BJCP Grand Master rank requires the same minimum experience points as the Master rank.

Answer 113

False

Question 114

The only difference in requirements between the BJCP Master and Grand Master ranks is that the Grand Master rank requires a GMSR.

Answer 114

False

Question 115

Each BJCP Grand Master level has additional requirements for exam grading.

Answer 115

True

Question 116

A BJCP Grand Master Service Requirement can be fulfilled by grading exams.

Answer 116

True

Question 117

A BJCP Grand Master Service Requirement can be fulfilled by organizing competitions.

Answer 117

False

Question 118

A BJCP Grand Master Service Requirement can be fulfilled just by serving on the BJCP Board.

Answer 118

False

Question 119

At least one-half of the experience points required for any BJCP judge rank must be from judging.

Answer 119

True

Question 120

Judging at homebrew competitions is the only way to earn BJCP judging points.

Answer 120

False

Question 121

BJCP judges can earn non-judging experience points for participating in BJCP Continuing Education Program activities.

Answer 121

True

Question 122

Judging experience points can only be earned by judging in a competition or proctoring a BJCP exam.

Answer 122

True

Question 123

Stewards at homebrew competitions earn BJCP judging points if they taste the beers with the judges.

Answer 123

False

Question 124

Stewards at homebrew competitions earn BJCP experience points.

Answer 124

True