JAB May 2013

jab@thebarn.com

12 participants
23 discussions

FW: Club Only Competition Program Concludes

by Michael Behrendt

FYI //Mike From: American Homebrewers Association [mailto:gary@brewersassociation.org] Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 9:02 AM To: mgbehrendt(a)comcast.net Subject: Club Only Competition Program Concludes To view this email in your browser click here <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> . <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> American Homebrewers Association Club-Only Competition Program Concludes With the conclusion of the May Club-Only Competition, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) will discontinue the Club-Only Competition program. Having achieved many of its original objectives with the program, the AHA will redirect resources to some exciting new activities. Read on for details. Origins of Club-Only Competitions At the outset, Club-Only Competitions had three main purposes: 1. Provide an easy-to-run competition to help educate homebrew clubs on the process of successfully executing homebrew competitions. 2. Provide a means for earning points toward the AHA Homebrew Club of the Year Award in addition to points earned via the AHA National Homebrew Competition. 3. Provide a nationwide program for clubs to educate their members about specific beer styles. Where We are Today With the rapid growth of the hobby over the last several years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of homebrew clubs across the country. Since 2006, the number of homebrew clubs in the United States has doubled, jumping from around 700 to more than 1,400 today. We have seen a similar jump in the number of entries in the Club-Only Competitions, from a once-typical 30 or so entries to 100 or more entries today. That growth in the popularity of the Club-Only Competitions could quickly make the competitions too large for most clubs to reasonably host, negating the training aspect of the program. The growth we have seen in the Club-Only Competitions is also reflected in the overall growth in the popularity of homebrew competitions. Not only has there been growth in the number of entries being submitted to homebrew competitions, but there has been accelerating growth in the number of competitions being held annually across the country. While there has been growth in the number of Beer Judge Certification Program judges, that growth in judges has not kept pace with the growth in entries and competitions. In addition, it has been many years since points earned from Club-Only Competitions have had any influence over the outcome of the AHA Homebrew Club of the Year Award. Thus two of the primary reasons for the Club-Only Competition Program are no longer valid. By discontinuing the Club-Only Competitions, the AHA frees up resources to focus on other activities that will benefit homebrew clubs. What’s Ahead Clubs can continue to access education on beer styles via the new Style Spotlight department in Zymurgy magazine. At least initially, the Style Spotlight, which will be written by associate editor Amahl Turczyn Scheppach (who also wrote the Club Only columns), will focus on lesser known and resurrected styles in the United States, such as Kentucky Common. We also encourage clubs to submit recipes to Zymurgy, as well as suggest styles that they’d like to see covered in the Style Spotlight (email zymurgy(a)brewersassociation.org) In addition, the AHA is launching a new annual club award, the Radegast Club of the Year Award, focusing on club educational and community service activities. (Radegast is a Slavic god credited with inventing beer.) See the Clubs section under Community on HomebrewersAssociation.org for details on this new award, along with a form for submitting club entries into the contest. This new award will help the AHA draw attention to the many activities that homebrew clubs are involved with that benefit their communities, helping to elevate the image of homebrewing and promote the hobby. Club submissions will also allow the AHA to provide additional educational resources, enabling clubs to learn about the activities of other clubs around the country. The first Radegast Club of the Year Award will be announced at the 2014 National Homebrewers Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While we are sad to see the end of the Club-Only Competitions, we feel that in discontinuing the program, the AHA is poised to provide more tangible resources for homebrew clubs throughout the nation and the world. Thanks for your support, Gary Glass AHA Director HomebrewersAssociation.org <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> <https://brewers.informz.net/Brewers/data/images/gary.jpg> <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> Brew Better Beer 736 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302 / ph: 303-447-0816 / <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> Website <http://brewers.informz.net/Brewers/data/images/aha-footer-top.jpg> <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> Savor the Flavor Responsibly <http://Brewers.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0yMzEzNTQ0JnA9MSZ1PTc3NjI4ODAwNSZsaT…> American Homebrewers Association You've subscribed to Brewers Association communications. For best delivery, please add this sender to your address book or safe sender list. Unsubscribe <http://Brewers.informz.net/Brewers/default.asp?action=u&email=mgbehrendt@co…> or manage your subscription preferences <http://Brewers.informz.net/Brewers/default.asp?action=modify&email=mgbehren…> . Powered by Informz <http://www.informz.com> <http://Brewers.informz.net/clk/red6d.aspx?mi=2313544&u=776288005&b=3396>

12 years, 7 months

FW: BJCP Elections 2013 - vote now through May 15

by Gera Exire La Tour

FYI. You do need to have a BJCP number to vote. Although I am sure you all know Al Boyce, but just in case you don't, he is local and a great guy. -g http://www.bjcp.org/electioncenter.php Candidates The North region has three qualified candidates: Al Boyce (incumbent, Grand Master III), Bruce Buerger (National), and Mike Winnie (Grand Master I). If you are in the North region, please take time to review their candidate statements and then cast your vote. The Mountain/Northwest region has three qualified candidates: Bob Beckwith (National), Bob Hall (Grand Master I), and Ryan Thomas (Grand Master I). If you are in the Mountain/Northwest region, please take time to review their candidate statements and then cast your vote. The election committee certifies that all nominees are active judges in their respective regions, meet eligibility requirements, and have received five endorsements from active judges in their regions. Voting Booth North and Mountain/Northwest members: cast your vote here. Votes must be cast by 15 May 2013, midnight Pacific time. Note that you may have to login twice. http://www.bjcp.org/electioncenter.php

12 years, 7 months

FW: MINNESOTA BEER CLUBS: North Region Open BJCP Beer Judge Written Proficiency Exam - 9/8/2013 - Minneapolis, MN

by Michael Behrendt

FYI //Mike From: Al Boyce [mailto:alboyce@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 12:44 AM To: alboyce(a)comast.net Subject: MINNESOTA BEER CLUBS: North Region Open BJCP Beer Judge Written Proficiency Exam - 9/8/2013 - Minneapolis, MN Greetings! Please pass this email along to all BJCP members in your beer club! I am Al Boyce, the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) representative for the North Region of the BJCP. I am writing to your beer club to announce that there will be an open regional Beer Judge Written Proficiency Examination for any current BJCP judges wishing to increase their rank from Certified or above to National or Master. The test consists of 20 T/F questions and 5 essay questions, and must be completed in 90 minutes. The cost is $15. The exam will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 8, 2013 at 9am. The prerequisites for taking the exam are: * At least Certified BJCP rank * If Certified, ..> you must have at least 10 judging points, and ..> you must have scored a minimum of 80% on either the BJCP Beer Judging Examination (tasting), or ..> you must have scored a minimum of 80% on the tasting portion of the BJCP Legacy Beer Examination * If National, or qualified for National under the legacy exam system, ..> you are qualified to take the BJCP Written Proficiency Exam whenever you wish Further details of the BJCP Exam process can be found at: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCP_Exam_Structure.pdf Currently, there are only 12 seats available for the exam, so if you meet these qualifications and wish to take the BJCP Written Proficiency Exam, please send a non-refundable check for $15, made out to me, to: Al Boyce 3208 Edgewood Ave S St.Louis Park, MN 55426 USA First come, first served. Upon filling the exam, I will return all checks that arrive after that - so please include your return address. I will send exam details to the 12 people chosen to sit the exam. NOTE TO CURRENT NATIONAL JUDGES: We can expand the number of seats from 20 to 12 if we can recruit FOUR new graders (2 new LEAD graders, and 2 SECOND graders) to grade BJCP exams from this region! Please contact me if you are interested, and I will connect you with the BJCP Exam Directors! FOR CURRENT BJCP JUDGES TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR SCORE UP TO THE 80% LEVEL: * You must improve your score via the BJCP Beer Judging Examination. This is a tasting test, in which you must judge and write score sheets on six beers in 90 minutes. A list of currently scheduled Beer Judging Exams can be found at: http://www.bjcp.org/exams.php FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A NEW BJCP JUDGE * There is an online BJCP Entrance Exam that you may take to qualify to take the BJCP Beer Judge Examination. This exam costs $10, and is a 60 minute timed 200 question T/F, Multiple Choice exam. The exam is Pass/Fail and you must achieve at least 60% to pass. You may take the exam as many times as you like - but only once per day. You may register to take the BJCP Entrance Exam at: <http://bjcp.coursewebs.com/> http://bjcp.coursewebs.com. * There is a Study Guide for the exam online at the BJCP website. You will also need to be very familiar with the BJCP Style Guidelines: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCP_Study_Guide.pdf http://www.bjcp.org/docs/2008_stylebook.pdf * You may wish to form a study group in your area to help each other prepare for the BJCP Entrance Exam and BJCP Beer Judge Examination. A suggested syllabus for a ten-session course can be found in the BJCP Study Guide, in section II.E., on page 41: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCP_Study_Guide.pdf * Once you pass the BJCP Entrance Exam, you may find an exam site at which you may take the BJCP Beer Judge Examination: http://www.bjcp.org/exams.php SETTING UP A BJCP BEER JUDING EXAM IN YOUR AREA * It is recommended that a Nationally-ranked BJCP member set up a Beer Judging Exam, but this may be waived at the discretion of the BJCP Exam Directors. Directions for how to set up an exam can be found on the BJCP website at: http://www.bjcp.org/examschproc.php * The number of Beer Judge Exams is currently limited by the number of graders available. Scheduling is currently running about two years out. *Please contact me if you would like help in setting up a BJCP Beer Judging Exam in your area. BEER CONTESTS * Beer contests are FUN! and a great way to practice for the BJCP exams! If you would like to host a homebrew competition in your area, there is help online at: http://www.bjcp.org/compcenter.php Please contact me if you have any questions about this, or anything else related to the BJCP! Thanks! Al Boyce, North Rep Beer Judge Certification Program

12 years, 7 months

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JAB May 2013