Was originally planning on taking it and failing just to get some recon on the exam, but I guess since i read ray Daniels in the bathroom at work and listen to jamil on the way to work, I could futz my way through the questions! Hopefully taking the tasting portion in feb, any pointers appreciated!
Cheers!
Practice, practice, practice.
Congrats! And kudos to being able to find a tasting close to you! I have been having an awful time trying to locate one close to me.
Great advice. Drink the commercial examples in the BJCP guidelines.
Taste the beer and fill out the BJCP form in the time you will have on the test. Make sure you say what you are tasting, and what you aren’t (e.g. diacetyl if there is none).
Know the styles, so you can pick out off flavors for the style you are judging.
And drink them as you read the descriptions of each in the guidelines.
and practice filling out a complete scoresheet on them in 15 minutes or less
I plan/hope to re-take the tasting exam at the NHC in Philly in June once it opens for sign-ups. They usually have 20 slots rather than 12.
I recently spent a couple days in Fayetteville for work, and spent some quality time (before all the lawyers showed up), at a brewpub/pizzeria that’s on a “square” near the hotel and the courthouse. I enjoyed all of their sampler beers, and had what I would rate as one of the top 3 or 4 pizzas I’ve had in a long time. If you know the place, they made a darn good impression.
All of this is wonderful advice. I did exact thing for the legacy exam and got an 88 on the tasting.
West Mountain Brewery and Tiny Tim’s Pizza. Great place and the head brewer, Andy Coates, is a great guy. He comes to our brew club meetings. He even gave me some yeast from his Saison for me to use in my own.
Glad you enjoyed yourself and I’ll let Andy know you were a satisfied customer!