BJCP Exam in Halifax - Jan 31, 2015

[CartoonCod]

I haven't tasted Bud Light in a while so I don't know how strong the acetaldehyde character is. It might make it a bit more difficult to pick out the spiked off flavours at low concentration, not if we spike them high enough. Also, we could chose certain flavours that would work "well" with some acetaldehyde, for example, a tanick astringency, or diacetyl, or oxydation should still be detectable even over some acetaldehyde.

[CartoonCod]

I found this document online that mentions doctoring bud light specifically on page 7.
http://www.bjcp.org/cep/foambicep.pdf

[amartin]

It sounds like we're good to go then!

[CartoonCod]

There is a discussion forum section in the BJCP website that anybody can sign up for. In it there is an entire Exams thread where graders and judges talk about the exam, common pitfalls and so on. I just checked it out, but it looks like a valuable resource. There is one post in particular that talks about "The dangers of overall impression".
http://forum.bjcp.org/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=895

[amartin]

Ok, so based on time constraints, it may be best to do half of the spiked beers tomorrow, and half another night. We should also cover some beer styles. If any of you have any commercial beers, or homebrewed versions that you're comfortable are to style, and that you're willing to bring along, we could use them as style examples. I have an American wheat beer, American blond ale, Belgian blonde ale, and old ale that have all been in competitions, so I have score sheets for them that we could use for comparison. I also have some ordinary bitter that I think is to style.

[AngeSponge]

Ok, so based on time constraints, it may be best to do half of the spiked beers tomorrow, and half another night. We should also cover some beer styles. If any of you have any commercial beers, or homebrewed versions that you're comfortable are to style, and that you're willing to bring along, we could use them as style examples.

Ok cool, how many of us are there? I don't mind snagging some cans of commercial examples if we wanted. Like Pilsner Urquell and Warsteiner for Bohemian vs Bavarian Pilsners? I think the Fuller's Lindon Porter and London Pride (Best Bitter) are to style, too. Those cans are all 500ml so one can could do three 5.5oz samples.

[CartoonCod]

I'll be there. I just picked up three cans of Urquell before I read your post. I can bring them.

[AngeSponge]

Ok, I can snag the others. I can likely print out some scoresheets once I get to my parents' place. How many will we need?

[amartin]

I'm not even 100% sure on who's coming. I have me, Ange, Adam, Mike, and Josh. I think for beer we might have plenty.

[AngeSponge]

I'm not even 100% sure on who's coming. I have me, Ange, Adam, Mike, and Josh. I think for beer we might have plenty.

So should I pick up those other commercial examples or are we good?

[amartin]

Oh, sorry, I thought you did already. I have to stop checking from work during year end, I miss things. A can or two wouldn't hurt. I have some commercial IPAs and DIPAs as well, but anything we don't get to, we can taste next time. Also, we need a schedule another meeting in the next week or two.

[AngeSponge]

Kk, got 'em! And 50 scoresheets.

[amartin]

I just passed the online entrance exam. Whoo! It was hard though, and I while I took at least a guess on every question, I didn't have time to go back and review every one I wasn't sure of. For anyone who hasn't taken it yet, I suggest doing it soon, but taking a day or two ahead of time to review all the styles and the study guide listed here - http://www.bjcp.org/examcenter.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . It's mostly the beer, but there are some questions on the judging process and ranks, and they also cover those obscure styles most of us don't know much about.

[chalmers]

Congrats on passing, Andrew.

I heard that the off-flavour and tasting session went well, I'm glad to hear that. Any more get-togethers planned, I might be able to help out.

[amartin]

Thanks Chris.

There are no planned get-togethers yet, in the sense of having a specific time and place figured out, but we do figure on meeting at least once more, maybe twice. If the regular meeting happens tomorrow, we might just duck aside for a little bit to practice judge some beers. We still have some commercial beers leftover we didn't judge, but there'll probably be some people with homebrew who would like some honest feedback on it.

[amartin]

Also, speaking of how we don't have any planned times to meet again, maybe we should do that. My week isn't great due to work, and I'm not 100% on tomorrow's meeting. I can host Friday night if anyone can make it then. The week after is fairly open so far for me as well.

[AngeSponge]

I can't do this week due to work, but if anyone was hostin next week I'd be able to make it to the city for it.

[amartin]

Ideally, I think we should be holding meetings this week, next week, and probably the week after if we can. I don't expect everyone could make it to all the tastings. If we can find a time that works for all of us, whether it's next week or the week after, maybe we could hold off on the rest of the doctored beers until then, and just do regular practice tastings on whatever on the other nights.

[CartoonCod]

I agree Andrew. I'll try to make it Friday, but I can't commit to yet.

[Brewnoser]

I've managed to secure funding to bring in a National level judge to be a Proctor. That makes two of us and one more. There also now appears to be one and maybe two open seats. Classic people bailing as happens in everything you plan in Nova Scotia.

Aaron Marchand is coming in the Friday before. Perhaps we can provide a soft landing. And maybe a bit of a pub crawl after the exam?

[amartin]

Speaking of the exam, what time is it?

[Brewnoser]

I have people driving in from Saint John that day. So they say. So probably 1:00 pm

[Brewnoser]

And remember. Pass the online exam first! It's not a gift. Only one chance per day.

[amartin]

I'm up for a pub crawl after.

[chalmers]

Friday the 30th, soft landing means picking him up at airport, or do you mean meeting up for food and drink, or ??? Any way, I expect to be in town and can help. Same with drinks after the exam Sat. I imagine many of those writing will be keen to blow off some steam.