Becoming a beer judge: training and practice

What judges do

A judge compares a beer with the description of its style and scores aroma, appearance, flavour, mouthfeel and overall impression. The judge then writes feedback a brewer can use. Competitions use panels so that no single palate decides alone. The best judges explain what they taste and what the brewer might change.

Judging helps brewers too. Learning to name faults makes you a better brewer, which is why many professionals do it.

Judges also learn to separate quality from liking. You may dislike a smoked beer and still score it well because it is a clean, correct example of the style.

Start with your own palate

Taste with attention. Smell a beer before you sip. Name what you find in plain words. Use how to taste beer as a first guide. Read beer off-flavours and then try a spiked-sample kit, which adds known flavours to a clean beer so you can learn what diacetyl or acetaldehyde smell like.

Everyone has gaps. Some people cannot smell certain compounds at normal levels. Test yourself and learn what you miss.

Write down your first impressions straight away, since aroma fades within seconds. Use the same glass and the same pour size when you practise, so that results are comparable.

Learn the styles

A judge needs to know what a style should taste like before deciding whether a beer meets it. Read the style guidelines used in the competitions you want to join. They describe aroma, flavour, strength and history. Taste the best examples you can find, ideally from the region where the style began. Our beer styles guide is a start.

Different bodies publish different guidelines, so learn the ones that apply to your competition.

Pay attention to the strength and colour ranges that guidelines give. Many beginners lose points by judging a beer against the wrong style simply because the name on the sheet is unfamiliar.

Formal routes

Several organisations offer judging or tasting programmes, including the BJCP, which runs an entrance exam and a tasting exam for judges. WSET and Cicerone offer other beer qualifications with different aims. The differences are covered in beer qualifications compared. Rules, fees and availability change, so check each body's own site.

A sensory course teaches the underlying skill that these exams assume. Our Sensory Evaluation course covers method, vocabulary and scoring in two weeks.

Practise in company

Join a tasting group or homebrew club. Taste blind where you can. Score the same beers as others and compare notes. Where scores differ, ask why. The aim is to calibrate with your peers, not to win arguments.

Offer to steward at a competition. Stewards pour, carry and learn the process without scoring. It is the easiest way to see how a competition runs.

Record your scores and review them after the results come out. Where you were far from the panel, taste the beer again and work out what you missed.

Keep your palate honest

Judging many beers in a day tires the palate. Pace yourself, take water and plain crackers, take breaks outdoors and spit. Never drive after a judging session. Do not judge when you are ill or after strong food.

Be fair. Judge the beer in the glass against the style, not against your preference. Write comments you would be glad to receive.

Keep strong smells away from the table: no perfume, no aftershave and no scented hand wash.

Where it can lead

Judging builds respect in the beer community and sharpens your quality work. Some judges go on to run sensory panels in breweries, teach, write or consult. We do not promise income from judging; most competitions rely on volunteers.

If you want structured training that carries across beer and other drinks, start with a sensory course and practise each week.

Start small: judge at a homebrew club night, then a local competition. Ask the organiser for feedback on your own score sheets. Experienced judges are usually happy to share how they work.

Keep a tasting journal for yourself. Review it each quarter to see how your vocabulary and consistency have changed.

Common questions

Do I need a great nose to judge?

You need a trained one. Practice and spiked samples build skill. Some people have specific smell blind spots, so test yourself.

Are judges paid?

Many competitions use volunteers, so do not plan on income from it.

How many beers can a judge taste in a day?

It depends on the competition format and the person. Organisers limit flights to protect the palate. Judges spit.

Which exam should I take first?

It depends on your aim. Compare the options before choosing.