Long time listener, first time poster! Shelbyville, Indiana

[ColdFire]

Where to start, how about hello and I love the show. Just enough facts with some fun humor to keep me interested. Let’s face it; an all technical show would be pretty dry.

Justin - Nice job on keep'n it real!

I found ya'll in July 2006 and have been playing catch-up ever since. The archives are wonderful. They are worth their weight in gold! I have been a successful brewer for many years, making grat beer and winning some ribbons at the Indiana State Fair. But my brewing knowledge and experience was all self-taught, from books and magazines I picked up along the way. Shelbyville is not big enough to have a homebrew club. The closest club is in Indianapolis, which I joined last year while studying for the BJCP exam.

Listening to the Brewing Network shows has helped validate some of my current practices and introduced me to many new ones. I have yet to prepare and enter the national competitions such as the NHC, but I look forward to competing with Jon and Jamil. I should be ready by 2008.

Thank you, Thank-you, Thank-you
And please keep it coming!

[valorian]

Welcome to the Fourm.

Have you taken the BJCP test yet?

[ColdFire]

Yes, I took back in March. It takes forever to get the results back. Nothing to brag about, my ranking is only Recognized. But at least I passed.

My motive for certification was more to understand what makes a great beer, and less about judging. But through the studying process I really enjoy judging now too!

[Thirsty Mallard]

How much time did you have to dedicate to studying and preparing for the exam. I want to become a BJCP certified judge (to learn about beer and to judge) but I just got done with college and after 18 years in school, I am not anxious to start studying for another test anytime soon!

Welcome to the forums!

[BrewBum]

How much time did you have to dedicate to studying and preparing for the exam. I want to become a BJCP certified judge (to learn about beer and to judge) but I just got done with college and after 18 years in school, I am not anxious to start studying for another test anytime soon!

Welcome to the forums!

Newslfash!!! You will never be done with school! In every job I have held I have had to attend continuing ed of some sort. Besides, comparing learning about beer and writing a paper on Poli Sci aren't even comparable.

[Geistbier]

Newslfash!!! You will never be done with school! In every job I have held I have had to attend continuing ed of some sort. Besides, comparing learning about beer and writing a paper on Poli Sci aren't even comparable.

Wrong! If I some how managed to pass BJCP, waiting for our results, it lies entirely in the BS skills I learned in poli sci classes!

[ColdFire]

The Indianpolis Homebrew Club created a 10 session program to cover all of the beer styles, complete with tasting and evaluation. Each session lasted about 3 hours. It was the best class I ever attended.

The test itself is not hard, the rub is all of the information they can make exam questions out of; all the styles, brewing, troubleshooting, etc.

Check out the BJCP Exam Center (http://www.bjcp.org/examcenter.html) It has sample questions and other information to help you prepare for the exam.

If you know the style guidelines you'll do fine, and you can always take the exam again to get a higher score.

[Geistbier]

I did it more for the beer knowledge than passing the exam, I disagree with some of their philosphy but don't regret the experience.