The BJCP Board has approved the creation of a BJCP Style Directorate, with Gordon Strong as its first Director.
The Style Directorate is responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of the BJCP Style Guidelines for all approved types of beverages supported by the program. The Style Directorate is responsible for overseeing and approving any Style-related content in the program. Specific duties include researching new styles, tracking emerging styles, planning and scheduling future revisions, evaluating submitted styles, publishing interim updates, maintaining errata documentation, coordinating with other directorates regarding the impacts of style updates, evaluating how the guidelines are used in operation, and developing policies, procedures, processes, materials, and tools supporting the use of Styles within the program.
The Style Director chairs the standing Style Committee, which is used periodically to make substantial revisions to the guidelines, including translations to other languages and data formats. The standing Style Committee is used to provide flexibility in those assisting with style guideline revisions without the need to continually appoint new assistant style directors. The Style Directorate follows established organizational expectations in the same manner as other directorates, such as providing an annual update for the BJCP annual report, responding to member inquiries, and coordinating work with the BJCP President or designee.