By Bruce Buerger, Education and Training Director
Notable changes and accomplishments from 2020 include:
- Processed 40+ sensory kit orders for members and upcoming exams.
- Release of the malt sensory and vocabulary exercise.
- Release candidate of new hop sensory and vocabulary exercise.
- Cider Judge Training & Study Program release candidate.
- Continued evaluation of new sensory offerings for existing and potential members.
Probably to no one’s surprise sensory kit orders by members dropped quite a bit in 2020. The Directorate attempted efforts to expand sensory offerings pertaining to cider however those efforts stalled due to COVID. We will be looking to resume this effort in 2021.
This year the team continued to research sensory and instructional type courses that members can conduct locally for future and existing judges. 2020 saw the launch of the Malt Sensory Training Course, which is aimed at highlighting the flavors and aromas of the malt so a participant may experience what can contribute to a beer. It also saw the launch of a remote offering, Overview of Malt Sensory Training, which acts as a guide for conducting the exercise. Both offerings can provide members with 0.5 ETD credits as well as some additional knowledge about malt.
2021 will bring a similar offering, Hop Sensory Training. Like the Malt Sensory Training, the hop version will include a sensory wheel with some hop characteristic descriptors and it will include instructions for creating hop teas. We will also offer an Overview of Hop Sensory Training course on the training portal that will act as a guide for conducting the hop exercise.
We are still continuing efforts around a Cider Judge Training & Study Program to help members prepare for the exams associated with it. Look for this program to be published in the Spring of 2021.
Plans for 2021 will include the previously mentioned in flight items in addition to offerings and style course offerings on the training portal. We will also continue to look at developing wood and barrel aged sensory training.