Regional Representatives Updates Q1, 2022

April 7, 2022

West
Brian Cooper

BJCP West Regional Update, March, 2022

The West region continues to show many signs of life, while also facing a number of challenges. But the resiliency of our judges and judge educators, plus those running exams and competitions has been admirable. Organizers are adjusting to conditions as they shift, sometimes even from week to week.

A number of major competitions have returned, almost always with sensible adjustments. While some exams have been canceled or postponed, many others have gone forward as planned. A full 12-examinee Mead exam (with a waiting list) was held outdoors this February in Northern CA. The organizer held a hybrid course with Zoom instruction and in-person tasting leading up to it.

After two postponements, our Southern CA counterparts put on a long-awaited beer judging BJCP exam in Mexicali. Examinees came from all over Mexico, with proctors from the US, at an exam location arranged by local coordinators. It is fantastic to see our members cooperating with a neighboring international region to help grow their judge pool.

Hawaii’s homebrew club and competition scene has changed significantly, even prior to impacts due to COVID. A few formerly active clubs have folded, and all but one homebrew shop has closed since the start of the pandemic. The future of some of the competitions there remains uncertain. Still, BJCP training and education is in the planning phases, hoping to be re-started on Oahu soon, with both in person and virtual options to allow participation across the islands.

It seems that clubs everywhere in the West that traditionally run events, competitions, and arrange judge education courses are struggling to retain and engage members. Some of these clubs remain on temporary hiatus, and are looking to re-start or reorganize, while others are gone. Things will look different as we emerge from pandemic. But judges and brewers are working to bring back activities and education.

One event that has resumed is a Beer Judging 101 primer taught by GM VII judge David Teckam. The class was held February 19th at a craft beer gastropub in Pleasanton, CA during SF Beer Week. It has inspired many judges over the years, and it was great to have a very engaged group at this event, which hasn’t happened since “the before time” in February, 2020.

All in all, we are seeing many hopeful signs as we emerge from the latest wave of the pandemic. We are looking forward to a year of increased activity and semi-normal activities, especially with the approach of NHC / HomebrewCon this June in Pittsburgh.

Northeast
Andrew Luberto

Greetings Fellow North East Judges! Things are looking up for our region with COVID in decline, restrictions easing, and warmer weather on the horizon. First and foremost, congratulations to the newest National Judge in our region, Ryan Galligan of Wallingford, CT. Excellent job! The North East Team has been busy serving our region in a number of ways. I recently hosted an episode of the American Mead Makers Association’s “Mead Matters” in which Mead Maker Tom Repas and I spoke with Sigrid Gertsen-Schibbye of Lallemand’s Oenology department. If you missed it and want to check it out, here it is. I also gave a few talks this quarter on beer and mead evaluation at The Niagara College Brewing School and The Moriches-Shirley Public Library. If you’re interested in having either myself or one of the assistant reps speak as part of a BJCP training class, please feel to reach out. I’ve hosted another written exam on lower New York, this past February – as part of the initiative to increase the number of National + judges in our region, please email me if you’d like to set up a written exam. It can be as little as one participant.

Assistant Rep Eric Cousineau ran a tasting exam recently in Canada and Assistant Jay Hersch is busy organizing the Greg Noonan Memorial Homebrew Competition set for May 21st in Essex Jct, VT. Jay will also be hosting a written exam in October in Vermont. If interested in taking it, please reach out to him.

My work continues on the Website Committee as West Rep Brian Cooper and I overhauled the FAQs on the website. I’m also happy to announce the the board is piloting a secretary position which I agreed to take up. My goal is to create consistent transparency around the board meetings and discussions in that role as I document our discussions.

Lastly, as always, anyway our team can help your exams, training, competitions, or anything BJCP related please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Midwest
Sandy Cockerham

Quiet here with a few new exams happening. Competitions for the most part seem back in their main groove. I’ll be administering two exams this summer in Indiana and hope to proctor in more in my region and beyond. Also, BIG shameless plug, my competition, Indiana Brewers Cup, is back full steam this year and includes the award ceremony and banquet are back! I’d love to see BJCP judges there, especially those from my region. All BJCP judges are welcome!