I few weeks ago I got to do beer judging for a round of beers at a local homebrew competition. I used to judge sometimes for the AHA National Homebrew competition back in the early 1990s (as a first-round judge; I don't have anywhere near the qualifications to be a final round judge). It's a rewarding and interesting experience, judging beer, and it's been too long since I did it.

Judging beer gives you a chance to examine several beers closely, take note of what makes one good and another not-so-good. The entrant identifies what style a beer should be judged under, and the judges have to judge it against the BJCP style guidelines for that category. As the process forces you to really study the beer and what makes it good, it really helps you to develop a finer appreciation for the nuances of beer flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, appearance, and so forth.

Getting certified as a beer judge is not an easy process, and one which I have yet to attempt. Most competitions need enough judges that they will accept less experienced judges like me to do some of the judging. If you've never thought about beer judging (or never knew that such a thing existed) I would encourage you all to give it a try.