Question 1

What are the qualifications I need to judge?

Accepted Answer

We currently have an open call for applications, so anyone working in the craft beer industry with judging experience is allowed to apply. A strong priority will be given to current industry professionals with experience judging local, national, or international competitions and individuals (be they industry members or homebrewers ) who hold BJCP and/or Cicerone certification.
As an applicant, please take care to include a short bio on your application to share your industry experience and qualifications. We also ask that you share your current BJCP rank and ID number (if applicable) as well as any other certifications (Cicerone, Doemens, etc.) and your past judging experience.

If you have additional experience (such as overseeing the sensory/quality program at your brewery, a formal brewing education, etc.) that’s not reflected in your bio, please make sure to share that on your application as well.

Question 2

How are the judges selected?

Accepted Answer

The number of judges required is directly related to the number of beers that are registered in the competition. A number of considerations will go into our judge selection, and selections are made in the context of the applicants in the pool for that specific year. Not being selected as a judge should not be interpreted as a rejection of your judging qualifications or experience, but as a matter of fitting complementary elements together to build the best possible judging cadre for beers entered into competition that year.

Considerations for judge selection include, but are not limited to:
Prior judging experience – the format, scale, and caliber of other competitions listed; the balance of experience in judging homebrew vs. commercial; years of experience with each type; etc. Previous experience as a judge at the New Jersey Brewers Cup is helpful, but does not guarantee selection in future years.
The number of applicants from a single brewery or company. In order to maximize flexibility in panel composition while reducing conflicts in matching judges with beer categories, we have to limit the number of judges approved from any single entity within the industry.
Quality and thoroughness of judge application. Incomplete applications and applications that do not provide a robust characterization of your experience and qualifications as a judge may not be considered.
Lead Judge candidates. Each judging panel works under the guidance of a Lead Judge, so the ratio of applicants who are able to serve as a Lead Judge for each panel has to match the flight/round coordination for each session.
Availability. Due to the complexity of arranging judge panels and coordinating for each panel for each round, a strong preference is given to judges that are available for all sessions of the judging weekend (All day Saturday, and all day Sunday) to ensure the consistency and continued integrity of the judging process.

If you have any questions about these considerations, or the status or outcome of your application, please contact our team by emailing director@brewersguildnj.com

Question 3

What time commitments are required of judges?

Accepted Answer

Judging will take place during the weekend of August 8-9, 2026. Each morning, there will be a calibration round to introduce judges to the electronic judging system and to familiarize everyone with how judging will be conducted throughout the weekend. After the calibration round, we will likely assign judges to judging panels and ask each panel to judge 1 to 2 flights of competition beer
Judging on Saturday and Sunday will be broken up into a morning and an afternoon session, where each panel will be asked to judge several flights per session (likely, 3 flights per session). Saturday judging will be dedicated to completing first round judging for all but the largest categories, and depending on submissions we may be able to start second-round judging on Saturday. The majority of Sunday judging will be focused on second-round (often called the medal-round because that is where medal decisions for each category are made). Due to the tremendous complexities involved in ensuring judges are only working in categories they are not entered in, organizing well over 100+ flights to be judged over the weekend, and ensuring the logistical considerations of first-round vs. second-round judging, we ask for the judges’ patience with us as we keep things flowing through the weekend.
Additionally, due to difficulties presented by judges with limited availability, we ask that judges commit to a full day of judging. Additionally, when choosing judges, priority will be given to those individuals who can commit to the entire weekend (All day Saturday and Sunday).

Question 4

What judging method/platform do you use?

Accepted Answer

Beers are judged electronically using the Beer Awards Platform (BAP). As such, we ask that judges bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with up-to-date software and a charging device.
If you have never used BAP, and would like to judge a practice beer at home ahead of the competition to gain experience with the platform, follow these instructions:
Sign up for an account at getbap.com
Go to ”My personal scoresheets”
Click on ”New personal evaluation”
Set up the tasting session information
Start tasting your samples

Question 5

What are the benefits of judging?

Accepted Answer

In addition to the camaraderie, recognition, and industry experience that will come with being a judge for the Brewers Guild of New Jersey’s statewide beer competition, the following will be provided to New Jersey Brewers Cup judges:
Judging Experience: The New Jersey Brewers Cup is a sanctioned BJCP competition, so in addition to building your resume for other national and international judging opportunities, BJCP certified judges will have the opportunity to earn judging points (.5 points for each of the competition’s judging sessions you participate in) by judging at the New Jersey Brewers Cup.
On-site Perks: Judges will be fed and watered during their time judging—including lunch during Saturday & Sunday judging.
Awards Ceremony: Judges will each receive (one) complimentary admission to the NJBC Awards Ceremony on August 26th, 2026.

Question 6

How do I apply to judge?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Click here to access the Judge Application

Step 2: Complete the application, taking care to include a short bio, your BJCP rank and ID number (if applicable) and any other relevant certifications, past judging experience, sensory experience, or formal brewing education details.
That’s it, you’re done! Thank you for applying. Please go ahead and make sure to block off the competition dates on your calendar to make sure you are available if selected and stay tuned for a response to your application by Monday, July 20th, 2026.

Question 7

When will I know whether I was selected?

Accepted Answer

If you have submitted a Judge application, you will be notified no later than Monday, July 20th as to the status of your application. The size and make-up of the judging roster will be based on the number of entries in the competition and the number of judge applications received. As such, judges may be approved in earlier waves based on experience and application date. We recommend going ahead and blocking off the competition dates on your calendar to ensure availability should you be selected.
If a judge is not selected this year (due to not quite having the experience, qualifications necessary, availability, etc.) they may be offered the option to serve as a steward in the competition or volunteer in a different capacity. As a BJCP sanctioned competition, NJBC volunteers will be eligible to earn non-judging experience points.

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2026
NJ Brewers Cup

The Brewers Guild of New Jersey Presents...

Sponsored by

Competition Timeline

May 19th, 2026

Judging & Volunteer Applications Open

June 15th, 2026

Competition Entries Open

July 10th, 2026

Judging & Volunteer Applications Close

July 10th, 2026

Competition Entries Close

July 17th, 2026

Entry Editing
Ends

July 27th-31st, 2026

Competition Entry Drop Off Window

August 8-9th, 2026

Competition Judging

August 26th, 2026

Awards Ceremony

Competition Rules & Guidelines

Beer Registration Now Open

Competition Questions

What are the qualifications I need to judge?

How are the judges selected?

What time commitments are required of judges?

What judging method/platform do you use?

What are the benefits of judging?

How do I apply to judge?

When will I know whether I was selected?

Member Login

2026 NJ Brewers Cup

The Brewers Guild of New Jersey Presents...

Sponsored by

Competition Timeline

May 19th, 2026

Judging & Volunteer Applications Open

June 15th, 2026

Competition Entries Open

July 10th, 2026

Judging & Volunteer Applications Close

July 10th, 2026

Competition Entries Close

July 17th, 2026

Entry Editing Ends

July 27th-31st, 2026

Competition Entry Drop Off Window

August 8-9th, 2026

Competition Judging

August 26th, 2026

Awards Ceremony

Competition Rules & Guidelines

Beer Registration Now Open

Competition Questions

What are the qualifications I need to judge?

How are the judges selected?

What time commitments are required of judges?

What judging method/platform do you use?

What are the benefits of judging?

How do I apply to judge?

When will I know whether I was selected?

Member
Login

2026
NJ Brewers Cup

Entry Editing
Ends