Is it advisable for judge directors to influence the judging process?

Judge directors should remain impartial during the judging process to ensure fairness and objectivity. Their role is to oversee and facilitate the competition without swaying the decisions made by the judges. Maintaining impartiality helps to foster a level playing field for all entries and allows judges to evaluate the beers based strictly on the established criteria, without any external influence.

Influencing the judging process can lead to biases and undermine the integrity of the competition. The opinions and preferences of judge directors should not play a role in the evaluations performed by judges; instead, they are there to provide support, clarification about rules, and ensure that the judging process adheres to the standards set forth by the competition guidelines. This impartiality strengthens the credibility of both the judges and the results of the competition.

Other answers suggest varying levels of influence, which could compromise the judges' autonomy and the overall fairness of the judging process. Therefore, the importance of impartiality is paramount in maintaining the trust and credibility of the competition.