Is it appropriate to penalize the entrant if the beer is served at the improper temperature?

In beer judging, the primary focus is on the intrinsic qualities of the beer itself, including aroma, flavor, body, and overall impression. Serving temperature can significantly affect the perception of these attributes; however, it is generally understood that the responsibility for the serving temperature lies with the judge, not the entrant. Judges are encouraged to taste beers within a range of temperatures to determine their true character.

While an improper serving temperature might slightly influence the judges' perception during the evaluation process, penalizing the entrant would not be fair since they typically have no control over how the beer is presented during the competition. Instead, it is up to the judges to make allowances for temperature differences and evaluate the beer based on its fundamental qualities. Thus, it is deemed inappropriate to score entrants down based on temperature alone, as this could lead to inconsistent judging and unfair outcomes.