What are the main sections of the BJCP exam?

The main sections of the BJCP exam are designed to comprehensively evaluate a candidate's knowledge and skills in beer judging. The written exam assesses theoretical knowledge of beer styles, brewing processes, ingredients, and judging criteria. Candidates must demonstrate their ability to identify various beer styles and articulate their characteristics accurately.

The flight exam is a critical component where candidates taste and analyze several beers, demonstrating their sensory evaluation skills. Here, judges assess their proficiency in identifying aromas, flavors, and faults in beers.

Lastly, the styles exam focuses specifically on the candidates' familiarity with various beer styles as outlined in the BJCP guidelines, testing their ability to differentiate between them based on appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression.

Together, these three sections provide a comprehensive assessment of a candidate's capability as a beer judge, ensuring they have both theoretical knowledge and practical tasting skills, which is essential for effective judging.