What should a judge do if an entry has raised lettering or identifying marks on the cap?

A judge should disqualify an entry that has raised lettering or identifying marks on the cap because it violates the anonymity principle that is fundamental to fair judging in beer competitions. The intention of this rule is to prevent any bias or influence that could arise from the judge's prior knowledge of the entrant or their beer, whether through brand recognition or personal connections. Maintaining anonymity ensures that all entries are judged solely on their merit, allowing for a level playing field.

In competitions governed by the BJCP guidelines, all identifying information, including logos or names on caps, could lead to bias in scoring or decision-making. Therefore, the presence of such markings is strictly prohibited and warrants disqualification to uphold the integrity of the judging process.