2020 updates and outlooks

I haven’t written in over a year, but now’s the time. So here are a few quick updates and plans for the next year of writing. By making this list I’m obligating my future self to reflect on my past self (and to make more mental space for my present self).

In 2019 I passed the Beer Judge Certification Program entrance exam then my first tasting exam with a score of 76 points. This year I judged at America’s Finest City Homebrew Competition, the San Diego International Beer Competition, and the San Diego Fair Homebrew Competition. Judging in a pandemic has proven to be challenging, but organizers are adapting. This weekend I took my second BJCP tasting exam, and I feel like I did better than the first, though it was equally difficult. We’ll find out the results in about three months (BJCP is an all-volunteer organization). I’ll write about these events and more.

Other story ideas percolating include fundraising/awareness campaign collaboration beers (e.g., Black Is Beautiful, Pink Boots, All Together, Resilience Beer and Resilience IPA) as well as the difficult work many are doing to highlight and help diversify both the producers and consumers of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, and food. I plan to highlight the dynamic individuals and groups doing the hard work addressing the racial, sexist, and labor disparities in the hospitality industry. Also, I plan to write about changes in the Brewers Association including the lack of response to Black Lives Matter and the new Code of Conduct, new board members, and the role of brewery guilds.

I’ll have a few write-ups looking back at 2019 Great American Beer Festival, particularly the PAIRED event. I still dream of some of the food, beer, and/or pairings from that event. I’ll also write about my visits to Colorado breweries, the History Colorado Beer Here! exhibit, and the North American Guild of Beer Writers meetup and meeting.

As part of a large-scale research project, I am 98% through completing phase one of my GABF medal winners database from 1983 to 2020 (6292 medals awarded and 137 medals unawarded). The first four years of GABF held a Consumer Preference poll awarding first, second, and third places. The first year of stylistic judging in 1987 had 13 categories which has since expanded to 107 styles plus Pro-Am and Collaboration categories in 2019 (2020 had a retraction of styles due to the pandemic and other factors). I will finish the GABF results and continue working on The National Homebrew Competition, the World Beer Cup, and state and local brewing competition results. I’ll write discoveries and trends, and I’ll be interviewing brewers, judges, and organizers, asking about their competitive decision-making and what they get from participating. I’ll also be tracing the changes of style guidelines over time. A lot of interesting trends are appearing in the data already.

Finally I’ll write about my adventures with barbecue and bread. As always, I’ll continue reading, studying, and participating in discussions about the history and culture of food, drink, and beer. This is a tough time for everyone, but I am hopeful that we can continue to build inclusive community and understanding. Cheers!