So the BC Beer awards last weekend have garnered much online attention. I previously posted a few comments and the list of winners. One thing I often wonder about beer awards is, who entered? Something I wonder about less is, who judged? Well, I happen to have a direct line of communication to the guys at Brewery Creek who put on these awards, so I asked them for both lists. BTW, the direct line of communication I have with the guys at Brewery Creek is the cashier line.
I failed to get the list of entrants because Brewery Creek “[has] no interest in hi-lighting the losers”. I totally get this and don’t begrudge them at all. Similarly, nobody needs to know that I finished last in the grade seven district cross country race I foolishly entered or that I never finish last at sex.
Brewery Creek was much more accommodating when it came to the judges and I admire their transparency. Turns out they put together a pretty respectable list of qualified beer tasters. Below is the list as Brewery Creek sent it to me, though I added a few links when I knew who someone was. Most of these people are super qualified and/or home-brewers actively involved with VanBrewers.
- Nigel Springthrope : Beer Expert - experienced judge – Never heard of him, owns Alibi Room?
- Randy Shore: Media – Vancouver Sun’s The Green Man
- Chad McCarthy: BJCP ranked beer judge – Cicerone, on Twitter
- Tim Ellison: Sommelier - experienced judge – PICA Instructor
- Adam Henderson :BJCP ranked beer judge – Beer Importer and Cicerone
- Dave Shea: BJCP in training – CSS Legend and Mobifier
- Aaron Peterson : BJCP ranked beer judge
- Bob Boufford: BJCP ranked beer judge
- Danny Seeton: BJCP ranked beer judge
- Ian Crook: BJCP ranked beer judge
- Katy Wright: BJCP ranked beer judge
- Liam Wake: BJCP ranked beer judge
- David O’Halloran: BJCP ranked beer judge
- Ben Coli: BJCP in training – experienced judge - Sloppy Gourmand
- Nicole Coetzee: BJCP in training - experienced judge – Ginger Beer Blog
- Scott Butchart: BJCP in training - experienced judge
- Rob Ardies: BJCP in training - experienced judge
So yeah, they probably aren’t going to ask me to be a taster next year. For a few first hand accounts of the tasting process, check out this and this.
Cheers,
Chris