• The BJCP Mead Judge Program

  • Authorization

    The BJCP Board approved a wide-ranging proposal in March 2006 to incorporate Mead and Cider fully into the BJCP's programs. This proposal created the Mead and Cider Committee and directed the creation of a Mead Judge Exam and all related materials.

    The Mead exam is jointly sponsored with the Mead Makers International (formerly the International Mead Association). Members of the MMI helped with the exam questions and study materials.

  • Mead Exam Details

    Effective November 1, 2015 the BJCP Mead Exam Program was revised to more closely match the BJCP Beer Exam Program. The BJCP Mead Exam now consists of two parts:

    • The BJCP Mead Judge Entrance Examination, an online examination to screen prospective candidates.
    • The BJCP Mead Judging Examination, a practical tasting examination of six beers.
    The original mead exam consisting of combined essay and tasting exam was retired on November 1, 2016 and is now referred to as the BJCP Legacy Mead Examination.

  • There is no beer-related pre-requisite for taking the Mead Exam. The exam is open to BJCP judges and those not in the BJCP.
  • A potential mead judge must have scored at least 60% on the written portion of the BJCP Legacy Mead Exam or pass the BJCP Mead Judge Entrance Exam before they are eligible to take the BJCP Mead Judging Exam.
  • The BJCP Mead Judging Exam is a pass/fail examination. A passing score is 60%.
  • Anyone who passes the BJCP Mead Juding Exam will receive a pin and certificate.
  • Mead Exams will not count towards program (rank) advancement. An existing BJCP judge may not advance in rank based on the score received on the Mead Exam. Non-BJCP members passing the Mead Exam may not advance in rank without taking the BJCP Beer Exam.
  • The fee for the BJCP Mead Judgng Exam is US$15 for people with an existing BJCP ID and US$40 for all others.

    • The Mead Judge Rank

    To support the Mead Exam program, a new Mead Judge designation was created. This designation is treated differently depending on whether or not the person passing the Mead Exam was already a member of the BJCP. For existing BJCP judges, the designation is called an endorsement. For those who have not taken the BJCP beer exam, the designation will be the judge's rank. The Mead Judge rank differs from the Beer Judge ranks (Apprentice through Grand Master) in that there is only one level of Mead Judge rank – no advancement is possible without taking the BJCP Beer Exam.

    • The criteria for the Mead Judge designation is simply to pass the Mead Judging Exam. No experience points are required.
    • All who pass the Mead Judging Exam may check the Mead Judge checkbox on the BJCP Mead Scoresheet.
    • Existing BJCP judges passing a Mead Judging Exam will get an endorsement on their judging record. They continue to hold their current BJCP rank.
    • Existing BJCP judges passing the Mead Judging Exam should check the appropriate BJCP Rank checkbox on the BJCP Mead Scoresheet in addition to the Mead Judge checkbox.
    • Existing BJCP judges who pass the Mead Judging Exam will receive CEP credit. The points awarded will be based on the overall score (0.5/1/1.5/2 points for a score of 60/70/80/90). Judges may receive the CEP credit once for each type of exam (mead or cider). Judges retaking the Mead Exam will be given CEP credit based on their highest score.
    • Non-BJCP members passing a Mead Judging Exam will become active BJCP judges and get a BJCP ID assigned.
    • Non-BJCP members passing a Mead Exam will get the Mead Judge rank.