First, it provides a standards-based organization supplying qualified judges to both amateur and commercial brewing competitions designed to promote the appreciation of beer styles and their accurate production by brewers.
[12][13][14] The BJCP was founded in 1985, when the first exam was given at the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) annual conference in Estes Park, Colorado.
During its formative years, the program was jointly sponsored by the AHA and the Home Wine and Beer Trade Association (HWBTA).
[15] In August 1995, after a successful ten-year history, support was withdrawn by the AHA, which had intentions of starting its own beer judging program.
The effort was coordinated in a haphazard fashion, mainly through e-mail, but a consensus gradually emerged and the program was able to continue its growth.
The U.S. was divided into geographic regions, and an election for the board of directors was held by mailing ballots to members.
[17] Assisting the board was program administrator Russ Wigglesworth, who remained in his post and assumed the duties of maintaining the database of members, sending program materials to competition organizers, providing certificates and pins to new and newly promoted judges, and performing other essential administrative tasks.
An annual letter was also sent by the Program Administrator to each member, listing the experience points earned from judging in various competitions.