Professional Judge and Steward Sign-Up

Please review the DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES below. Then follow the links below to REGGIE so you can register to help with the Professional Competition.

Judging

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Do not judge in a category you have entered.

  • Review the style guidelines for the category you are judging before you begin.

  • Discuss the general characteristics of an entry, but do not attempt to influence opinions of other judges. Be patient, tactful, and respectful of others. The head judge may approve continued discussions if appropriate.

  • Seek guidance from the judge director if you notice another judge practicing any questionable behavior.

  • Be objective in judging to style guidelines, even if this is not a style that you personally enjoy.

  • Strive to maintain anonymity of entries.

Click Here to Register to Judge in REGGIE

What Judges Receive for their service:

  1. Satisfaction of Supporting Excellence: Contribute to a peer-based judging system, ensuring only the best beers in Florida earn medals in their entered categories.

  2. Brewers Ball Tickets: Each judge receives a personal, non-transferable ticket to Brewers Ball. Judges who complete 4 or more sessions earn an additional guest ticket (up to a maximum of 3 guest tickets).

  3. Custom Judge Gifts: This year, we’ve put together some special, customized gifts for our judges.

  4. Catered Meals: Each day, we provide a catered meal, with coffee, light breakfast, and snacks on weekends, plus a hearty lunch available for both AM and PM session judges to enjoy.

  5. Beer! After each judging session, enjoy up to 2 beers on us at our host locations.

  6. Travel Stipend for Long-Distance Judges: Judges traveling over 100 miles are eligible for a $150 hotel stipend if they judge a minimum of three sessions. This could include a Sunday double session and Monday night, or at least three of the four Saturday and Sunday sessions. To claim, submit your request via email to board@bestfloridabeer.org, and stipends will be paid after completion of your judging sessions.

Judging Dates and Locations:

All schedule sessions will be held at Magnanimous – Seminole Heights locations.

Saturday, 2/1/2025 - Session Start Times: AM Session at 9:00 AM, PM Session at 1:00 PM

Sunday 2/2/2025 - Session Start Times: AM Session at 9:00 AM, PM Session at 1:00 PM

Monday 2/3/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

Tuesday 2/4/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

Wednesday 2/5/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

Saturday 2/8/2025 - Session Start Time: AM Session at 9:00 AM.

Sunday 2/9/2025 - Session Start Times: AM Session at 9:00 AM, PM Session at 1:00 PM

Monday 2/10/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

Tuesday 2/11/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

Wednesday 2/12/2025 - Session Start Time: 6PM

 

*Note that additional sessions/locations maybe scheduled on an as needed basis.

Stewarding

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assist organizers and judges as needed.

  • Make sure all required materials are present at the assigned judging table.

  • Ensure that everything required for judging, including openers, cups, pencils, scoresheets, ice, dump buckets, water, and crackers/bread is at the assigned table prior to the scheduled start for the judging.

  • Bring beer for the given flight to the judging table. Double-check to be sure all of the entries assigned to the given flight are in your box. Arrange the bottles in sequential order, as specified by the judges.

  • Remember that some beers will contain sediment & treat them gently.

  • Maintain proper serving temperatures during judging. 50° F is a good temperature for ales. Lagers may be served colder. Use ice as needed to maintain proper serving temperature.

  • Replenish bread/crackers, water, cups, forms, etc. as needed.

  • Empty dump buckets as needed or at the request of the judges.

  • Fill in the cover sheet and flight scoresheet at the discretion of the head judge. Check scoresheets, cover sheets, and flight sheets to be sure they have been fully and accurately completed. Point out potential errors to judges and request they correct them. Staple the cover sheets to the scoresheets.

  • Do not empty opened bottles or discard bottle caps until instructed to by the judges. Some entries may need additional evaluation at the end of the flight.

  • The judges may permit stewards to sample the entries along with them; however, stewards must refrain from attempting to influence the judging.

Click Here to Register to Steward in REGGIE

What Stewards Receive for their service:

  1. Pride in Making a Great Competition Possible: Play a key role in supporting an exceptional competition.

  2. Brewers Ball Tickets: Each steward receives a personal, non-transferable ticket to Brewers Ball. Those completing 4 or more sessions earn one guest ticket (up to a maximum of 3 guest tickets).

  3. Custom Steward Gifts: Customized, high-quality gifts as a thank you for your help.

  4. Catered Meals: Each day, we provide a catered meal, with coffee, light breakfast, and snacks on weekends, plus a hearty lunch available for both AM and PM session judges to enjoy.

  5. Beer! After each session, enjoy up to 2 beers on us at our host locations.