# Introduction The **Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style Guidelines** are an international reference for describing, evaluating, and categorizing beer, mead, and cider.\ They are designed to provide a **common vocabulary** for judges, brewers, and organizers, ensuring that evaluations are **consistent, fair, and educational** across competitions worldwide. Each style entry defines the **characteristics, balance, and intent** of traditional and modern beverages — including appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression. Historical context, ingredients, and variations are also noted to help judges appreciate authenticity and creativity while recognizing technical merit. While the guidelines serve as a standard for **competition judging**, they also function as an **educational resource** for brewers seeking to understand classic and emerging styles. The descriptions emphasize **sensory outcomes rather than strict recipes**, encouraging informed interpretation rather than rigid replication. The BJCP guidelines are periodically updated to reflect evolving trends, new discoveries, and refinements in the understanding of traditional and innovative styles.\ For complete and current versions, visit [www.bjcp.org](http://www.bjcp.org). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://styles.bjcp.org/readme.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.