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Page 40 September 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
An American Photo by Julie Sawitzke
Brewer in to share with family
and friends,” Jim said.
Italy He especially loves
the look on a skeptic’s
face when that person
realizes that what Jim
by Buck Reed created is actually
The Supermarket Gourmet really good.
Later, he moved
to Frederick, where
he started getting
interested in beer
September brings us the Great things to taste, friends you didn’t competitions. He
Frederick Fair, and we all have seem to be able keep up with during began judging beer at
our favorite memories. If you are the year, and just enough agony and the Great Frederick
younger, you might remember that intrigue to make it all interesting. I Fair in 2008, where
fried funnel cake or some other always judged the wines, but when it he volunteered to be Jim Sawitzke, with the brewing rig he uses to make beer in Rome.
ingenious food that shouldn’t be comes to the beer judging, one name a steward, but was
fried, but is. Or you might have a seems to come up as a favorite: Jim called up to judge, they often offer me to proctor since
special fondness for that one ride Sawitzke. instead. This experience stirred it is cheaper to fly me there than
that calls you like a siren call every Dr. Sawitzke has a PhD in his interest, and he considered the somebody from the states. In the
year. Many remember the smell of molecular biology, which he uses Beer Judges Certification Program past year, I have proctored exams in
the pens of animals from the local in his job now in Rome, Italy, at (BJCP), a program where you collect Spain, Italy, Israel, and Poland.”
farms, and, if you are lucky, you the European Molecular Biology points for judging and are moved Jim has a passion for zymurgy,
might remember the first time you Laboratory facility. up in rank by taking tests. After a the art and science of producing
petted a baby cow or goat. Jim began brewing beer in year of study, he gained the rank of beer and wine. Although he claims
For me, I remember the beer 1992 in Oregon, and he really “recognized” judge, and eventually to have a deep interest in the science
and wine competitions held before enjoys introducing people new to moved up to “certified” and then part of this hobby, I suspect he also
the Great Fair, in the Home and homebrew to his beers. “I love how “national” rankings. He even went has the heart of a poet/artist.
Garden Building. It was a fantastic after a hard day’s work, in a few on to help found a club dedicated
yearly event, filled with lots of good weeks you have something delicious to teaching the BJCP and helping
members pass the exam.
In 2015, Jim moved on to his new
job in Italy and took his homebrew
shop with him. He is still making
beer and has even taught three
people there how to create it. But
fate would also work in his favor, in
that the BJCP wanted to expand into
Europe. He has helped organize two
competitions in Italy, including the
first one ever held in Italy. “Since I
moved to Europe, the BJCP has been
very interested in expanding around
the world,” Jim explained. “I am
currently the highest ranked BJCP
judge that lives in all of Europe.
Thus, when there is a new exam,
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