The Lochac Brewers, Vintner and Imbibers Guild Rankings
Please note:
- The level of skill expected for each rank is roughly that of the medieval guilds where an Apprentice is a beginner showing potential and interest, a Journeyman is someone who knows the trade well enough to potentially earn a living, and a Craftsman is sufficiently skilled to excel in the trade and to teach others. Those judging for rank advancement should keep these levels in mind.
- Those who wish to submit their forms for grading electronically can do so via a simple form.
(As voted in at Festival 2015 including amendments proposed by Mistress Elayne Montjoy and Master Nathan Blacktower)
Summary:
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All persons signed up to the guilds official mailing list are voting members of the guild and may be referred to as Guildsmen or Guildswomen as they prefer. They need not undertake ranking unless they wish to do so.
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There is currently no ranking for Imbiber members but we will look into this if there is enough interest.
- To become a ranked member candidates need to complete the requirements of the rank AND submit paperwork confirming this. (Submission forms are linked below) Candidates are responsible for keeping their own copy of any such paperwork in case the submission goes missing.
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The rank of Apprentice shall be achieved by entering any drinkable beverage to a guild competition or tasting and submitting paperwork to the Guild Clerk to confirm this.
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The rank of Journeyman shall be achieved by entering at least three different beverages, to three different guild tastings/competitions or A&S competitions, at least one of which is to a period recipe, which are judged as being brewed to a high standard, AND submitting paperwork to the Guild Clerk to confirm this.
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The rank of Craftsman shall be achieved by entering at least five different beverages to three or more guild tastings/competitions which are judged as being beverages of particular merit, AND showing service to the guild, AND showing a knowledge of period vs. modern methods, AND sharing of knowledge/teaching upon application of paperwork to the Guild Clerk to confirm this.
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The rank of Guild Master is reserved to those who are Laureled in brewing, vintnering etc, or to those Laureled in other crafts who are invited to be Masters of the Guild by the currently active Guild Masters.
Rankings will be updated bi-annually and posted on the Guild Website and writs will be issued by the Guild Clerk to confirm the Rank achieved.
Any requirement for ranking with respect to a specific candidate may be waved at the discretion of a majority vote of the active Masters of the Guild in the case of exceptional circumstances, geographical challenges, or other reasons deemed significant.
The Requirements:
The Rank of Apprentice shall be achieved by:
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Submitting a beverage made by the candidate to any Guild tasting or competition. The candidate is not required to be present AND:
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Submitting paperwork to the to the Guild Clerk signed by two ranked guild members affirming that a beverage was entered, tasted, and considered drinkable; Should the candidate be submitting a beverage without being present then we request the signatures of two witnesses of good standing (not necessarily guild members) to confirm that the candidate made the beverage in question.
The Rank of Journeyman shall be achieved by:
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Submitting three different beverages at any three separate Guild tastings/competitions or Lochac Arts and Sciences competitions to be judge by a panel of two Guild judges, ranked Journeyman level or higher, as being brewed to a high standard AND;
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Submitting paperwork to the Guild Clerk listing the events, the dates and beverages entered, signed off by each of the judges confirming that the beverage was entered, tasted and considered of a high standard AND;
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At least one of the beverages produced must be to a period (or close to period) recipe (either redacted by the candidate or by someone else) A copy of said recipe must be viewed by the two judges who sign it off and a copy submitted along with the candidates paperwork.
The Rank of Craftsman will be achieved by:
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Demonstrating skill in brewing/vintning/distilling (NZ only) etc. by submitting five different beverages at any three separate Guild tastings/competitions which are judge by a panel of two Guild judges, of Craftsman level or higher, as being beverages of particular merit. This must be signed of by said judges AND;
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Demonstrating service to the guild by running a competition or tasting, contributing significant work to the guild website, supplying competition prizes or similar service. This must be signed off by two guild members of Craftsman rank or higher AND:
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Demonstrating an understanding of medieval versus modern methods, either through teaching a class on the topic, writing documentation, writing a newsletter/web page article, holding a workshop, blogging, comparative brewing or similar. This must be signed off by two guild members of Craftsman rank or higher AND:
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Sharing of their knowledge and skills on more than two occasion via classes, workshops, published articles or other teaching methods. Items considered in section 3 may also count towards these. This must be signed off by two guild members of Craftsman rank or higher.
The Rank of Guild Master will be granted to any individual elevated to the Order of the Laurel by the Kingdom of Lochac for their skill in brewing, vintning etc. Members of that Order who were not elevated for skill in brewing etc. may attain the Rank of Guild Master at the invitation of the other Guild Masters.
The Canterbury Faire 2014 Brewers’ guild meeting.
Click here for the full membership roll of ranked guild members.