Global Beer Index Explorer - Compare Views
Compare Free, PRO, Education, and Competition
The Global Beer Index Explorer is available in multiple views, each designed for a specific use case while sharing the same underlying methodology.
This page explains what each view offers, how they differ, and which view fits which purpose.
All views are built on:
– One canonical beer style framework
– One sensory model (15 dimensions)
– One consistent dataset
The differences lie in scope, access, and intended use — not in data quality or methodology.
Overview of Explorer views
| View | Primary purpose | Typical users | Access model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Open exploration of canonical core styles | Curious professionals, students | Public |
| PRO | Full professional exploration and analysis | Brewers, judges, consultants | Licensed |
| Education | Curriculum-based structured reference | Educators, training programs | Institution / course |
| Competition | Category-based competition reference | Competition organizers, juries | Event / organization |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Free | PRO | Education | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical core styles | ✓ | ✓ | Contextual | Contextual |
| Variant style profiles | – | ✓ | Contextual | Contextual |
| Maximum styles compared | 2 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Advanced analysis view | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export comparisons | – | ✓ | – | – |
| Advanced sensory operators | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Curriculum / category scoping | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom curriculum / category naming | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exam-focused mode | – | – | ✓ | - |
| Open public access | ✓ | – | – | – |
In Education and Competition views, style visibility and comparison are limited by curriculum or category scope, rather than by differences in the underlying data.
Free View
Best for: first-time users and open exploration.
The Free View offers:
Open access to canonical core styles
Sensory-based exploration
Basic comparison of up to two styles
No registration required
It is intentionally limited and serves as a clear entry point into the GBI methodology.
PRO View
Best for: professional analysis and unrestricted exploration.
The PRO View provides:
Access to the full canon, including variants
Advanced comparison and analysis tools
Export and data reuse capabilities
No artificial scope restrictions
PRO is the most flexible view and is designed for professional and commercial use.
Unlike Education or Competition views, PRO is not scoped to a curriculum or category set.
Education View
Best for: structured learning and certification contexts.
The Education View offers:
Curriculum-specific style sets
Exam-focused filtering options
Controlled scope aligned with course material
Didactic consistency across cohorts
It is not a simplified PRO view, but a purpose-built educational configuration.
Style visibility and tools are aligned with teaching objectives rather than exhaustive exploration.
Competition View
Best for: beer competitions and jury calibration.
The Competition View provides:
Category-based style groupings
Canonical sensory references per category
Comparison and analysis within competition scope, without scoring or ranking
A neutral reference framework for juries
It does not assign scores, rankings, or outcomes.
Choosing the right view
Choose your Explorer view based on what you want to do, not on data differences:
Explore and understand styles → Free
Analyze and compare professionally → PRO
Teach or study within a curriculum → Education
Calibrate and reference in competitions → Competition
All views remain methodologically consistent.
One system, multiple views
Upgrading or switching views does not change:
Style definitions
Sensory ranges
Canonical structure
It only changes:
What you can access
How broadly you can explore
Which tools are available