Assalamu Aleykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaathuh brother Brian, how's everything?
Keeping the beard is Fard (compulsary):
Rasulallah (SAW) stated "trim your mustaches (to a short length) and grow your beards." (Bukhari, the narration is authentic)
Not touching it (in other words, cutting/trimming it) is Sunnah Mu-akkadah (Practice that Rasullah (SAW) stressed upon):
Because it was reported that, "The beard of Rasullah (SAW) was up to his chest" (Tirmizi, the narration is Sound).
And all the other great Sahabi (RA) kept their beards long, and NEVER trimmed (a small bit of) it except during few occasions (which were rare).
You can read more here:
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72073&highlight=beard
And brother Brian, IF you (by any chance) DO cut your beard, then remember that this action is classified as Makrooh Tahreem (Disliked to the point of being Haram, and the only allowence would be a medical excuse).
If you cut it once in a while [like Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), when he use to cut it (up to a FIST length) every time he went for Hajj (meaning, once a year or once every few years)], then it is not serious (< and the narrartion of Ibn Umar (RA) is authentic, and from Bukhari), but once you start making it a HABIT (of cutting/trimming it frequently/occassionaly), then it will be something which is serious. Because when one cuts their beard, they are abandoning a GREAT sunnah of Rasullah (SAW), and by doing so, the risk is that:
(1.) They are missing out on a great amount of Ajr (Blessings from the Favours of Allah SWT).
(2.) The will have shortcomings in:
Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah SAW),
Istiqamah (Steadfastness upon the Haqq),
Wala' (Loyalty and Admiration to Allah SWT)
and Bara' (Disloyalty and Hatred for His enemies, the Shaytan, etc.), the
Noor al Iman (the Light of having Faith in Allah SWT),
Sakeenatul Iman (tranquility one feels when their heart is Remembering Allah SWT).
Because of not doing this Sunnah.
I gotta leave right now, but I'll continue the discussion later, Inshallah Ta Ala.