Beer Competitions – How many categories should there be?

Somewhere in between 6 and 110

 

Somewhere in the upper double digits or lower triple digits. There's no way a Murkbomb should be on the same table as a WCIPA.

 

Hey, I could have said less than 6 or more than 110. You want an exact number? I work for free on this site.

 

So in the "dark beer" category, it's Russian Imperial Stouts vs Maibocks... Seems fair to me. Maybe instead we could simplify it further to "beers of color" and "other beer".

 

Or better yet "Reinheitsgebot Beers" and everything else !

 

So an India Pale Ale isn't an ale by Japan Brewers Cup standards? Hell, might as well make it three categories: Ales, Lagers, and WTFs.

 

I've devoted some thought to this, and the correct answer is 57. https://bestofcraftbeerawards.com/style-guidelines/

 

They should have the number of categories that keep them sustainable.

 

Depends on the scale of the competition. If you're GABF or The World Cup of Beer, you should probably have an exhaustive list of what gets made. If either of those halved the categories I think it'd be bullshit to try to compare a murk bomb to a dank bomb, or a dessert stout to a doppelbock. If you're a regional, it should probably be a lot smaller.

 

As many as the judge Pool and logistics can handle.

 

Let's end this uncertainty of which category to place a beer, and let's go with an unlimited (but realistically around 150) number of styles and sub-styles combined.

 

The BJCP has the best system for categorizing and sub-categorizing beers for a competition that I have seen. Using a limited number of categories or super-categories is fine if it's something like a county fair or if you want to limit a competition to specific styles. For a full competition it should include something more comprehensive.

 

Yes, too many categories at many competitions. It becomes a major project pouring through the results.
The biggest thing about these these competitions is that they are a way for the unknowns to make a name for themselves and that's a good thing. Meanwhile the already highly hyped breweries (Tree House, Hill Farmstead at al) have nothing to gain and everything to loose entering any competition.

 

The 2024 Gold Medal for Best North American Triple Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Between 14.5-17.2% abv Aged 3+ Years Containing 4 or More Adjuncts of Which At Least One is Vanilla goes to…

 

These competitions almost always keep the entries secret. If a brewery enters and doesn't medal, they are out the entry fees, effort of putting the entries together, and shipping.

Many breweries don't enter because they don't want to. Some miss the entry deadlines. Some enter and don't get the shipment out in time, it happens.

 

And I wouldn't be surprised that some breweries don't enter because they have nothing left to prove. Let the small breweries seek their stardom.