American Strong Ale Catergory Needs Help

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by WilliamLee, Mar 14, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. WilliamLee

    WilliamLee Crusader (415) Jun 29, 2010 Mississippi

    Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co.
    Double Dead Guy Ale - Rogue Ales
    I am suprised to find these two beer in the same category? OK I see that this is a "Catch all style category for beers from 7.0 percent alcohol by volume and above." But it seems like it could be better organized than that. These two beers are linked together by ABV only. One is a strong IPA the other is more of an American Amber, IMO. A catch-all category this wide could be sub-divided at least be divided into Hoppy and Malty.
     
    #1 WilliamLee, Mar 14, 2013
  2. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    All styles have variations. The best thing to do is accept it and move on. There is a reason they are called style guideline and not style rules. Styles to give a broad description of a group of somewhat similar beers, they are not meant to be a definitive descriptor.
    There is absolutely no need for any additional styles.
     
    #2 kzoobrew, Mar 14, 2013
    TMoney2591 and Etan like this.
  3. Nectar

    Nectar Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 New Jersey

    That just looks to me like a fantastic hopped up (as per Stone's MO) strong ale and an overated middle of the road AT BEST (as per Rouges MO) strong ale.
     
    #3 Nectar, Mar 14, 2013
  4. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    what the heck is a strong IPA ?
     
    #4 ShogoKawada, Mar 14, 2013
  5. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    A Strong India Pale Ale?
     
    #5 kzoobrew, Mar 14, 2013
    musicman7070, Nectar and dan027 like this.
  6. dan027

    dan027 Initiate (0) Mar 28, 2011 Pennsylvania

    It tends to happen in most styles really. There are hop bomb IPA's and IPA's that show a lot more malt, barley wines are the same, as well as ambers, etc. This doesn't make them different styles, just the same styles made differently. Variety is the spice of life, don't worry so much about the style, just focus on what tastes good and enjoy!
     
    #6 dan027, Mar 14, 2013
  7. Frankinstiener

    Frankinstiener Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2009 Illinois

    Many of these actually fit into category 23 of BJCP style guidlines which is just "specialty beer" so no more descriptive, but that's the point is many of these just don't fit into other styles. Undercover Investigation and Brown Shugga are barleywines IMO.
     
    #7 Frankinstiener, Mar 14, 2013
  8. TwelveOunces

    TwelveOunces Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2011 Kentucky

    Im going to go ahead and disagree with you here. While Dead Guy is a Maibock, I think of arrogant bastard as a hopped up red. The doubles of both variants are in my opinion, very comparable beers. I think there needs to be a leftover category, which is American strong ale.
     
    #8 TwelveOunces, Mar 14, 2013
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.