BJCP Category Question: Fruited Berliner Weisse

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by homebrew311, Feb 15, 2015.

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  1. homebrew311

    homebrew311 Pooh-Bah (2,144) May 19, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Trying to figure out which category to enter my Blueberry Berliner Weisse in for the National Hombrew Competition. It doesn't seem to belong in 17A as it has fruit added. I'm leaning towards either 20 or 17F. My hesitation with 20 is the fact that it is a very acidic beer and I don't know that it would judge well against other straight fruit beers. That leaves me with fruit lambic which would account for the acidity, but the beer is not a lambic so I don't know if that's appropriate. I am trying to avoid 23A as I already have an entry in that category. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
     
    #1 homebrew311, Feb 15, 2015
  2. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    I think that Fruit beer is probably best. In this category you state the base-beer style (as well as type of fruit), so the judges should not be surprised.
     
    #2 utahbeerdude, Feb 15, 2015
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  3. GavinHarper

    GavinHarper Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2014 California

    2nd this
     
    #3 GavinHarper, Feb 16, 2015
  4. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    Yep, it's absolutely positively a fruit beer, category 20. If the judges ding it for being sour then try a different competition until they get it right.

    Kind of funny, though... if it were just a little stronger and could be considered a lambic then it would be a fruit lambic category 17F.

    If for some reason it's very difficult or impossible to taste the fruit then enter it just as a Berliner weisse. Enter based on taste. But if it really tastes like a blueberry Berliner then it's definitely category 20.
     
    #4 dmtaylor, Feb 16, 2015
  5. homebrew311

    homebrew311 Pooh-Bah (2,144) May 19, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well considering it is a bright purple/pink color, I don't think the berliner category will work, lol. I appreciate the feedback and will go with 20. Considering its a national comp, I would hope the judges would know what's up. I was just concerned that it wouldn't fare well if the rest of the brews in the category are not sour.
     
    #5 homebrew311, Feb 16, 2015
  6. Scumbag81

    Scumbag81 Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2014 California
    Trader

    I've done well in the fruit beer category in local comps with a fruited berliner (passionfruit). Its where it you'll have the best chance, just make sure to list berliner as the base style.
     
    #6 Scumbag81, Feb 16, 2015
  7. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    What did you use for blueberry flavor? How much? Blueberry is one of the most difficult fruit flavors to faithfully reproduce in beer. If you cheated and used even a drop of artificial blueberry flavor, you can remain silent.
     
    #7 Brew_Betty, Feb 16, 2015
  8. homebrew311

    homebrew311 Pooh-Bah (2,144) May 19, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I used 5lbs of frozen blueberries. While I wouldn't say the flavor of blueberry is pronounced like say a blueberry muffin, it definitely adds to the acidity and gives it a really nice color. That part of the reason why I was hesitant to enter the fruit category. I think the blueberry gives it a ton of character and makes it a more complex brew, I just don't know if I could blindly tell it is blueberries.
     
    #8 homebrew311, Feb 17, 2015
  9. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    Next time use twice as much.
     
    #9 dmtaylor, Feb 17, 2015
  10. homebrew311

    homebrew311 Pooh-Bah (2,144) May 19, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I ran out of Carboy real estate, had it packed to the brim. Perhaps next time I should age it on 5 lbs for a while and transfer it to another 5 lbs.
     
    #10 homebrew311, Feb 17, 2015
  11. OldSock

    OldSock Maven (1,418) Apr 3, 2005 District of Columbia

    I'm entering a Lemon Berliner at NHC, same plan (category 20). Mine is probably too subtle to do well in competition, but it's one of my favorite batches recently.
     
    #11 OldSock, Feb 18, 2015
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