BJCP Style Guidelines

No help for you, but come June the 2014 version is set to drop and will include a category(s) for other IPA styles (Black and Red seem to be fore sure, maybe Belgian/White, Wheat, and I am hoping for Session IPAs too, but not sure).

 

I had the same issue with a red ipa I brewed. After reading all the info bjcp has out right now, I decided to put it in the specialty category, especially since the first beer on the commercial example list was a red ipa. The judges said it wasn't red enough and it drank like a regular ipa. Fantastic comments, both judges really liked it, and then docked me points for it not needing to be in the specialty category. So, long story short, I wish I had just eentered it as an ipa. Hope this helps.

 

For the moment this still belongs in Category 23, with specialty information that describes it something like "9% Imperial Red" (you can put the IBU in there but as with any specialty information always make sure it comes across that way. Just like you don't say you added coffee or fruit if you don't taste it, don't say it is 100 IBU if it comes across as 50, if it says "all late hops" it better not be overly bitter and should be loaded with flavor/aroma hops, etc.) If the impression is super bitter I'd probably mention it. Don't give the judges any excuse to not judge your beer. And obviously it needs to not fit in 14C. Bunch of caramel, deep red color, that sort of thing. Shouldn't fit in 19C either now that I think about it.

good luck--
--Michael

 

If you list it the judge will try and find it, then ding you points because they can't.

Read what Michael says above, it is all spot on.

 

Your brief descriptions suggests it might fit nicely into 19C, American Barleywine. Read the style, taste the beer, and decide. If it doesn't match, then 23.

 

Just enter it into both/several categories. I've had several beers get docked for "wrong category" and then even place in the "wrong" category. Also, it's funny to get completely different feedback from the same beer, sometimes from the same judge with conflicting info.

 

I feel that with BJCP its all about the category you enter it in. Also with entering in category 23, and listing the crazy ingredients the judges will try to pick those out and if they cant find them you will get docked. I know this because I judged a BJCP event and had to judge category 23.

 

This probably wont be much help, I'm pretty new to home brewing so its the best I can think of, But, I would go on a brew calculator and see which style it matches with.

 

Sounds like a bunch of b/s to me. So I put something in to give a very sublte characteristic, maybe even undetectable by itself, but perhaps lending to the drinking experience as a whole, and I get docked? No thanks.

p.s. no offense meants to anyone, this is just why I dont care to enter these kinds of competitions nor do I ever really try to brew strictly to style. To me these guidelines are nothing more than a general reference/starting point.

 

If the the beer tastes good to you, who cares about points or putting it into a competition.

 

Certainly not me. Just giving my thoughts on the matter.

 

I tend to enter only those competitions that I'm judging. I see it as more of a social event than a competition. Bragging rights, high fives, etc. are a lot more fun when I'm there to accept my medals. I tend to brew to my taste. If my taste happens to fit a documented style, I'll consider entering it. But I seldom brew with that in mind.

 

you're right. They're just a way for us to separate the beers. Otherwise it is chaos, and everyone picks their "favorite." The score isn't necessarily a comment on the quality of the beer, just how it rates per style. It might still be amazing.

each club meeting I get a few people coming up to me looking for feedback on their creation. if they say something like "this is a wacky 100% brett beer I threw together" or "I found this recipe for a historical style" I give them feedback on general enjoyment. if they say "this is my first attempt at a German Pilsner" I'll tell them how well it fits the style. If they don't say anything I ask what kind of feedback they are looking for.

 

If the ingredient adds to the beer but is too subtle to be pick up, just don't list it. If you do the judges will try and find it, and if they fail to notice it, you get dinged. That is the way it works. Try judging Cat 23 sometime, not easy.

 

And Im saying its silly to have to hide ingredients for fear of getting docked. Its just not my cup of tea.

 

I can see your viewpoint, but there is not room on the form to list all of the thing one puts into a beer. Think that this is to list what makes the beer special. If you can't smell or taste it, what is special about it?

There are also some beers that used just enough spices to give a beer some small nuance, but not so that the ingredients can be picked out. Think about Belgian beers. Celis White comes to mind, as often there was said to be a special ingredient in addition to the normal ones for a Wit. Some have said cumin, others say chamomile, I have never really decided what that special ingredient was.

 

I'm pretty sure it was "love"

 

That is the Fifth Ingedient.

 

Cheers to @udubdawg for summarizing BJCP competitions in one sentence: “The score isn't necessarily a comment on the quality of the beer, just how it rates per style.”

I have read too many posts on BA where it has been strongly intimated that a high score from a BJCP competition equates exactly to high quality.

Cheers once again to udubdawg!