Eliminate the Hybrid Category?

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by bubseymour, Dec 30, 2020.

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  1. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Consider dropping the Hybrid beer category altogether. Only 4 beer styles currently listed here, and I can easily see these couple of beer styles under each fitting into other categories. For example Cream Ale and Steam Beer go to Pale Ale category (yeah, some lean a little brown in color I realize) and Braggot and Biere de Champagne go over to Specialty (or you could just move all 4 to Specialty. How many beer drinkers identify beer differences of a hybrid vs. specialty categories?

    PS: A tangent, but would we have a need to set up a Farmhouse Ales category and put in Classis Saison, Wild Saisons, Bierre de Garde, Biere de Champagne, Grizzette, Belgian Table Bier (whatever styles make sense to include) under Farmhouse Ales?
     
    #1 bubseymour, Dec 30, 2020
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  2. Sabtos

    Sabtos Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,920) Dec 15, 2015 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm not entirely opposed to either paragraph here, but I think the second should go into the saison thread.
     
    #2 Sabtos, Dec 30, 2020
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  3. cyclonece09

    cyclonece09 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,559) Aug 5, 2008 Wisconsin
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I agree with @bubseymour that Hybrid and Specialty should be considered for combination as it is hard to find a difference.

    On the individual styles to be rolled into others, I may be open but need to hear more opinions. As someone from the Midwest, there is enough Cream Ales being made that I would say it should stay, but could be swayed.
     
    #3 cyclonece09, Dec 30, 2020
  4. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    While Category groups should have a minimum number of styles, following the logic, we would have to reallocate the Dark Ales, and probably the Bocks, and Brown Ales too. I’m not so sure. The Hybrids make sense to me, because they have a unique “kinship.” Besides there may be a few other styles that might be worth considering. Can’t think of any at the moment, yet still...

    As for a Farmhouse Category, that is a good idea. Especially because there are several styles that can be added, such as Grissette, as you mentioned. Another question is if there are enough examples of each to warrant the style designation. Personally, it is surprising that demand for Farmhouse beers is so low.
     
    #4 SLeffler27, Dec 31, 2020
  5. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If we were to keep the hybrid category and not relocate those 4 beer styles elsewhere, IMO Kolsch should be moved out of Pale Ale category and into Hybrid category (because of the weird yeast...is it a lager/is it an ale seems to be a continuing topic of debate).

    Also, just wondering when did Kentucky Common get eliminated as a beer style? It seems they all got dispersed under either Cream Ale or California Common/Steam, Brown ales etc.
     
    #5 bubseymour, Jan 1, 2021
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  6. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, there is solid ground for moving Kolsch to the Hybrid Grouping.

    Kentucky Common seems to be a fun variation, and possibly a candidate for its own style, however they are also rather rarely produced. So I still think they should remain with the Cream Ales.
     
    #6 SLeffler27, Jan 1, 2021
  7. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don’t ever recall a time when Kentucky Common was a listed style here on BA.
     
    #7 dbrauneis, Jan 1, 2021
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  8. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lol you may be right for all I know.
     
    #8 bubseymour, Jan 1, 2021
  9. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Neither do I.
     
    #9 Todd, Jan 2, 2021
  10. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    If we assume that no other hybrid styles will ever be added to the site, then I'd agree. But I assume nothing with beer styles these days.
     
    #10 Todd, Jan 2, 2021
  11. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah there are always new twists being created by brewers (which is great IMO). Since there were only 4 beer styles currently listed under hybrid I was just offering up an idea to consolidate, but if you envision expansion of hybrid styles, then the hybrid category makes perfect sense. Sour IPA perhaps?
     
    #11 bubseymour, Jan 2, 2021
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