What BJCP style to enter this brew in

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by firstthenlast, Sep 5, 2014.

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  1. firstthenlast

    firstthenlast Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2013 Massachusetts

    I have brewed plenty but never entered a competition. This is the beer I am making and want to enter.

    I am calling it SMASH IPA Tripel (pilsner and cascade)

    1.090 OG

    100% pilsner malt
    +1.5lb sugar

    Mash 90 minutes at 148-9.

    Boil for 90 minutes, cascade hops are 6% AA

    4 oz at 90 minutes (75IBU)
    4 oz at 1 minute (negligible IBU)
    2 oz of dry hop 7 days in secondary

    Fermented on Wyeast 3787

    Really I dont know if it should be a belgian strong ale (tripel or GSA) or an imperial IPA or a specialty beer.

    I have read about similar beers being entered as belgian or IPAs. However a style recommendation for specialty is "American-style interpretations of European styles (e.g., hoppier, stronger, or ale versions of lagers) or other variants of traditional styles". This is exactly what I am doing. The website also lists many other more radical ideas for a specialty beer. What I am doing is unconventional, but nowhere near as 'out there' as other specialty ales they suggest. I find it weird that something like this would be compared to so much more exotic beers i.e. using potatoes in mash.
     
    #1 firstthenlast, Sep 5, 2014
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    23A.
    If you enter as an Imperial IPA or as a Tripel, I think you're likely to be very disappointed if the judges are good.

    ETE: Sorry, I agree with pweis909. Should have said 16E, the other specialty category.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Sep 5, 2014
  3. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm not so sure about the new BJCP guidelines. Under the old guidelines, I'd call it a 16E Specialty Belgian Ale -- probably a Belgo-American Double IPA, is how I'd explain it.
     
    #3 pweis909, Sep 5, 2014
    premierpro likes this.
  4. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    It was never clear to me. So category 23 would be all specialty beers that can't be characterized as Belgian? It never made sense to me why Belgian beers got singled out for having their own specialty category. From what I remember reading of the newly proposed guidelines, this imbalance may be addressed.
     
    #4 pweis909, Sep 5, 2014
  5. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Potatoes in the mash probably wouldn't be a very successful specialty beer because I don't think it would remind you of anything particularly special when you drink it. I think they key to the specialty beer is that it should taste like it doesn't belong in another category (while still reminding you that it is a beer).
     
    #5 pweis909, Sep 5, 2014
  6. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    I enjoy IPA's pitched with Belgian yeast. Good luck!
     
    #6 premierpro, Sep 5, 2014
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