I’m not sure how secret this was supposed to be but news was slipped on Twitter by someone known and respected that new BJCP guidelines are coming.
Not secret at all lol they are working on a small update. Nothing like the changed from 2008-2015. But again, these aren’t rules, just general guidelines for what to expect in a beer/to be judged against. Not for marketing purposes [emoji28]
(A disclaimer I give everyone when they want to fight with me over what the BJCP says)
Believe me I am no fan of the BJCP guidelines. There has been more disinformation about certain beer styles published by those bozos (no offense Gordon but you know its true) than anywhere else. But according to the tweet these changes are much better than the 2015 update.
Hope these turn out better than 2015. I recall that in 2013/2014, on the BJCP forum, all styles were open for discussion. So, we discussed every style in detail… and then none of our comments were incorporated anyway. Not sure whether I like that method better, or the new method where they just spring the new guidelines upon us like a surprise with zero opportunity for open discussion.
Just one man’s opinion, but they need to figure out a way to be more nimble. Guidelines should cover what folks are brewing. I’m not suggesting abandoning traditional styles, but if folks are brewing newer styles there need to be judging guidelines. BJCP should reflect the members’ brewing habits, not determine them
Perhaps create a “Specialty Fad Beer” category that can follow the beer of the minute.
;D
Ok…let’s cut them some slack. Let us at least allow them the “Flavor Of The Day”, or “Beer Du Jure”.
Brewers are free to brew whatever they wish, with complete disregard for traditional norms or guidelines.
In competitions, the style guidelines reflect historic traditions in beer brewing.
Let’s please keep tradition alive.
Great idea, the entrant can write the “fad” beer characteristics, which will, of course, describe the beer they are entering. Automatic winner!
I don’t know what the new tweaks to the guidelines will be, but as a BJCP judge, there is no need for more “variations on a theme” beer categories.
Keep in mind the amount of volunteer hours that go into creating and updating the guidelines. Think about how difficult that is and how you might approach the job of determining if a selection of particular beers (e.g. dry IPA) merits inclusion or not. There are enough categories to encompass what is out there and what homebrewers can brew well, IMHO.
Oh really? I don’t see a category for a strong, hoppy and pale colored British Mild. Historically that is how they were first brewed.
A lot of BJCP styles, especially the British ones, are ahistorical at best and imaginary at worst. People also mistake the map for the land and don’t appreciate the diversity in the real world. As a descriptive tool I think it has some utility but it shouldn’t be taken prescriptively.
Actually, much can be said for the comments section of each style in the guidelines - it often mentions historical differences and the fact that the guidelines deviate from historical beers in specific ways and sometimes for specific reasons. I only feel constrained to review and follow the guidelines when I am brewing for competitions or judging in them. Anymore that is maybe twice a year at most (last year only once - but it was a gold medal, so I was pretty happy for that event to be held, despite the COVID situation and odd manner of judging remotely that resulted).
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Oh really? I don’t see a category for a strong, hoppy and pale colored British Mild. Historically that is how they were first brewed.
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This beer can be entered in Cat 27 Historical Beer
Awesome, now I can finally enter my hemp banana spaghetti marinara white stout sour in the correct category
I wonder what category Lil Nas X entered Old Town Road in?
Food, drink, music, movies, plays, literature are all subjective art forms that change with time. Categorizing them is a near impossible task and I am sure a thankless endeavor.
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is this about the reinheitsgebot in france?
So true! So interesting that we always want to categorize them despite this.
Remember, the Style Guidelines are just that “guidelines”. You can diverge a bit from them if you feel it makes the beer better. You can also add comments in the Brewer’s Specifics section that will guide the judges in competition when they evaluate the beer.
I said this before, I entered an American Brown Ale in a recent competition that I brewed to a higher ABV and higher IBU’s to balance it. The beer won gold and I got my highest ever score with a 43.