BJCP Styles - Appearance Flashcards
1A Lite American Lager
Very pale straw to pale yellow color. White, frothy head seldom persists. Very clear.
1B Standard American Lager
Very pale straw to medium yellow color. White, frothy head seldom persists. Very clear.
1C Premium American Lager
Pale straw to gold color. White, frothy head may not be long lasting. Very clear.
1D Munich Helles
Medium yellow to pale gold, clear with a creamy, white head.
1E Dortmunder Export
Light gold to deep gold, clear with a persistent white head.
2A German Pilsner
Straw to light gold, brilliant to very clear, with a creamy, long-lasting, white head.
2B Bohemian Pilsener
Very pale gold to deep burnished gold, brilliant to very clear with a dense, long lasting creamy white head.
2C Classic American Pilsner
Yellow to deep gold color. Substantial, long lasting white head. Bright clarity.
3A Vienna Lager
Light reddish amber to copper color. Bright clarity. Large, off-white, persistent head.
3B Oktoberfest/Marzen
Dark gold to deep orange-red color. Bright clarity with solid, off-white, foam stand.
4A Dark American Lager
Deep amber to dark brown with bright clarity and ruby highlights. Foam stand may not be long lasting, and is usually light tan in color.
4B Munich Dunkel
Deep copper to dark brown, often with a red or garnet tint. Creamy, light to medium tan head. Usually clear, although murky unfiltered versions exist.
4C Schwarzbier
Medium to very dark brown in color, often with deep ruby to garnet highlights, yet almost never truly black. Very clear. Large, persistent, tan-colored head.
5A Maibock/Helles Bock
Deep gold to light amber in color. Lagering should provide good clarity. Large, creamy persistent white head.
5B Traditional Bock
Light copper to brown color, often with attractive garnet highlights. Lagering should provide good clarity despite the dark color. Large, creamy, persistent, off-white head.
5C Doppelbock
Deep gold to dark brown in color. Darker versions often have ruby highlights. Lagering should provide good clarity. Large, creamy, persistent head (color varies with base style: white for pale versions, off-white for dark varieties). Stronger versions might have impaired head retention, and can display noticeable legs.
5D Eisbock
Deep copper to dark brown in color, often with attractive ruby highlights. Lagering should provide good clarity. Head retention may be impaired by higher than average alcohol content and low carbonation. Off-white to deep ivory colored head. Pronounced legs are often evident.
6A Cream Ale
Pale straw to moderate gold in color, although usually on the pale side. Low to medium head with medium to high carbonation. Head retention may be no better than fair due to adjunct use. Brilliant sparkling clarity.
6B Blonde Ale
Light yellow to deep gold in color. Clear to brilliant. Low to medium white head with fair to good head retention.
6C Kolsch
Very pale gold to light gold. Authentic versions are filtered to a brilliant clarity. Has a delicate white head that may not persist.
6D American What or Rye Beer
Usually pale yellow to gold. Clarity may range from brilliant to hazy with yeast approximating the German hefeweizen style of beer. Big, long-lasting white head.
7A Northern German Altbier
Light copper to light brown color; very clear from extended cold conditioning. Low to moderate off-white to white head with good retention.
7B California Common
Medium amber to light copper color. Generally clear. Moderate off-white head with good retention.
7C Dusseldorf Altbier
Light amber to orange-bronze to deep copper color, yet stopping short of brown. Brilliant clarity (may be filtered). Thick creamy long-lasting off-white head.
8A Standard/Ordinary Bitter
Light yellow to light copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate off-white head. May have very little head due to low carbonation.
8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter
Medium gold to medium copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate off-white head. May have very little head due to low carbonation.
8C Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA)
Golden to deep copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate white to off-white head. A low head is acceptable when carbonation is low.
9A Scottish Light 60/-
Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.
9B Scottish Heavy 70/-
Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.
9C Scottish Export 80/-
Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.
9D Irish Red Ale
Amber to deep reddish copper color (most examples have a deep reddish hue). Clear. Low off-white to tan-colored head.
9E Strong Scotch Ale
Light copper to dark brown color, often with deep ruby highlights. Clear. Usually has a large tan head, which may not persist in stronger versions. Legs may be evident in stronger versions.
10A American Pale Ale
Pale golden to deep amber. Moderately large white to off-white head with good retention. Generally quite clear, although dry-hopped versions may be slightly hazy.
10B American Amber Ale
Amber to coppery brown in color. Moderately large off-white head with good retention. Generally quite clear, although dry-hopped versions may be slightly hazy.
10C American Brown Ale
Light to very dark brown color. Clear. Low to moderate off-white to light tan head.
11A Mild
Copper to dark brown or mahogany color. A few paler examples (medium amber to light brown) exist. Generally clear, although is traditionally unfiltered. Low to moderate off-white to tan head. Retention may be poor due to low carbonation, adjunct use and low gravity.
11B Southern English Brown
Light to dark brown, and can be almost black. Nearly opaque, although should be relatively clear if visible. Low to moderate off-white to tan head.
11C Northern English Brown
Dark amber to reddish-brown color. Low to moderate off-white to light tan head.
