BJCP Styles - Appearance

Question 1

1A Lite American Lager

Answer 1

Very pale straw to pale yellow color. White, frothy head seldom persists. Very clear.

Question 2

1B Standard American Lager

Answer 2

Very pale straw to medium yellow color. White, frothy head seldom persists. Very clear.

Question 3

1C Premium American Lager

Answer 3

Pale straw to gold color. White, frothy head may not be long lasting. Very clear.

Question 4

1D Munich Helles

Answer 4

Medium yellow to pale gold, clear with a creamy, white head.

Question 5

1E Dortmunder Export

Answer 5

Light gold to deep gold, clear with a persistent white head.

Question 6

2A German Pilsner

Answer 6

Straw to light gold, brilliant to very clear, with a creamy, long-lasting, white head.

Question 7

2B Bohemian Pilsener

Answer 7

Very pale gold to deep burnished gold, brilliant to very clear with a dense, long lasting creamy white head.

Question 8

2C Classic American Pilsner

Answer 8

Yellow to deep gold color. Substantial, long lasting white head. Bright clarity.

Question 9

3A Vienna Lager

Answer 9

Light reddish amber to copper color. Bright clarity. Large, off-white, persistent head.

Question 10

3B Oktoberfest/Marzen

Answer 10

Dark gold to deep orange-red color. Bright clarity with solid, off-white, foam stand.

Question 11

4A Dark American Lager

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

4B Munich Dunkel

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

4C Schwarzbier

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

5A Maibock/Helles Bock

Answer 14

Deep gold to light amber in color. Lagering should provide good clarity. Large, creamy persistent white head.

Question 15

5B Traditional Bock

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

5C Doppelbock

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

5D Eisbock

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

6A Cream Ale

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

6B Blonde Ale

Answer 19

Light yellow to deep gold in color. Clear to brilliant. Low to medium white head with fair to good head retention.

Question 20

6C Kolsch

Answer 20

Very pale gold to light gold. Authentic versions are filtered to a brilliant clarity. Has a delicate white head that may not persist.

Question 21

6D American What or Rye Beer

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

7A Northern German Altbier

Answer 22

Light copper to light brown color; very clear from extended cold conditioning. Low to moderate off-white to white head with good retention.

Question 23

7B California Common

Answer 23

Medium amber to light copper color. Generally clear. Moderate off-white head with good retention.

Question 24

7C Dusseldorf Altbier

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

8A Standard/Ordinary Bitter

Answer 25

Light yellow to light copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate off-white head. May have very little head due to low carbonation.

Question 26

8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter

Answer 26

Medium gold to medium copper. Good to brilliant clarity. Low to moderate off-white head. May have very little head due to low carbonation.

Question 27

8C Extra Special/Strong Bitter (EPA)

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

9A Scottish Light 60/-

Answer 28

Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.

Question 29

9B Scottish Heavy 70/-

Answer 29

Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.

Question 30

9C Scottish Export 80/-

Answer 30

Deep amber to dark copper. Usually very clear due to long, cool fermentations. Low to moderate, creamy off-white to light tan-colored head.

Question 31

9D Irish Red Ale

Answer 31

Amber to deep reddish copper color (most examples have a deep reddish hue). Clear. Low off-white to tan-colored head.

Question 32

9E Strong Scotch Ale

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

10A American Pale Ale

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

10B American Amber Ale

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

10C American Brown Ale

Answer 35

Light to very dark brown color. Clear. Low to moderate off-white to light tan head.

Question 36

11A Mild

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

11B Southern English Brown

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

11C Northern English Brown

Answer 38

Dark amber to reddish-brown color. Low to moderate off-white to light tan head.