Guidelines Flashcards
Category 1
Standard American Beer
Category 2
International Lager
Category 3
Czech Lager
Category 4
Pale Malty European Lager
Category 5
Pale Bitter European Beer
Category 6
Amber Malty European Lager
Category 7
Amber Bitter European Beer
Category 8
Dark European Lager
Category 9
Strong European Beer
Category 10
German Wheat Beer
Category 11
British Bitter
Category 12
Pale Commonwealth Beer
Category 13
Brown British Beer
Category 14
Scottish Beer
Category 15
Irish Beer
Category 16
Dark British Beer
Category 17
Strong British Ale
Category 18
Pale American Ale
Category 19
Amber and Brown American Beer
Category 20
American Porter and Stout
Category 21
IPA
Category 22
Strong American Ale
Category 23
European Sour Ale
Category 24
Belgian Ale
Category 25
Strong Belgian Ale
Category 26
Trappist Ale
Category 1A
American Light Lager
Category 1B
American Lager
Category 1C
Cream Ale
Category 1D
American Wheat Beer
Category 2A
International Pale Lager
Category 2B
International Amber Lager
Category 2C
International Dark Lager
Category 3A
Czech Pale Lager
Category 3B
Czech Premium Pale Lager
Category 3C
Czech Amber Lager
Category 3D
Czech Dark Lager
Category 4A
Munich Helles
Category 4B
Festbier
Category 4C
Helles Bock
Category 5A
German Leichtbier
Category 5B
Kölsch
Category 5C
German Helles Exportbier
Category 5D
German Pils
Category 6A
Märzen
Category 6B
Rauchbier
Category 6C
Dunkles Bock
Category 7A
Vienna Lager
Category 7B
Altbier
Category 7C
Kellerbier
Category 7C-Amber
Amber Kellerbier
Category 7C-Pale
Pale Kellerbier
Category 8A
Munich Dunkel
Category 8B
Schwartzbier
Category 9A
Doppelbock
Category 9B
Eisbock
Category 9C
Baltic Porter
Category 10A
Weissbier
Category 10B
Dunkles Weissbier
Category 10C
Weizenbock
Category 11A
Ordinary Bitter
Category 11B
Best Bitter
Category 11C
Strong Bitter
Category 12A
British Golden Ale
Category 12B
Australian Sparkling Ale
Category 12C
English IPA
Category 13A
Dark Mild
Category 13B
British Brown Ale
Category 13C
English Porter
Category 14A
Scottish Light
Category 14B
Scottish Heavy
Category 14C
Scottish Export
Category 15A
Irish Red Ale
Category 15B
Irish Stout
Category 15C
Irish Extra Stout
Category 16A
Sweet Stout
Category 16B
Oatmeal Stout
Category 16C
Tropical Stout
Category 16D
Foreign Extra Stout
Category 17A
British Strong Ale
Category 17B
Old Ale
Category 17C
Wee Heavy
Category 17D
English Barleywine
Category 18A
Blonde Ale
Category 18B
American Pale Ale
Category 19A
American Amber Ale
Category 19B
California Common
Category 19C
American Brown Ale
Category 20A
American Porter
Category 20B
American Stout
Category 20C
Imperial Stout
Category 21A
American IPA
Category 21B
Specialty IPA
Category 21B: options
Belgian IPA Black IPA Brown IPA Red IPA Rye IPA White IPA
Category 22A
Double IPA
Category 22B
American Strong Ale
Category 22C
American Barleywine
Category 22D
Wheatwine
Category 23A
Berliner Weisse
Category 23B
Flanders Red Ale
Category 23C
Oud Bruin
Category 23D
Lambic
Category 23E
Gueuze
Category 23F
Fruit Lambic
Category 24A
Witbier
Category 24B
Belgian Pale Ale
Category 24C
Bière de Garde
Category 25A
Belgian Blond Ale
Category 25B
Saison
Category 25C
Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Category 26A
Trappist Single
Category 26B
Belgian Dubbel
Category 26C
Belgian Tripel
Category 26D
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Category 27
Historical Beer
Category 27A
Gose Kentucky Common Lichtenhainer London Brown Ale Piwo Grodziskie Pre-Prohibition Lager Pre-Prohibition Porter Roggenbier Sahti
Category 28
American Wild Ale
Category 28A
Brett Beer
Category 28B
Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer
Category 28C
Wild Specialty Beer
Category 29
Fruit Beer
Category 29A
Fruit Beer
Category 29B
Fruit and Spice Beer
Category 29C
Specialty Fruit Beer
Category 30
Spiced Beer
Category 30A
Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
Category 30B
Autumn Seasonal Beer
Category 30C
Winter Seasonal Beer
Category 31
Alternative Fermentables Beer
Category 31A
Alternative Grain Beer
Category 31B
Alternative Sugar Beer
Category 32
Smoked Beer
Category 32A
Classic Style Smoked Beer
Category 32B
Specialty Smoked Beer
Category 33
Wood Beer
Category 33A
Wood-Aged Beer
Category 33B
Specialty Wood-Aged Beer
Category 34
Specialty Beer
Category 34A
Clone Beer
Category 34B
Mixed-Style Beer
Category 34C
Experimental Beer
1A. American Light Lager
Malt: Low or none. Grainy, sweet, corn-like.
Hops: Low or none. Spicy.
Aroma: Clean. Light apple and/or DMS OK.
Taste: Neutral flavor. Crisp, dry finish. Corn flavor OK (perceived as sweetness). Low hop bitterness. Very light body.
IBU: 8 - 12
SRM: 2 - 3
ABV: 2.8 - 4.2
Commercial Examples: Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light
1B. American Lager
Malt: Low or none. Grainy, sweet, corn-like. High adjuncts.
Hops: Low or none. Spicy, light floral.
Aroma: Clean. Light apple and/or DMS OK.
Taste: Neutral flavor. Crisp, dry finish. Corn flavor OK (perceived as sweetness). Low to med-low hop bitterness. Low to med-low body.
IBU: 8 - 18
SRM: 2 - 4
ABV: 4.2 - 5.3
Commercial Examples: Budweiser, Coors Original, Miller High Life, Pabst Blue Ribbon
1C. Cream Ale
Malt: Medium-low to low. Sweet, corn-like.
Hops: Low or none. Spicy, light floral.
Aroma: Medium-low to low. Sweet, corn-like. DMS OK. Low fruity esters OK.
Taste: Low to med-low hop bitterness. Low to moderate maltiness. Low to med body.
IBU: 8 - 20
SRM: 2.5 - 5
ABV: 4.2 - 5.6
Commercial Examples: Genesee Cream Ale, New Glarus Spotted Cow
1D. American Wheat Beer
Aroma: Low to moderate wheat (grainy, bready, doughy). Low to moderate malt. Light esters OK. Banana and/or clove inappropriate. Low to moderate hops (citrusy, spicy, floral, or fruity).
Taste: Light to moderately-strong wheat flavor (grainy, bready, doughy). Moderate malt OK. Low to moderate hops flavor. Medium-light to medium body.
Appearance: Brilliantly clear to hazy. Long-lasting head.
IBU: 15 - 30
SRM: 3 - 6
ABV: 4 - 5.5
Commercial Examples: Bell’s Oberon, Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer, Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Widmer Hefeweizen
2A. International Pale Lager
Appearance: Very clear. Pale Straw to Gold. White, frothy head.
Aroma: Low to medium-low malt (grainy, malty, corny). Very low to medium hops (spicy, floral). Light apple fruitiness OK. DMS OK.
Taste: Low to moderately grainy malt flavor. Low to moderate hops flavor (spicy, floral, herbal). DMS OK. Light to medium body. More bitter and filling than 1B.
IBU: 18 - 25
SRM: 2 - 6
ABV: 4.6 - 6
Commercial Examples: Birra Moretti, Corona Extra, Devils Backbone Gold Leaf Lager, Full Sail Session Premium Lager, Heineken, Red Stripe, Singha
2B. International Amber Lager
Appearance: Bright clearness. Golden-amber to reddish-copper color. White/off white foam.
Aroma: Low to moderate malt (grainy, very low/moderate caramel). Low to no hops (spicy, floral). DMS OK.
Taste: Low to moderately grainy malt flavor. Low to moderate caramel and/or toast. Low to medium low corny-ness OK. Low to moderate hops flavor and bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Light to medium body.
IBU: 18 - 25
SRM: 7 - 14
ABV: 4.6 - 6
Commercial Examples: Brooklyn Lager, Dos Equis Amber, Yuengling Lager
2C. International Dark Lager
Appearance: Deep-amber to dark brown color with ruby highlights. Light tan foam.
Aroma: Little to no malt (grainy, very low/moderate caramel). Medium-low to no caramel or roast. Low to no hops (spicy, floral). Light Apple OK. DMS OK.
Taste: Low to medium malty sweetness. Low to moderate caramel and/or roast (coffee, molasses, cocoa). Low to moderate hops flavor and bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Burnt or moderate roastiness is a defect. Light to medium-light body. Smooth and lightly creamy.
IBU: 8 - 20
SRM: 14 - 22
ABV: 4.2 - 6
Commercial Examples: Devils Backbone Old Virginia Dark, Saint Pauli Girl Dark, Shiner Bock
3A. Czech Pale Lager
Appearance: light gold to deep gold color. Brilliant to very clear. Lasting foam.
Aroma: Light to moderate bready-rich malt. Low to medium-high hops (spicy, herbal). Hint of caramel OK. Light diacetyl and fruity esters OK. Sulfur is a flaw.
Taste: Low to medium bready-rich malt. Rounded hop finish. Low to med-high hop flavor (spicy, herbal). Harsh bitterness is a flaw. Low diacetyl OK. Low fruity esters OK. Low-med to med body.
IBU: 8 - 20
SRM: 3 - 6
ABV: 3 - 4.1
Commercial Examples: Březňák Světlé výčepní pivo, Notch Session Pils
3B. Czech Premium Pale Lager
Appearance: Gold to deep gold color. Brilliant to very clear. Dense, long-Lasting foam.
Aroma: Med to med-high bready-rich malt. Med-low to medium-high hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Hint of caramel OK. Light diacetyl and very low fruity esters OK.
Taste: med to med-high malt. Slight caramel OK. Soft, rounded bitterness. med to med-high hop flavor (spicy, floral, herbal). Harsh bitterness is a flaw. low to med-low diacetyl OK. Low fruity esters OK. med body.
Soft water; low carbonate; low sulfate.
IBU: 30 - 45
SRM: 3.5 - 6
ABV: 4.2 - 5.8
Commercial Examples: Gambrinus Premium, Pilsner Urquell, Primátor Premium
3C. Czech Amber Lager
Appearance: Deep amber to copper color. Clear to Bright clarity. Dense, long-Lasting foam.
Aroma: Moderate, rich malt (bready, milliard, caramel, candy). No to med hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Light diacetyl and low fruity esters (stone fruit, berries) OK.
Taste: med to med-high complex malt (can be dry, milliard, caramelly, candy-like, and/or graham cracker-y). Low to med hop bitterness (spicy). Low diacetyl OK. Low fruity (stone, berries) esters OK. Roasted malt is a flaw. med to med-full body.
Can be similar to vienna lager except with saaz hops.
IBU: 20 - 35
SRM: 10 - 16
ABV: 4.4 - 5.8
Commercial Examples: Bernard Jantarový ležák, Pivovar Vysoký Chlumec Démon, Primátor polotmavý 13°, Strakonický Dudák Klostermann polotmavý ležák 13°
3D. Czech Dark Lager
Appearance
Dark copper to almost black color. Clear to Bright clarity. Large, off-white/tan long-lasting foam.
Aroma
Med to med-high rich, deep, sometimes sweet malt (bread crust, toast, nuts, cola, dark fruit, caramel). None to med roasted malt (sweet coffee, chocolate). No to low hops (spicy). Low diacetyl and low fruity esters (stone fruit, berries) OK.
Flavor
Med to med-high deep, complex malt. Low malt sweetness OK. Caramel, toast, nuts, licorice, dried dark fruit, chocolate, coffee. Low to med roast character OK. Med-low to med hop bitterness (spicy flavor low). Low to med diacetyl OK. Low fruit (stone, berries) esters OK.
Mouthfeel
Med to med-full body. Med creamy OK. Heavy/cloying is a flaw. Slight alcohol warmth OK.
Notes
IBU: 18 - 34
SRM: 14 - 35
ABV: 4.4 - 5.8
Commercial Examples: Bohemian Brewery Cherny Bock 4%, Budweiser Budvar B:Dark tmavý ležák, Devils Backbone Morana, Notch Černé Pivo
4A. Munich Helles
Appearance
Med-yellow to pale gold. Persistent, white foam.
Aroma
Med grainy-sweet malt (bread crust, toast, nuts, cola, dark fruit, caramel). Low to med-low hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Very low DMS OK.
Flavor
Med malty start with slight sweetness. Med grainy-sweet malt flavor. Low to med-low hop flavor (spicy, floral, herbal). Malt dominates, but noticeable hops. Residual sweetness a flaw (only maltiness). Clean lager fermentation.
Mouthfeel
Med body.
Notes
Pilsner malt showcase. Noble hops.
IBU: 16 - 22
SRM: 3 - 5
ABV: 4.7 - 5.4
Commercial Examples: Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Gold, Paulaner Premium Lager, Spaten Premium Lager, Weihenstephaner Original
4B. Festbier
Appearance
Deep-yellow to deep-gold. Persistent, white to off-white foam. Most are med gold.
Aroma
Med malty richness (toast, doughy). Low to med-low hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Deep toast, caramel, or biscuit is a flaw.
Flavor
Med to med-high malty start with slight toast or bread dough. Med-Low to med hop flavor and bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Malt dominates, but noticeable hops. Clean lager fermentation.
Mouthfeel
Med body. Smooth and creamy. Barely warming alcohol OK.
Notes
Less intense than Marzen
IBU: 18 - 25
SRM: 4 - 7
ABV: 5.8 - 6.3
Commercial Examples: Augustiner Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Superior Festbier, Hofbräu Festbier, Paulaner Wiesn, Weihenstephaner Festbier.
4C. Helles Bock
Appearance
Deep-gold to light amber. Brilliant to bright clarity Persistent, white, creamy foam.
Aroma
Moderate to strong grainy-sweet malt (toast, milliard). Low to med-low hops (spicy, floral, herbal).
Flavor
Med to med-high grainy-malt with slight toast or milliard. No to med hop flavor bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Malt dominates, but noticeable hops. Clean lager fermentation. Light DMS OK.
Mouthfeel
Med body. Med to med-high carbonation. Astringency and harsh bitterness a flaw. Light alcohol warming OK.
Notes
Also known as mai bock.
IBU: 23 - 25
SRM: 6 - 11
ABV: 6.3 - 7.4
Commercial Examples: Ayinger Maibock, Einbecker Mai-Urbock, Hacker-Pschorr Hubertus Bock
5A. German Leichtbier
Appearance
Straw to pale gold. Brilliant to clarity. Med white head.
Aroma
Grainy-sweet, slightly crackery malt. Low to med hops (spicy, floral, herbal).
Flavor
Med grainy-sweet malt. Low to med hop flavor and bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Malt dominates, but noticeable hops. Clean lager fermentation.
Mouthfeel
Light to very light body. Med to high carbonation.
Notes
Think american light lager but with german malt and hops.
IBU: 15 - 28
SRM: 2 - 5
ABV: 2.4 - 3.6
Commercial Examples: Beck’s Light, Bitburger Light, Paulaner Münchner Hell Leicht, Paulaner Premium Leicht
5B. Kölsch
Appearance
Very pale to light gold. Brilliant clarity (very clear OK at homebrew level). Med white head.
Aroma
Very low to low malt (grainy sweet). Subtle fruit is OK (apple, pear, cherry). Low hops (spicy, floral, herbal) is optional. Slight winy or sulfury character from yeast is also optional. Overall, subtle aroma.
Flavor
Soft, rounded palate. Grainy-sweet malt (light bread or honey notes). Low to med-high hop flavor and bitterness (spicy, floral, herbal). Malty sweet start OK. Residual sweetness a flaw. Winy, minerally, sulfury flavors OK. Wheat is OK, but rare. Clean lager fermentation.
Mouthfeel
Light to med body. Med to med-high carbonation. Smooth, crisp.
Notes
Oxidation from age a common flaw. Goes bad quickly.
IBU: 18 - 30
SRM: 3.5 - 5
ABV: 4.4 - 5.2
Commercial Examples: Gaffel Kölsch, Mühlen Kölsch, Reissdorf Kölsch
5C. German Helles Exportbier
Appearance
Light gold to pale gold. Clear.
Aroma
Med malt (grainy sweet). Low to med hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Slight sulfur that dissipates quickly and/or very slight DMS is OK.
Flavor
Grainy-sweet malt. Balance between malt and hops is key. Clean lager fermentation. Slight mineral character is OK.
Mouthfeel
Med body. Med carbonation. Smooth, crisp.
Notes
Sometimes known as Dortmunder
IBU: 20 - 30
SRM: 4 - 7
ABV: 4.8 - 6
Commercial Examples: Dortmunder Kronen, Dortmunder Union Export, Gordon Biersch Golden Export, Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
5D. German Pils
Appearance
Straw to light gold. Brilliant to very clear.
Aroma
Low to Med-low malt (grainy sweet, light honey, slightly toasted cracker). Med-low to med-high hops (spicy, floral, herbal). Slight sulfur that dissipates quickly and/or very slight DMS is OK.
Flavor
Med to high hop bitterness dominates. Low to med Grainy-sweet malt. Low to high hop flavor (floral, spicy, herbal). Clean lager fermentation. Med-dry to dry finish. Bitter aftertaste, low malt finish.
Mouthfeel
Med-light body. Med to high carbonation.
Notes
Sometimes known as Dortmunder
IBU: 22 - 40
SRM: 2 - 5
ABV: 4.4 - 5.2
Commercial Examples: König Pilsener, Left Hand Polestar Pils, Paulaner Premium Pils, Tröegs Sunshine Pils
6A. Märzen
Appearance
Amber-orange to red-copper. Gold is incorrect. Bright clarity.
Aroma
Med malt (rich, bready, toasty). No hop aroma. Caramel, biscuit, or roasted aromas are a flaw. Very light alcohol OK.
Flavor
Initial malt flavor suggests sweetness, but finish is dry (toasty, bready, complex). Med hop bitterness. No to low hop flavor. Caramel, biscuit, or roasted flavors are a flaw.
Mouthfeel
Med body. Med to high carbonation.
Notes
This style description specifically refers to the stronger amber lager version.
IBU: 18 - 24
SRM: 8 - 17
ABV: 5.8 - 6.3
Commercial Examples: Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest
