Style Comparison Tool

Compare any two BJCP beer styles side by side. View differences in OG, FG, IBU, SRM, and ABV ranges displayed as overlapping bar charts. See sensory profile differences for aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and appearance at a glance.

Calculator

Select Two Styles

Attribute

How to Use

  1. 1
    Select two beer styles to compare

    Choose any two BJCP-recognized styles from the dropdown menus. You can compare within a family (American IPA vs. American Double IPA), across families (German Pilsner vs. American Light Lager), or between historical and modern expressions of the same base style to understand evolution over time.

  2. 2
    Review the side-by-side specifications

    The comparison displays OG range, FG range, IBU range, SRM range, ABV range, and characteristic descriptors for each style. These ranges represent BJCP guidelines as codified in the most current edition of the BJCP Style Guidelines, which are updated periodically to reflect industry changes.

  3. 3
    Apply insights to recipe design

    Use the specification differences to understand what distinguishes your target styles. If designing a recipe, ensure your parameters fall within the guidelines for your chosen style. Competition brewers should reference the current BJCP guidelines directly for any style they intend to enter, as this tool provides educational summaries rather than competition-grade specifications.

About

Beer style guidelines are the organizing framework through which the brewing community communicates, evaluates, and preserves the world's diverse brewing traditions. From the crisp, mineral Bohemian Pilsner to the complex, dark Belgian Quadrupel, each recognized style represents a convergence of regional ingredients, historical brewing methods, cultural preferences, and generational refinement.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style Guidelines represent the most comprehensive publicly available codification of beer style parameters used in homebrewing competitions throughout North America and beyond. First published in 1985, the guidelines have been revised multiple times to incorporate new styles, retire outdated ones, and update descriptions as palates and brewing practices evolve. The 2021 edition reflects contemporary craft brewing and homebrewing realities, including the recognition of styles that barely existed a decade ago.

For homebrewers, style guidelines serve multiple practical functions. They provide recipe targets (OG, IBU, SRM, ABV ranges) that help brewers calibrate their process toward a defined outcome. They offer descriptive language for evaluating and communicating beer quality. And they connect individual beers to the broader historical and cultural context from which they emerged — understanding that the dry, bitter character of an Irish Extra Stout reflects centuries of Guinness brewing tradition adds meaning and intention to every brew day.

FAQ

Who maintains the BJCP Style Guidelines?
The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) maintains and publishes the Style Guidelines, which are updated periodically by a committee of experienced beer judges and brewing professionals. The BJCP was founded in 1985 to promote knowledge and appreciation of craft beer, mead, and cider. The Style Guidelines are used as the reference standard for homebrew competitions in the United States and internationally. The most recent edition (2021) added new categories, split existing styles into subcategories, and updated descriptions to reflect contemporary craft brewing practices and the emergence of new styles.
How many beer styles are recognized in the BJCP guidelines?
The 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines recognize approximately 35 categories containing roughly 90 distinct beer styles, along with additional subcategories and specialty beer designations. Categories range from familiar American standards (Light American Lager, American Pale Ale) to historical European styles (Märzen, Bière de Garde), to modern craft innovations (Hazy IPA, Pastry Stout — the latter recognized in the Specialty Beer category). The BJCP also publishes separate guidelines for Mead, Cider, and Historical Beer styles. Many competitions use modified or supplemental categories to accommodate locally popular styles not explicitly covered in the main guidelines.
How should I use style guidelines when designing original recipes?
Style guidelines serve as both a constraint and a creative framework. When brewing for competition entry, adherence to style specifications is important since judges evaluate beers against these benchmarks. For personal brewing, guidelines provide historical and technical context that informs recipe design without necessarily dictating it. Understanding why a Bohemian Pilsner specifies soft water, Saaz hops, and decoction mashing helps brewers capture the essence of the style even when using modern ingredients and equipment. The best homebrewers develop fluency in style guidelines not to limit creativity but to communicate clearly about their intentions and understand where their beers sit within the larger world of brewing tradition.
What is the difference between a flagship and a specialty beer for competition?
In BJCP competitions, classic or flagship styles (like American IPA or German Hefeweizen) are judged against detailed specifications with defined OG, FG, IBU, SRM, and ABV ranges along with specific flavor and appearance expectations. Specialty beer categories allow brewers to enter experimental, hybrid, or modified versions of classic styles — adding fruit, spices, wood aging, or other unusual ingredients. Specialty entries require a description that defines the intended base style and modifications, which judges use to evaluate whether the beer achieves its stated goals. Specialty categories have expanded significantly in recent years to accommodate the explosion of creative brewing in the craft industry.
Are BJCP guidelines the only style reference used internationally?
No, the BJCP guidelines are primarily used in North American homebrew competition but have significant international influence. The Brewers Association (BA) publishes their own style guidelines used in professional craft brewing competitions including the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and World Beer Cup. The EBC (European Brewery Convention) and various national brewing associations maintain their own style definitions. International homebrew competitions often use modified versions of BJCP guidelines adapted for local brewing traditions. Some styles, such as Belgian Farmhouse Ales, have multiple overlapping definitions across organizations that reflect genuine regional variation in the historical styles that inspired them.