The ALE Club BrewBlog > Club Recipes

All Grain

3.5

40.9

4.8%

Oktoberfest/Marzen — BJCP Style Information

B & D Octoberfest

Oktoberfest/Marzen

Category:	European Amber Lager
Number:	03B

Smooth, clean, and rather rich, with a depth of malt character. This is one of the classic malty styles, with a maltiness that is often described as soft, complex, and elegant but never cloying.

Commercial Examples: Paulaner Oktoberfest, Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen, Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest, Hofbräu Oktoberfest, Victory Festbier, Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Spaten Oktoberfest, Capital Oktoberfest, Gordon Biersch Märzen, Goose Island Oktoberfest, Samuel Adams Oktoberfest.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

10.2

27.7

5.9%

Classic American Pilsner — BJCP Style Information

BC Brew

Classic American Pilsner

Category:	Pilsner
Number:	02C

A substantial Pilsner that can stand up to the classic European Pilsners, but exhibiting the native American grains and hops available to German brewers who initially brewed it in the USA. Refreshing, but with the underlying malt and hops that stand out when compared to other modern American light lagers. Maize lends a distinctive grainy sweetness. Rice contributes a crisper, more neutral character. A version of Pilsner brewed in the USA by immigrant German brewers who brought the process and yeast with them when they settled in America. They worked with the ingredients that were native to America to create a unique version of the original Pilsner. This style died out after Prohibition but was resurrected as a home-brewed style by advocates of the hobby

Commercial Examples: Occasional brewpub and microbrewery specials.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

4.3

38.9

5.9%

Imperial IPA — BJCP Style Information

Bitter Man

Imperial IPA

Category:	India Pale Ale (IPA)
Number:	14C

An intensely hoppy, very strong pale ale without the big maltiness and/or deeper malt flavors of an American barleywine. Strongly hopped, but clean, lacking harshness, and a tribute to historical IPAs. Drinkability is an important characteristic; this should not be a heavy, sipping beer. It should also not have much residual sweetness or a heavy character grain profile.

Commercial Examples: Russian River Pliny the Elder, Three Floyd’s Dreadnaught, Avery Majaraja, Bell’s Hop Slam, Stone Ruination IPA, Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, Surly Furious, Rogue I2PA, Moylan’s Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale, Stoudt’s Double IPA, Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA, Victory Hop Wallop.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

9.9%

Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)

BK ESB

Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale) — BJCP Style Information

Category:	English Pale Ale
Number:	08C

An average-strength to moderately-strong English ale. The balance may be fairly even between malt and hops to somewhat bitter. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales. A rather broad style that allows for considerable interpretation by the brewer.

Commercial Examples: Fullers ESB, Adnams Broadside, Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger, Young’s Ram Rod, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale, Bass Ale, Whitbread Pale Ale, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Marston’s Pedigree, Black Sheep Ale, Vintage Henley, Mordue Workie Ticket, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Greene King Abbot Ale, Bateman's XXXB, Gale’s Hordean Special Bitter (HSB), Ushers 1824 Particular Ale, Hopback Summer Lightning, Great Lakes Moondog Ale, Shipyard Old Thumper, Alaskan ESB, Geary’s Pale Ale, Cooperstown Old Slugger, Anderson Valley Boont ESB, Avery 14’er ESB, Redhook ESB.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

15.1

54.3

6.4%

Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)

BK ESB 2009

Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale) — BJCP Style Information

Category:	English Pale Ale
Number:	08C

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

9.8

34.5

6.7%

Blackberry & Cracked Peppercorn Belgian Stout

Belgian Specialty Ale

Belgian Specialty Ale — BJCP Style Information

Category:	Belgian and French Ale
Number:	16E

Variable. This category encompasses a wide range of Belgian ales produced by truly artisanal brewers more concerned with creating unique products than in increasing sales.

Commercial Examples: Orval; De Dolle’s Arabier, Oerbier, Boskeun and Stille Nacht; La Chouffe, McChouffe, Chouffe Bok and N’ice Chouffe; Ellezelloise Hercule Stout and Quintine Amber; Unibroue Ephemere, Maudite, Don de Dieu, etc.; Minty; Zatte Bie; Caracole Amber, Saxo and Nostradamus; Silenrieu Sara and Joseph; Fantôme Black Ghost and Speciale Noël; Dupont Moinette, Moinette Brune, and Avec Les Bons Voeux de la Brasserie Dupont; St. Fullien Noël; Gouden Carolus Noël; Affligem Nöel; Guldenburg and Pere Noël; De Ranke XX Bitter and Guldenberg; Poperings Hommelbier; Bush (Scaldis); Moinette Brune; Grottenbier; La Trappe Quadrupel; Weyerbacher QUAD; Bière de Miel; Verboden Vrucht; New Belgium 1554 Black Ale; Cantillon Iris; Russian River Temptation; Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomme and Devotion, Lindemans Kriek and Framboise, and many more.

OG Range	FG Range	ABV Range	Bitterness Range	Color Range
Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

All Grain

29.1

American Barleywine — BJCP Style Information

BMFB

American Barleywine

Category:	Strong Ale
Number:	19C

A well-hopped American interpretation of the richest and strongest of the English ales. The hop character should be evident throughout, but does not have to be unbalanced. The alcohol strength and hop bitterness often combine to leave a very long finish.

Commercial Examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Victory Old Horizontal, Rogue Old Crustacean, Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine, Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale, Anchor Old Foghorn, Three Floyds Behemoth, Stone Old Guardian, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws, Lagunitas Olde GnarleyWine, Smuttynose Barleywine, Flying Dog Horn Dog.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

Partial Mash

17.2

103

Open Category Mead — BJCP Style Information

Castle Bochet (Mead)

Open Category Mead

Category:	Other Mead
Number:	26C

See standard description for entrance requirements. Entrants MUST specify carbonation level, strength, and sweetness. Entrants MAY specify honey varieties. Entrants MUST specify the special nature of the mead, whether it is a combination of existing styles, an experimental mead, a historical mead, or some other creation. Any special ingredients that impart an identifiable character MAY be declared.

Commercial Examples: Jadwiga, Hanssens/Lurgashall Mead the Gueuze, Rabbit’s Foot Private Reserve Pear Mead, White Winter Cherry Bracket, Saba Tej, Mountain Meadows Trickster’s Treat Agave Mead, Intermiel Rosée.

OG Range	FG Range	ABV Range	Bitterness Range	Color Range
Varies	Varies	Varies	N/A	N/A

All Grain

13.5%

ALE Club Admin

Celis White Clone - Beer Captured

Witbier

Witbier — BJCP Style Information

Category:	Belgian and French Ale
Number:	16A

A refreshing, elegant, tasty, moderate-strength wheat-based ale.

Commercial Examples: Hoegaarden Wit, St. Bernardus Blanche, Celis White, Vuuve 5, Brugs Tarwebier (Blanche de Bruges), Wittekerke, Allagash White, Blanche de Bruxelles, Ommegang Witte, Avery White Rascal, Unibroue Blanche de Chambly, Sterkens White Ale, Bell’s Winter White Ale, Victory Whirlwind Witbier, Hitachino Nest White Ale.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

5.6

16.6

7.3%

Oktoberfest/Marzen — BJCP Style Information

Cindy's Octoberfest

Oktoberfest/Marzen

Category:	European Amber Lager
Number:	03B

Smooth, clean, and rather rich, with a depth of malt character. This is one of the classic malty styles, with a maltiness that is often described as soft, complex, and elegant but never cloying.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

Partial Mash

9.8

18.9

Brown Porter — BJCP Style Information

Coffee Porter

Brown Porter

Category:	Porter
Number:	12A

A fairly substantial English dark ale with restrained roasty characteristics.

Commercial Examples: Fuller's London Porter, Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, Burton Bridge Burton Porter, RCH Old Slug Porter, Nethergate Old Growler Porter, Hambleton Nightmare Porter, Harvey’s Tom Paine Original Old Porter, Salopian Entire Butt English Porter, St. Peters Old-Style Porter, Shepherd Neame Original Porter, Flag Porter, Wasatch Polygamy Porter.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

21.2

33.1

4.4%

Fat Tire Clone - Beer Captured

Belgian Pale Ale

Belgian Pale Ale — BJCP Style Information

Category:	Belgian and French Ale
Number:	16B

A fruity, moderately malty, somewhat spicy, easy-drinking, copper-colored ale.

Commercial Examples: De Koninck, Speciale Palm, Dobble Palm, Russian River Perdition, Ginder Ale, Op-Ale, St. Pieters Zinnebir, Brewer’s Art House Pale Ale, Avery Karma, Eisenbahn Pale Ale, Ommegang Rare Vos.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

12.7

5.9%

Classic American Pilsner — BJCP Style Information

Give Me Liberty

Classic American Pilsner

Category:	Pilsner
Number:	02C

Commercial Examples: Occasional brewpub and microbrewery specials.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

5.7%

American Brown Ale — BJCP Style Information

Honey Nut Brown

American Brown Ale

Category:	American Ale
Number:	10C

Can be considered a bigger, maltier, hoppier interpretation of Northern English brown ale or a hoppier, less malty Brown Porter, often including the citrus-accented hop presence that is characteristic of American hop varieties.

Commercial Examples: Bell’s Best Brown, Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale, Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale, North Coast Acme Brown, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Lost Coast Downtown Brown, Left Hand Deep Cover Brown Ale.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

11.1

22.8

5.7%

Imperial Stout — BJCP Style Information

Imperial Coffee Stout

Imperial Stout

Category:	Stout
Number:	13F

An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play.

Commercial Examples: Three Floyd’s Dark Lord, Bell’s Expedition Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Stone Imperial Stout, Samuel Smith Imperial Stout, Scotch Irish Tsarina Katarina Imperial Stout, Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, Deschutes The Abyss, Great Divide Yeti, Southampton Russian Imperial Stout, Rogue Imperial Stout, Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, Great Lakes Blackout Stout, Avery The Czar, Founders Imperial Stout, Victory Storm King, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

43.9

9.9%

Imperial IPA — BJCP Style Information

Imperial IPA

Category:	India Pale Ale (IPA)
Number:	14C

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

16.5

121.3

9.7%

Robust Porter — BJCP Style Information

In a Pinch Porter

Robust Porter

Category:	Porter
Number:	12B

A substantial, malty dark ale with a complex and flavorful roasty character.

Commercial Examples: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Meantime London Porter, Anchor Porter, Smuttynose Robust Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Deschutes Black Butte Porter, Boulevard Bully! Porter, Rogue Mocha Porter, Avery New World Porter, Bell’s Porter, Great Divide Saint Bridget’s Porter.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

44.1

42.4

5.6%

English IPA — BJCP Style Information

Johns Hyperspace IPA

English IPA

Category:	India Pale Ale (IPA)
Number:	14A

A hoppy, moderately strong pale ale that features characteristics consistent with the use of English malt, hops and yeast. Has less hop character and a more pronounced malt flavor than American versions.

Commercial Examples: Meantime India Pale Ale, Freeminer Trafalgar IPA, Fuller's IPA, Ridgeway Bad Elf, Summit India Pale Ale, Samuel Smith's India Ale, Hampshire Pride of Romsey IPA, Burton Bridge Empire IPA,Middle Ages ImPailed Ale, Goose Island IPA, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

O.T.B. 2 (Orval Type Beer)

Extract

7.7%

John Robertson

Belgian Specialty Ale

Belgian Specialty Ale — BJCP Style Information

Category:	Belgian and French Ale
Number:	16E

Variable. This category encompasses a wide range of Belgian ales produced by truly artisanal brewers more concerned with creating unique products than in increasing sales.

OG Range	FG Range	ABV Range	Bitterness Range	Color Range
Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

All Grain

6.4%

Old Ale — BJCP Style Information

Old Ale

Category:	Strong Ale
Number:	19A

An ale of significant alcoholic strength, bigger than strong bitters and brown porters, though usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. Usually tilted toward a sweeter, maltier balance. “It should be a warming beer of the type that is best drunk in half pints by a warm fire on a cold winter’s night” – Michael Jackson.

Commercial Examples: Gale’s Prize Old Ale, Burton Bridge Olde Expensive, Marston Owd Roger, Greene King Olde Suffolk Ale , J.W. Lees Moonraker, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, Fuller’s Vintage Ale, Harvey’s Elizabethan Ale, Theakston Old Peculier (peculiar at OG 1.057), Young's Winter Warmer, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild, Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome, Fuller’s 1845, Fuller’s Old Winter Ale, Great Divide Hibernation Ale, Founders Curmudgeon, Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, Coniston Old Man Ale, Avery Old Jubilation.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

11.8

40.3

8.3%

Bohemian Pilsener — BJCP Style Information

Parsnip pilsner

Bohemian Pilsener

Category:	Pilsner
Number:	02B

Uses Moravian malted barley and a decoction mash for rich, malt character. Saaz hops and low sulfate, low carbonate water provide a distinctively soft, rounded hop profile. Traditional yeast sometimes can provide a background diacetyl note. Dextrins provide additional body, and diacetyl enhances the perception of a fuller palate.

Commercial Examples: Pilsner Urquell, Kru?ovice Imperial 12°, Budweiser Budvar (Czechvar in the US), Czech Rebel, Staropramen, Gambrinus Pilsner, Zlaty Bazant Golden Pheasant, Dock Street Bohemian Pilsner.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

5.3

40.9

5.1%

Special/Best/Premium Bitter

Party Gyle Bitter

Special/Best/Premium Bitter — BJCP Style Information

Category:	English Pale Ale
Number:	08B

A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.

Commercial Examples: Fuller's London Pride, Coniston Bluebird Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnams SSB, Young’s Special, Shepherd Neame Masterbrew Bitter, Greene King Ruddles County Bitter, RCH Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter, Brains SA, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Goose Island Honkers Ale, Rogue Younger’s Special Bitter.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

11.8

41.4

4.3%

American IPA — BJCP Style Information

Party Gyle IPA

American IPA

Category:	India Pale Ale (IPA)
Number:	14B

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.

Commercial Examples: Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, AleSmith IPA, Russian River Blind Pig IPA, Stone IPA, Three Floyds Alpha King, Great Divide Titan IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA, Victory Hop Devil, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Anderson Valley Hop Ottin’, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Founder’s Centennial IPA, Anchor Liberty Ale, Harpoon IPA, Avery IPA.

OG Range

FG Range

ABV Range

All Grain

15.1

65.6

7.3%

Specialty Beer — BJCP Style Information

Popcorn Ale

Specialty Beer

Category:	Specialty Beer
Number:	23A

A harmonious marriage of ingredients, processes and beer. The key attributes of the underlying style (if declared) will be atypical due to the addition of special ingredients or techniques; do not expect the base beer to taste the same as the unadulterated version. Judge the beer based on the pleasantness and harmony of the resulting combination. The overall uniqueness of the process, ingredients used, and creativity should be considered. The overall rating of the beer depends heavily on the inherently subjective assessment of distinctiveness and drinkability.

Commercial Examples: Bell’s Rye Stout, Bell’s Eccentric Ale, Samuel Adams Triple Bock and Utopias, Hair of the Dog Adam, Great Alba Scots Pine, Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale, Great Divide Bee Sting Honey Ale, Stoudt’s Honey Double Mai Bock, Rogue Dad’s Little Helper, Rogue Honey Cream Ale, Dogfish Head India Brown Ale, Zum Uerige Sticke and Doppel Sticke Altbier, Yards Brewing Company General Washington Tavern Porter, Rauchenfels Steinbier, Odells 90 Shilling Ale, Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, Stone Arrogant Bastard.

OG Range	FG Range	ABV Range	Bitterness Range	Color Range
Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

All Grain

4.1

15.2

2.9%