Followup on BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines

When I started writing the post BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines, my intention was to set myself up to brew every style in the 2021 BJCP Guidelines next year.

However, as I went through the exercise, I realized that I don't really want to try to brew every style next year.

First ... there are 3 entire categories that I have not brewed a single beer in. AND ... I am missing enough styles that there is no way this is a one year project.

Second ... there are lots of styles I don't really have a desire to brew. 

The categories I'm missing are 

• 16. DARK BRITISH BEER 
• 17. STRONG BRITISH ALE
• 26. MONASTIC ALE

There are styles in each of those categories that I would like to drink and therefore will brew.

16. DARK BRITISH BEER

As I mentioned,  I have brewed a beer that by name should fit (Gnaughty Gnome English Coffee Stout), but doesn't really go nicely into any of the styles in this category. 

Stouticus has used lactose in some of the versions of its recipes, so it could theoretically be called a "Sweet Stout", but its American Hops, bigger ABV, and overall balance isn't quite right for this style. Plus I use Stouticus as my American Stout.

So, I'll just design a recipe to fit in one of the categories. Of the styles in the category, the one I'm most interested in brewing is 16B. Oatmeal Stout, and so ... that is probably the one I'll brew to satisfy this category.

17. STRONG BRITISH ALE

As the name suggests, these are pretty high ABV beers, and that isn't really "my jam". I didn't realize until just now looking at the guidelines that "17B. Old Ale" can go as low as 5.5% ABV. Actually, some of my X-Mas Ales are "Base Beer Only", and I think maybe they would actually fit in this category.

However, I'll design a new recipe for this. I probably won't let it age as long as it should to be considered "old". We'll have to see if I can remember to bottle some to try later.

I don't think I've ever had a "Old Ale" to calibrate to. Colorado's Avery brews a beer they call Old Jubilation, which is listed as a commercial example in the guidelines. Maybe I can find it to give it a try.

I found a recipe on the AHA website called Clan MacIntosh Old Ale, which I can use as a sample recipe. However, it is much bigger than I want to make, so I'll scale it down.

26. MONASTIC ALE

I actually have a style of beer I'm excited about brewing in the Monastic Ale Category.

When the Beer Model and I visited the Bruz breweries, (see X is for Bruz Off FaX and Z is for BruZ Beers), I thought I'd be able to get one of their "Singles", but I think they were out. Regardless, I've been thinking for quite awhile that a  thought brewing a 26A. Belgian Single is a beer I'd like to brew.

"A blond, bitter, hoppy table beer that is very dry and highly carbonated. The aggressive fruity-spicy Belgian yeast character and high bitterness is forward in the balance, with a soft, supportive grainy-sweet malt palate, and a spicy-floral hop profile."

I found an AHA recipe Chimay Dorée Clone, that I will probably use as a starting off point for my recipe.

After I brew these beers, I'll think about looking through for other styles to brew in 2023.

Keep an eye on Sheppy's Blog: BJCP Goal and you'll see how this whole thing goes.

As always keep watching the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with my BBQ, Beer, Biking: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.Of course, don't forget to visit this blog often as well!

Go Blackhawks!

2022 X-Mas Ale (Batch 325)

Every year since I started brewing in 2009, I've brewed a special X-Mas Ale.

Every year, the beer is a similar base with some "Christmasy" flavoring added.

2009 was an extract kit with Cherries, Almond Extract, Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon, and Cloves.

Over the years, I 've done a Hazelnut X-Mas Ale, Peppermint X-Mas Ales, Cherry Pomegranate  ... all kinds of things.

I've even brewed just the base beer a couple of times.

I got started a bit late this year (much like last year). Generally, it is ideal to have this beer ready for Thanksgiving.

However, this year, I didn't even decide on what I would make until a few days ago. I brewed the beer this past Sunday.

X-Mas Ale 2022

BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines

Back in late 2012 (it blows my mind that it was ten years ago) I started the effort of making sure I had brewed at least one beer in every category of the BJCP Style Guidelines. 

See SheppyBrew Styles. You can also follow the progress on Sheppy's Blog: BJCP Goal 

I made it through all the categories, and shortly after I did, the BJCP made a fairly major update, which meant there were new categories to hit.

See 2015 Style Guidelines.

I know I knocked out most of the categories, but I'm not 100% sure I hit them all. I think I did, but I may have missed one or two. (EDIT ... after going through the list, I see now that there are 3 that I missed. I'm going to have to work on fixing that)

Regardless, we now have another new version of the guidelines. BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. The 2021 version isn't as much as a total overhaul that 2015 was, so I think I've probably hit as many of the categories as I had before.

But, I thought I'd take some time to take inventory on BJCP Styles that I have and have not brewed ...

2022 Thanksgiving Turkey

Since 2018, it has been my job to make the Thanksgiving turkeys.

I smoke them outside, which is delicious and also frees up the oven to help the wife planning various sides.

Plus, it's fun for me to do.

Win. Win. Win.

This year, of course, I did it again. My wife got me one of the supermarket frozen turkeys that are always on sale, and I started thawing it out the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, I unwrapped the bird and put it in a beer brine made with salt, pepper, brown sugar, and my some extra Dudoc's Red IPA that I had in a growler.

The 3 B's

If you follow along on this blog at all, you quickly realize that most of my posts have something to do with BBQ, Beer (brewing), or Biking.

Quite a few mention two out of the three. Many combine all three.

BBQ, Beer, Biking

Just about every weekend I do at least one activity in each of those categories.

Sometimes when people ask me how my weekend went I just tell them ... "I did the 3 B's".

If it's the first time I've mentioned it to someone, I have to explain, but after that first time, it's never a surprise.

I guess you'd have to say those are my three biggest hobbies. I can also say that during the whole craziness of Covid lockdown, those were big parts of what kept me sane.

L is for Little Dry Creek Brewery

It is amazing to think that the Beer Model and I are already on "L" for this round of our little  A to Z Denver Breweries project.

The wife keeps forcing me out to the breweries.

We posted A is for A Bit Twisted Brewpub in June ... only 5 months ago.

K is for Knuckle Puck Brewery Kombucha & Beer appeared about a week ago.

If my quick math is correct, that's over 2 new breweries visited per month. Crazy!

Regardless, the letter L comes after the letter K, so we needed an "L" brewery.

There are actually a ton of breweries that start with the letter "L" in our area.

Merican Lagers head to head

I don't know if I "said it out loud" on this blog, but I've been wanting to compare my Mr. Awesome Merican Lager to my Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite Lager.

They were certainly designed to be different, but I was curious to see how much.