Ever wonder how a particular style came about?  What it the style really comprises?  You should find all you need in our Beer Styles Explained section!

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Ale or Lager?  Light or Dark?  Fruity or Sour?

The unique aspects that make a particular beer different from the other...

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The BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) 2008 Style guidelines were written by the BJCP Style Committee. Since styles keep evolving as brewers keep innovating, these guidelines are periodically reviewed and updated. The full set of BJCP Style Guidelines, in various formats, can be found at the BJCP Style Center. 

Beer Style Guidelines INTRODUCTION 1. LIGHT LAGER 2. PILSNER 3. EUROPEAN AMBER LAGER 4. DARK LAGER 5. BOCK 6. LIGHT HYBRID BEER 7. AMBER HYBRID BEER 8. ENGLISH PALE ALE 9. SCOTTISH AND IRISH ALE 10. AMERICAN ALE 11. ENGLISH BROWN ALE 12. PORTER 13. STOUT 14. INDIA PALE ALE (IPA) 15. GERMAN WHEAT AND RYE BEER 16. BELGIAN AND FRENCH ALE 17. SOUR ALE 18. BELGIAN STRONG ALE 19. STRONG ALE 20. FRUIT BEER 21. SPICE / HERB / VEGETABLE BEER 22. SMOKE-FLAVORED AND WOOD-AGED BEER 23. SPECIALTY BEER

Mead Style Guidelines INTRODUCTION (Explains 24 - 26) 24. TRADITIONAL MEAD 25. MELOMEL (FRUIT MEAD) 26. OTHER MEAD Cider Style Guidelines INTRODUCTION (Explains 27 - 28) 27. STANDARD CIDER AND PERRY 28. SPECIALTY CIDER AND PERRY