The Brewers Association has released its Beer Style Guidelines for 2021. Reviewed and revised annually by the BA, these guidelines serve as a model resource for brewers, beer judges, and competition organizers.
Hundreds of revisions, edits, format changes, and additions were made to this year’s guidelines, including updates to existing beer styles and the creation of new categories. New additions to the beer styles include Kentucky Common Beer, New Zealand-Style Pale Ale and India Pale Ale and Belgian-Style Session Ale
“Craft brewers in the U.S. and around the world continue to push the boundaries of beer by reviving long lost styles and by innovating in new beer flavor spaces,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Brewers Association said in a statement. “The 2021 Beer Style Guidelines reflect many exciting trends in brewing with numerous additions and updates for accuracy.”
The Brewers Association’s Beer Style Guidelines reflect, as much as possible, historical significance, authenticity, or a high profile in the current commercial beer market. The addition of a style or the modification of an existing one is not undertaken lightly and is the product of research, analysis, consultation, and consideration of market actualities, and may take place over a period of time. Another factor considered is that current commercial examples do not always fit well into the historical record, and instead represent a modern version of the style.
See the full BA statement here and download the 2021 Beer Style Guidelines here.