Acceptable Characteristics in Different Beer Styles
This is a simple listing of whether certain sensory characteristics, such as acetaldehyde or diacetyl, are acceptable in certain beer styles tested on the BJCP exam. Note
that it doesn’t list maximum permissible levels, whether the listed characteristic is expected or optional or whether it is acceptable in both aroma and flavor. It also doesn’t
describe the exact character of some traits.
C
at
S
ub
1
A
1
B
1
C
1
D
1
E
2
A
2
B
2
C
3
3
A
B
4
A
4
B
4
C
5
A
5
B
5
5
C
D
Style
Light
American
Lager
Standard
American
lager
Premium
American
Lager
Munich Helles
Dortmunder
Export
German Pils
Bohemian
Pilsner
Classic
American
Pilsner
Vienna Lager
Oktoberfest
Dark
American
Lager
Munich
Dunkel
Schwarzbier
(Black Beer)
Maibock/
Helles Bock
Traditional
Bock
Doppelbock
Eisbock
Acetald
ehyde
Alco
hol
Astring
ency
Bisc
uit
Bre
ady
Cara
mel
Chocolate/
Cocoa
Cof
fee
Diac
etyl
Est
DMS
ery
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Grai
ny
Nutt Sulf
y
ury
Spic Roas Smo
e
t
ke
Toas
t
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
6
6
A
B
C
6
D
7
A
7
B
7
C
8
A
8
B
8
C
9
A
9
B
9
C
9
D
9
E
10
A
10
B
10
C
11
A
11
B
11
C
Cream Ale
Blonde Ale
Kölsch
American
Wheat or Rye
Northern
German
Altbier
California
Common Beer
Düsseldorf
Altbier
Standard/
Ordinary
Bitter
Special/Best/
Premium
Bitter
Extra
Special/Strong
Bitter (English
Pale Ale)
Scottish Light
60/Scottish
Heavy 70/Scottish
Export 80/Irish Red Ale
Strong Scotch
Ale
American
Pale Ale
American
Amber Ale
American
Brown Ale
Mild
Southern
English Brown
Northern
English Brown
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
12
12
12
13
13
14
A
B
C
A
B
C
13
D
13
E
13
F
14
14
13
A
B
C
15
A
15
15
B
C
15
D
16
A
16
B
16
C
16
D
17
A
17
B
17
C
17
D
17
17
E
F
Ale
Brown Porter
Robust Porter
Baltic Porter
Dry Stout
Sweet Stout
Imperial IPA
Foreign Extra
Stout
American
Stout
Russian
Imperial
Stout
English IPA
American IPA
Oatmeal Stout
Weizen/
Weissbier
Dunkelweizen
Weizenbock
Roggenbier
(German Rye
Beer)
Witbier
Belgian Pale
Ale
Saison
Bière de
Garde
Berliner
Weisse
Flanders Red
Ale
Flanders
Brown
Ale/Oud Bruin
Straight
(Unblended)
Lambic
Gueuze
Fruit Lambic
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
18
A
18
B
18
C
18
D
18
E
19
A
19
B
19
C
22
A
Belgian Blond
Ale
Belgian
Dubbel
Belgian Tripel
Belgian
Golden Strong
Ale
Belgian Dark
Strong Ale
Old Ale
English
Barleywine
American
Barleywine
Classic
Rauchbier
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X