What are BJCP style guidelines?

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) publishes detailed style guidelines describing the characteristics of dozens of beer styles. They include ranges for OG, FG, ABV, IBU and colour that define each style.

Do I have to stay within the style range?

Not at all — guidelines are just guidelines. Many award-winning beers push boundaries. However, if entering competitions or trying to brew to style, staying within range helps judges evaluate your beer appropriately.

SRM (Standard Reference Method) measures beer colour. 2-4 SRM is pale straw, 6-9 is gold, 10-18 is amber, 20-30 is brown, and 30+ is very dark. EBC = SRM x 1.97.

The Bitterness Units to Gravity Units ratio (IBU / (OG - 1) x 1000) indicates balance. Below 0.5 is malt-forward, 0.5-0.7 is balanced, above 0.7 is hop-forward.

Should I always follow style guidelines exactly?

Style guidelines are useful references, especially for competitions, but great beer does not always fit neatly into a category. Use them as a starting point and adjust to your personal taste. Many award-winning commercial beers break style conventions.

BrewCalcs

Style Guidelines Calculator — Recipe Design

Check if your recipe parameters fall within BJCP style guidelines.

Beer Style

Original Gravity

Final Gravity

IBU

Colour (SRM)

How We Calculate This

Style Comparison

This calculator compares your recipe values against the published BJCP style ranges. Each parameter (OG, FG, ABV, IBU, colour) is checked against the minimum and maximum for the selected style.

ABV Calculation

ABV is calculated from your OG and FG using the standard formula: ABV = (OG - FG) x 131.25. This is then compared against the style ABV range.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify values and adjust based on your equipment and ingredients.