The Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, has released its Beer Style Guidelines for 2024.
Reviewed and revised annually by the BA, these guidelines and descriptions serve as a model resource for beer drinkers, brewers, beer judges, and competition organisers, and celebrate the great diversity of beer around the world. The BA has compiled them since 1979.
The organisation relies on beer industry experts, physical beer analysis, and sources from commercial breweries from around the world as guides to craft this resource.
The release of the 2024 guidelines begins a new cadence for the release date of the revised guidelines. An early November release, instead of the traditional spring release, allows the most up-to-date feedback from judges at the Great American Beer Festival Competition to be considered and implemented before the opening of registration for the World Beer Cup. Brewers can register and enter their beers for the 2025 World Beer Cup up until 13th December.
The 2024 guidelines feature one newly added style, Italian-style Pilsener. Originating in northern Italy, the beer combines what is considered a traditional German-style Pilsener with a significant addition of noble- variety dry hops. The result is a light, refreshing lager-style beer with a more subtle, herbal hop aroma than the aggressively fruity or tropical aromas found in many dry-hopped American- or West Coast-style India pale ales. The unique combination of Old World tradition and New World innovation makes the beer stand out as a singular style.
“We’re excited to have a new home for the many Italian-style Pilseners we’ve seen popping up in the global beer market over the past few years,” said Chris Williams, BA competition director.
“Giving these beers an opportunity to shine in their own standalone competition category gives us the opportunity to recognise this flavorful style. We look forward to seeing who makes the best Italian-style Pilsener in the world for the 2025 World Beer Cup Competition.”
‘The beer landscape continues to evolve’
Adjustments have also been made to several European styles to adequately reflect traditional and current trends, particularly of beer styles originating in Belgium and Germany.
“Input and feedback from our European colleagues are particularly important,” said Chuck Skypeck, BA technical brewing projects director. “The brewing landscape continues to evolve worldwide. We want to ensure that the BA Beer Style Guidelines continue to be a trusted resource and adequately reflect current beer styles across the globe as brewers innovate and refine their beers.”
The Beer Style Guidelines are a direct product and blend of historical significance, traditional authenticity, and popularity in the current craft beer consumer market, says the BA, Adding a style or modifying an existing style of beer is taken very seriously and is done after extensive expert consultation, research, and analysis of market factors. Another consideration when adding or modifying a style guideline is that commercially available examples are always in flux and may not be representative of historical versions or records of the style.
