BJCP 28A · American Wild Ale
Brett Beer
A beer fermented with Brettanomyces on top of a base style: fruity or rustic, dry and without noticeable sourness. Balance is what's judged most.
This is a specialty category, so it has no numbers of its own. Gravity, bitterness, color and alcohol are those of the base style you choose, plus whatever the special ingredient or process adds.
What Brett Beer is like
A beer in which Brettanomyces adds a fruity, rustic or funky character to a base style, without lactic bacteria, so it shouldn't be sour. It can be fermented with Brett alone or with regular yeast followed by Brett.
Appearance
That of the base style. It may be a little hazy.
Aroma
Depending on the strain and age, anything from tropical or stone fruit in young versions to leather, barnyard or spicy notes in older ones. The base style should still be recognizable.
Flavor
The base style as modified by the Brett, which usually makes it drier, with fruity or earthy notes. No marked sourness; a very faint tartness is the most that's acceptable. No vinegar or solvent-like flavors.
Mouthfeel
Body a bit lighter than the base because of the high attenuation. Moderate to high carbonation.
Where Brett Beer comes from
Brettanomyces has always been present in wood-aged beer, from English stock ales to Orval. Using it as the only yeast is modern, and American craft breweries popularized it.
Ingredients
Those of the base style, plus one or more Brettanomyces strains. No Lactobacillus or Pediococcus.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Brett Beer at home
Start from a base style and ferment with Brett, either alone or after a regular yeast; you have to state the base when you enter it. With Brett in secondary, wait several months and make sure the gravity has stopped dropping before you bottle, or you'll end up with overcarbonated bottles. Keep separate plastic gear for Brett fermentations. Judges look for Brett that adds to the base without erasing it.
Food pairing
Washed-rind cheeses, roast pork and seared mushrooms.
Glassware: Teku glass, a tasting glass that works with almost any style.
Frequently asked questions
What food pairs well with Brett Beer?
Washed-rind cheeses, roast pork and seared mushrooms.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer, Wild Specialty Beer and Belgian Pale Ale.
If you like Brett Beer, try these
Classification and statistics: official Brett Beer guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.