BJCP 34A · Specialty Beer
Commercial Specialty Beer
A category for recreating a specific commercial beer that doesn't fit any style in the guidelines. It's judged against the original beer.
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 Commercial Specialty Beer is like
A clone of a one-of-a-kind commercial beer that doesn't fit in any other category in the guidelines. It's compared with the original beer the brewer names.
Appearance
That of the original commercial beer.
Aroma
That of the original beer.
Flavor
That of the original beer. The judge assesses how closely it matches and whether it's enjoyable to drink.
Mouthfeel
That of the original beer.
Where Commercial Specialty Beer comes from
It's a new category in the 2021 BJCP guidelines, meant for unique commercial beers that don't belong to any recognized style.
Ingredients
Whatever it takes to reproduce the original beer.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Commercial Specialty Beer at home
You have to give the name of the commercial beer you're cloning, and it's a good idea to describe it, because the judge may not know it. Before choosing this category, make sure the beer doesn't fit another style in the guidelines, which is where it should go.
Food pairing
Whatever works best with the original beer.
Glassware: Teku glass, a tasting glass that works with almost any style.
Frequently asked questions
What food pairs well with Commercial Specialty Beer?
Whatever works best with the original beer.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Mixed-Style Beer and Experimental Beer.
If you like Commercial Specialty Beer, try these
Classification and statistics: official Commercial Specialty Beer guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.