French-Style Bière de Garde – French Origin Ale Styles

French-Style Bière de Garde Style

  • Color: Light amber to chestnut brown/red
  • Clarity: Chill haze is acceptable. These beers are often bottle conditioned so slight yeast haze is acceptable.
  • Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: These beers are characterized by a toasted malt aroma along with a slight malt sweetness and/or toasted malt flavor.
  • Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Low to medium from noble-type hops
  • Perceived Bitterness: Low to medium
  • Fermentation Characteristics: Fruity ester aromas are medium to high. Whereas fruity ester flavors are low to medium. Diacetyl should not be present. Bière de Garde may have low levels of Brettanomyces yeast-derived flavors that are slightly acidic, fruity, horsey, goaty and/or leather-like. Beers displaying more pronounced levels of Brettanomyces derived attributes are categorized as Brett Beers. Alcohol may be evident in higher strength beers.
  • Body: Low to medium
  • Additional notes: Earthy and/or cellar-like aromas are acceptable.

French-Style Bière de Garde Vital Statistics

  • Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.060-1.080 (14.7-19.3 °Plato)
  • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.012-1.024 (3.1-6.1 °Plato)
  • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.5%-6.3% (4.4%-8.0%)
  • Bitterness (IBU) 20-30
  • Color SRM (EBC) 7-16(14-32 EBC)

2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines used with permission of Brewers Association.

Credit: 2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines – Ale Styles – French Origin Ale Styles – French-Style Bière de Garde