Chili Pepper Beer Style
- Color: Can range from pale to very dark depending on the underlying style
- Clarity: Clear or hazy is acceptable
- Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Can vary from very low to medium-high depending on the underlying style
- Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Very low to very high
- Perceived Bitterness: Very low to medium-high
- Fermentation Characteristics: Chili pepper aroma and flavor attributes should be harmonious with the underlying beer style. Chili pepper character may be expressed as vegetal, spicy and/or hot on the palate.
- Body: Representative of underlying style
- Additional notes: Chili Beers are any beers using chili peppers for flavor, aroma and/or heat. Chili character can range from subtle to intense. Chili pepper aroma may or may not be present. Within the framework of these guidelines, all beers containing chili peppers should be categorized as Chili Beers. Beers made with chili peppers which represent more than one style, such as chili beers with chocolate, should be categorized as Chili Beers.
When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, brewers may be asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Such information might include the underlying beer style upon which the entry is based, or other information unique to the entry such as chili(s) used or processing which influence perceived sensory outcomes.
Chili Pepper Beer Vital Statistics
- Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.030-1.110 (7.6-25.9 °Plato)
- Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.006-1.030 (1.5-7.6 °Plato)
- Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 2.0%-10.5% (2.5%-13.3%)
- Bitterness (IBU) 5-70
- Color SRM (EBC) 5-50(10-100 EBC)
2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines used with permission of Brewers Association.
Credit: 2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines – Hybrid/Mixed Lagers or Ale – Chili Pepper Beer