BJCP 2021 / 24C
Bière de Garde
A rich, malty farmhouse ale with earthy depth and a smooth finish.
- Any age
- high strength
- pale color
- amber color
- any fermentation
Serve: 46 to 52F, Tulip or flute
OG1.120
1.060 to 1.080FG1.030
1.008 to 1.016IBU120
18 to 28SRM40
6 to 19ABV14%
6.0 to 8.5%Pale, amber and brown versions exist, hence the wide color range.
Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Toasted malt, caramel, bread
- Earthy, cellar-like, slightly musty undertone
- Alcohol warmth
- Vague
- Malty
- Better
- Toasty malt and a cellar note
- Best
- Moderate-high toasted bread and caramel aroma with a gentle earthy cellar note, light alcohol, no hop
Appearance
3 pts- Gold to deep copper-brown
- Clear
- Off-white head
- Vague
- Amber
- Better
- Amber and clear
- Best
- Gold to copper-brown, clear to bright, off-white head with moderate retention
Flavor
20 pts- Rich toasted malt and caramel
- Earthy depth and light spice
- Dry, smooth finish
- Vague
- Malty
- Better
- Rich toast and earthy depth
- Best
- Moderate-high toasted bread, caramel and malt sweetness, earthy and spicy undertones, low hop, medium-dry smooth finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Medium body
- Medium to medium-high carbonation
- Smooth, warming
- Vague
- Smooth
- Better
- Medium body, warming
- Best
- Medium body, smooth, light warmth, medium to medium-high carbonation
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Maltiness with earthiness
Drops it
- Hot alcohol
- Cloying sweetness
Writing tip
Describe the cellar note carefully. Example: 'Toasty malt with gentle earthy depth. Rich but smooth.'
Pour these
- JenlainBrasserie DuyckToasty malt and earthy depth, the classic
- Domaine DuPageTwo Brothers BrewingA US reading with caramel and toast
- 3 MontsBrasserie de Saint-SylvestreGolden, dry and spicy
Often confused with
- 25B SaisonSaison is paler and drier with peppery yeast
- 24B Belgian Pale AleBelgian Pale Ale is lighter and fruitier
Fine here
- Musty: A light cellar earthiness is traditional
- Alcoholic: A warming note fits
Ruinous here
- Diacetyl: Butter
- Solvent: Hot fusels
- Oxidized: Stale
Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.