BJCP 2021 / 28C
Wild Specialty Beer
A wild ale where fruit, herbs or spices and the microbes work together.
- Any age
- wild fermentation
- north america
- craft style
- specialty beer
Serve: 48 to 54F, Tulip or wine glass
The BJCP gives no numbers. Follow the base style (28A, 28B or 28D) the brewer declares.
Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Added fruit, herbs or spices
- Wild and sour notes alongside them
- The two blended into one aroma
- Vague
- Fruity
- Better
- Fruit with a wild edge
- Best
- Clear raspberry or cherry over tart, funky wild notes, the two blended into one flavor
Appearance
3 pts- Follows the base style
- Often tinted by the added ingredient
- Haze is fine
- Vague
- Pink
- Better
- Ruby and hazy
- Best
- Color from the fruit, carried into the head, light haze, weak head retention
Flavor
20 pts- Added ingredient and wild character both present
- Fruit sugars mostly fermented out
- Acidity that lifts the fruit
- Vague
- Fruity sour
- Better
- Tart fruit with funk
- Best
- Clear fruit flavor with fresh acidity and light funk, wood balanced if used, dry finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Usually light body
- Moderate to high carbonation
- Light tannin from fruit or wood
- Vague
- Light
- Better
- Light and dry
- Best
- Light body, lively carbonation, slight dryness from fruit skins or wood
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Blend of ingredient and funk
- Acidity that flatters the fruit
Drops it
- Fruit masked by acid
- Raw, harsh spice
Writing tip
Name the added ingredient first, then the wild part. Example: 'Fresh cherry with tart acidity and light funk. Fruit stays clear.'
Pour these
- SupplicationRussian RiverCherry-forward barrel sour
- Cuvee de TommeThe Lost AbbeyDark, cherry-rich and tart
- Wisconsin Belgian RedNew GlarusCherry-heavy, jammy and tart
Often confused with
- 28B Mixed-Fermentation Sour BeerMixed-Fermentation Sour has no added ingredients
- 29A Fruit BeerFruit Beer has clean fermentation and no wild character
Fine here
- Sour/Acidic: Strong lactic acidity fits
- Astringent: A little tannin from skins or wood
Ruinous here
- Sour/Acidic: Vinegar
- Phenolic: Medicinal funk
- Oxidized: Stale or papery
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.