BJCP 2021 / 29B
Fruit and Spice Beer
Fruit and spice blended with a base beer so all three are noticeable and balanced.
- Drink fresh
- specialty beer
- fruit
- spice
Serve: 40 to 50F, Tulip or pint
The BJCP gives no numbers. Follow the base style the brewer declares.
Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Fruit and spice both noticeable
- Base beer underneath
- Hop aroma reduced
- Vague
- Spicy fruit
- Better
- Fruit with a spice note
- Best
- Moderate orange and mango over warm cinnamon and ginger, base malt behind, hops muted
Appearance
3 pts- Follows the base style
- Ingredient color may show, including in the head
- Haze is generally a flaw
- Vague
- Colorful
- Better
- Tinted and clear
- Best
- Base color with a tint from the fruit, clear, head shows a hint of the fruit's color
Flavor
20 pts- Fruit and spice both stand out
- Both taste natural
- Dry finish from fermented fruit sugar
- Vague
- Fruity
- Better
- Fruit and spice together
- Best
- Clear fruit with balanced spice, both supporting the base beer, dry finish, no spiced-juice character
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Fruit thins the body
- Spices can change body slightly
- Raw spice bite is undesirable
- Vague
- Light
- Better
- Smooth, light body
- Best
- Slightly light body, smooth, spice adds smooth warmth
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Balance
- Drinkability
Drops it
- Spice that overpowers
- Artificial flavor
Writing tip
Judge how the two work together. Example: 'Mango and warm chile over soft malt, spice builds slowly. Balanced and refreshing.'
Pour these
- Island Colada Cream AleKona BrewingCoconut and pineapple on a cream ale
- Spicy Mango CartGolden RoadMango with chile warmth
- Orange Vanilla SunlightSun KingCitrus and vanilla on a light base
Often confused with
- 29A Fruit BeerFruit Beer has no spice
- 30D Specialty Spice BeerSpecialty Spice Beer is built on spice and sugar
Fine here
- Estery: Fruit esters support the blend
Ruinous here
- Phenolic: Chemical or medicinal
- Astringent: Harsh raw spice
- Oxidized: Dull, 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.