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Specialty Spice Beer

any-fermentation
Christmas Verhaeghe โ€” illustrative beer photograph
Visual reference: Christmas Verhaeghe. Not a confirmed example of Specialty Spice Beer. Photo: Dirk Van Esbroeck / Wikimedia Commons ยท CC BY-SA 3.0. Display crops and resized versions are available under the same license.

An appealing combination of spices, herbs, or vegetables, sugars, and beer, but still recognizable as beer.

Color

OG, FG, IBUs, SRM and ABV are not defined independently for this category – they vary with the declared base style. BJCP 2021.

Bitterness

OG, FG, IBUs, SRM and ABV are not defined independently for this category – they vary with the declared base style. BJCP 2021.

Alcohol

OG, FG, IBUs, SRM and ABV are not defined independently for this category – they vary with the declared base style. BJCP 2021.

Sweetness

Balance

History

Classic characteristics

Flavor Profile Deep Dive

Service notes

BJCP designation

Overall Impression: An appealing combination of spices, herbs, or vegetables, sugars, and beer, but still recognizable as beer.

Entry Instructions: Identify the spices, herbs or vegetables used and specify what additional ingredient (honey, lactose, etc.) or process was employed, plus a base style or ingredient description.

Style Comparison: Differs from standard spiced beer by incorporating supplementary fermentables, sweeteners, adjuncts or alternative grains that meaningfully contribute to the final character.

Vital Statistics: OG, FG, IBUs, SRM and ABV are not defined independently for this category – they vary with the declared base style. BJCP 2021.

Source: BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines, bjcp.org, retrieved 2026-09-13. Vital statistics are as published; descriptive text is condensed from the published guideline.

Brewers Association designation

Style comparison

Similar Styles

Differs from standard spiced beer by incorporating supplementary fermentables, sweeteners, adjuncts or alternative grains that meaningfully contribute to the final character.

Ingredients

Brewing process

Food pairings

Spirit pairings

The soundtrack

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