What is a Specialty Beer Style: Decoding the Craft of Quirky Brews

Reading Time: around 10 min

Specialty beer is like that one friend who never shows up to the party dressed like anyone else. It’s unique, sometimes a bit odd, but always a memorable character. At its core, a specialty beer is the rebel of the beer world.

Not content with fitting into the conventional categories.

Picture yourself at a craft beer bar, eyes scanning the menu, and “Bam!” you spot an ale brewed with hot peppers or a stout infused with vanilla and oak.

That’s specialty beer for you.

It’s the brewing equivalent of a mad scientist’s best experiment.

Imagine indulging in a beverage that breaks the mold. These beers refuse to play by the rules, and every sip comes with a surprise. Understanding specialty beers is like learning a secret handshake. It takes a bit of insider knowledge.

But once you’re in, you’re in for a treat.

Whether it’s a seasonal brew made with the freshest fruit from the orchard. Or a dark ale aged in bourbon barrels for an extra kick, each specialty beer tells a story. And the best part, my friend? You get to be the one to decipher its mysteries glass by glass.

Key Takeaways

Specialty beer is the standout drink that defies traditional beer categories.
It offers an individual experience with each brew having its own unique twist.
Understanding specialty beers is like joining an exclusive club of flavor exploration.

Defining the Specialty Beer

Specialty beer is like that one friend who never quite fits in a single category. But stands out with their unique characteristics and charm. You know, the one who’d wear a Hawaiian shirt at a black-tie event and totally rock it.

What’s in a Name?

When you hear “specialty beer,” you might picture a brew wearing a monocle. But it’s less about top hats and more about the creativity that’s poured into the bottle. These beers don’t play by the rules, thriving outside the established beer style guidelines.

In the world of suds, they’re the renegades and rule-breakers.

The Brewer’s Palette

Imagine a painter, but instead of oils, they’ve got malts, hops, yeasts, and a medley of unconventional ingredients. Like fruits, spices, or… even donuts. Yes, donuts!

The point is, brewers use these to craft a beer that’s so off-the-wall… it doesn’t fit neatly into the regular beer style categories outlined by aficionados like the Brewers Association.

With specialty beers, it’s all about innovation.

And the thrill of the new – the weirder, the better.

Tasting the Uniqueness

Specialty beer styles are essentially the wild cards of the brewing world. Where brewers throw the style guideline book out the window to create something that stands out. When you’re tasting a specialty beer, buckle up.

You’re venturing into uncharted taste territories.

A Symphony of Flavors

Think of each sip as a high note in a rock opera of taste. Unexpected solos and crowd-pleasing hits included. You’ll find flavor profiles ranging from the rich caramel tones of a secretly guarded Belgian recipe…

…to the face-puckering tartness of a fruity Gose…

…that’s more complex than your Facebook relationship status.

Fruit and Spices: Here’s the twist – sometimes, fruits or spices are gatecrashers, adding a zesty tingle or a warm hug to your palate.
Hops and Malts: These guys are the lead singers and guitarists. Hoppy beers could leave you with a bitter aftertaste. While malty ones lay down smooth caramel vibes.
Yeast and Oddities: And don’t forget the yeast. The drummer that dictates the pace. It might sneak in funky, earthy beats or unexpected sour notes.

Appearance and Aroma

Before diving in, let’s eyeball the beer. It could strut in with a bold, hazy appearance that’s Instagram-ready. Or a crystal-clear complexion that’s as sharp as a tuxedo at a wedding.

Color: Light, dark, amber, ruby… it’s a kaleidoscope in a glass.
Clarity: Clear as your conscience on a Friday. Or murky like my last attempt at homebrewing.
Foam: The head might stick around like a clingy friend. Or vanish faster than your paycheck at a brewery.

Now, flirt with the aroma. Beers can waft hints of everything from tropical paradises to a loaf of bread straight out of the oven. Give it a good sniff.

It tells you what you’re in for and gets you amped up for the first act.

The Mouthfeel Experience

And here comes the tactile part of the show. The mouthfeel.

This is where a beer reveals its true character on the stage of your tongue.

Carbonation: Some are pop-rockers with fizzy high notes. Others are smooth jazz, low on bubble but big on texture.
Body: Light body beers can dance like a ballerina in your mouth. While full-bodied brews are more of a heavy metal mosh pit.
Finish: Let’s not forget the encore – the finish. It might be crisp and dry, leaving you ready for an encore. Or sweet and lingering like a long goodbye.

Tasting a specialty beer is a rollercoaster of the senses. You’re the judge at a talent show where each contestant struts their quirkiest performance for your sensory pleasure.

Have fun with it – because remember, it’s all about the experience!

The Creative Brew

When you grab a specialty beer, you’re clutching a liquid brainchild.

A testament to the zany world of brewing innovation.

Reinventing the Beer

Picture this: you’re a brewer, and the classic beers are playing on loop. Like that one hit wonder your Dad won’t stop humming. You think, “Let’s spice things up”. So you chuck convention out the window and start playing mad scientist with grains.

Barley and wheat? Basics. You’re eyeing rye, sorghum, maybe even quinoa.

And hops? Please, that’s so last century. Let’s infuse lavender, or how about a dash of chili peppers to light up your taste buds?

Grains: Not just the usual suspects. Exploring the full spectrum, beyond barley, for that unconventional twist.
Innovation Index: Through the roof. If it’s in the pantry, it might just end up in the brew kettle.

The Experimental Lab

Next stop, flavor town. Herbs and spices, you say?

Let’s make it an all-star cast with coriander, star anise, or a sprinkle of saffron for good measure. “Unusual” is your middle name, and those ingredients they warned you about in Brewing 101?

They’re now your best buds.

Spice Rack Raid: The daring dash for diversity, concocting potions that sizzle, soothe, or even perplex.
Brewer’s Boldness: Charting the unknown, one batch at a time, because who said beer should be predictable?

Below you can find some of the recommended ingredients to play with. But consider them more of a road sign, than constraints or restrictions. Specialty beers are open for anything.

Commonly Used Hops for Specialty Styles

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Grams per liter	Max of Grams per liter	Min of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Max of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Average of Grams per liter
Cascade	Aroma	0.34	3	6.81	59.91	1.09
	Bittering	0.37	3.74	7.49	74.89	1.31
	Dry Hop	0.68	3.74	13.62	74.89	1.4
	Flavor	0.34	5.62	6.72	112.34	1
Cascade Total		0.34	5.62	6.72	112.34	1.18
Amarillo	Aroma	0.37	2.83	7.49	56.52	1.07
	Bittering	0.34	1.5	6.81	29.96	0.93
	Dry Hop	0.68	4.49	13.62	89.87	1.78
	Flavor	0.31	2	6.24	40	0.99
	Whirlpool	0.68	1.4	13.62	28	1.09
Amarillo Total		0.31	4.49	6.24	89.87	1.26
Citra	Aroma	0.32	2.72	6.4	54.47	1.16
	Bittering	0.17	2.5	3.33	49.93	0.8
	Dry Hop	0.62	16.48	12.48	329.52	2.17
	Flavor	0.37	2.25	7.49	44.93	1.11
	Whirlpool	1.31	2	26.28	40	1.51
Citra Total		0.17	16.48	3.33	329.52	1.42
Columbus	Aroma	0.37	1.78	7.49	35.56	1.02
	Bittering	0.31	2.72	6.25	54.47	1.13
	Dry Hop	0.62	3	12.48	59.91	1.44
	First Wort	0.65	3	13.04	59.91	1.86
	Flavor	0.52	3	10.43	59.91	1.17
Columbus Total		0.31	3	6.25	59.91	1.23
Centennial	Aroma	0.36	2.42	7.13	48.48	1.17
	Bittering	0.48	3.74	9.61	74.89	1.25
	Dry Hop	0.75	7.27	14.98	145.45	2.57
	First Wort	0.68	1.35	13.62	26.96	1.02
	Flavor	0.34	2	6.81	39.94	0.92
Centennial Total		0.34	7.27	6.81	145.45	1.23
Simcoe	Aroma	0.34	3	6.81	59.91	1.04
	Bittering	0.61	2.04	12.17	40.85	1.1
	Dry Hop	0.67	3	13.33	60	1.61
	Flavor	0.44	1.5	8.81	29.96	0.8
Simcoe Total		0.34	3	6.81	60	1.17
Chinook	Aroma	0.71	2.04	14.27	40.85	1.26
	Bittering	0.71	3.4	14.27	68.08	1.35
	Dry Hop	0.63	4.77	12.5	95.32	1.81
	Flavor	0.52	2.45	10.37	49.02	1.3
	Mash	0.47	1.36	9.49	27.23	0.92
	Whirlpool	0.68	1.3	13.62	26.09	1.04
Chinook Total		0.47	4.77	9.49	95.32	1.36

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Oz per gallon	Max of Oz per gallon	Min of Oz per batch [5gal]	Max of Oz per batch [5gal]	Average of Oz per gallon
Cascade	Aroma	0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.14
	Bittering	0.05	0.5	0.25	2.5	0.17
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.5	0.45	2.5	0.19
	Flavor	0.04	0.75	0.22	3.75	0.13
Cascade Total		0.04	0.75	0.22	3.75	0.16
Amarillo	Aroma	0.05	0.38	0.25	1.89	0.14
	Bittering	0.05	0.2	0.23	1	0.13
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.6	0.45	3	0.24
	Flavor	0.04	0.27	0.21	1.34	0.13
	Whirlpool	0.09	0.19	0.45	0.93	0.15
Amarillo Total		0.04	0.6	0.21	3	0.17
Citra	Aroma	0.04	0.36	0.21	1.82	0.15
	Bittering	0.02	0.33	0.11	1.67	0.11
	Dry Hop	0.08	2.2	0.42	11	0.29
	Flavor	0.05	0.3	0.25	1.5	0.15
	Whirlpool	0.18	0.27	0.88	1.34	0.2
Citra Total		0.02	2.2	0.11	11	0.19
Columbus	Aroma	0.05	0.24	0.25	1.19	0.14
	Bittering	0.04	0.36	0.21	1.82	0.15
	Dry Hop	0.08	0.4	0.42	2	0.19
	First Wort	0.09	0.4	0.44	2	0.25
	Flavor	0.07	0.4	0.35	2	0.16
Columbus Total		0.04	0.4	0.21	2	0.16
Centennial	Aroma	0.05	0.32	0.24	1.62	0.16
	Bittering	0.06	0.5	0.32	2.5	0.17
	Dry Hop	0.1	0.97	0.5	4.86	0.34
	First Wort	0.09	0.18	0.45	0.9	0.14
	Flavor	0.05	0.27	0.23	1.33	0.12
Centennial Total		0.05	0.97	0.23	4.86	0.16
Simcoe	Aroma	0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.14
	Bittering	0.08	0.27	0.41	1.36	0.15
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.4	0.45	2	0.21
	Flavor	0.06	0.2	0.29	1	0.11
Simcoe Total		0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.16
Chinook	Aroma	0.1	0.27	0.48	1.36	0.17
	Bittering	0.1	0.45	0.48	2.27	0.18
	Dry Hop	0.08	0.64	0.42	3.18	0.24
	Flavor	0.07	0.33	0.35	1.64	0.17
	Mash	0.06	0.18	0.32	0.91	0.12
	Whirlpool	0.09	0.17	0.45	0.87	0.14
Chinook Total		0.06	0.64	0.32	3.18	0.18

*This data consists of hundreds of thousands of manually input recipes and, despite best efforts, they may contain errors leading to very high max amounts, or be someone’s attempt for experimental brew. You should consider this data more as an overview of how different ingredients were used for different styles to get inspiration. Please do not attempt to add up different lines as it’s all about proportions.

Commonly Used Malts for Specialty Styles

Malt Name	Min of Lb per gallon	Max of Lb per gallon	Min of Lb per batch [5gal]	Max of Lb per batch [5gal]	Average of Lb per gallon
2-Row Pale Malt	0.18	3.2	0.91	16	1.46
Wheat Malt	0.05	2.5	0.25	12.52	0.59
Caramel / Crystal Malt	0.02	1.25	0.08	6.25	0.15
Malt Extract	0.06	3.3	0.32	16.5	0.8
Munich Malt	0.04	2.3	0.21	11.52	0.39
Maris Otter	0.42	3.4	2.08	17	1.45
Crystal Malt	0.05	0.5	0.25	2.5	0.17
Chocolate Malt	0.01	0.32	0.04	1.6	0.09
Cara Malt	0.01	0.64	0.05	3.2	0.1
Pilsner Malt	0.14	2.2	0.68	11	1.09

Malt Name	Min of Kg per liter	Max of Kg per liter	Min of Kg per batch [20ltr]	Max of Kg per batch [20ltr]	Average of Kg per liter
2-Row Pale Malt	0.02	0.38	0.44	7.67	0.18
Wheat Malt	0.01	0.3	0.12	6	0.07
Caramel / Crystal Malt	–	0.15	0.04	3	0.02
Malt Extract	0.01	0.4	0.15	7.91	0.1
Munich Malt	0.01	0.28	0.1	5.52	0.05
Maris Otter	0.05	0.41	1	8.15	0.17
Crystal Malt	0.01	0.06	0.12	1.2	0.02
Chocolate Malt	–	0.04	0.02	0.77	0.01
Cara Malt	–	0.08	0.02	1.53	0.01
Pilsner Malt	0.02	0.26	0.33	5.27	0.13

Commonly Used Yeasts for Specialty Styles

American Ale
English Ale
California Ale
Nottingham Ale
British Ale
Northwest Ale
Saison Yeast
German Ale
Pale Ale
Witbier Yeast
Kolsch Yeast
Brett Yeast
West Coast Ale
London Ale

Commonly Used Add-ons for Specialty Styles

Honey
Flaked Oats
Flaked Wheat
Rice Hulls
Corn Sugar
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon Stick
Flaked Corn
Lactose
Molasses
Coriander Seeds
Flaked Barley
Flaked Rye
Star Anise

And remember, when you sip on a specialty brew, you’re not just drinking a beer. You’re embarking on a flavor expedition. Your palate? The final frontier.

Gear up for a ride that’s anything but ordinary.

Knowing Your Specialty Brews

You’re in for a treat. Specialty beers are like the craft beer world’s mad scientists’ best experiments. They don’t play by the rules; they rewrite them.

The World of Specialty Styles

Think of specialty beers as rule-breakers in the best way possible.

While classic beer styles like IPAs and stouts follow specific guidelines. Specialty beers are where brewers let their creativity go wild. You’ve got brews that borrow and blend.

Ones that experiment with wild ingredients.

Or those that push traditional boundaries with extreme IBU levels…

…or funky fermentation processes.

IBU (International Bitterness Units): Specialty beers can range wildly in bitterness.
Ingredients: Expect the unexpected – from exotic fruits to spices you can’t pronounce.
Alcohol Content: Some are strong enough to put a yak to sleep. While others are as light as your neighbor’s gossip.

The Hall of Fame: Iconic Examples

Let’s have a look at some of the trophy-winners in the world of specialty brews:

Belgian Fruit Beers: Think of these as the craft beer scene’s smoothies. Each sip is packed with so much fruit, you’ll forget there’s alcohol in it.

Imperial Anything: If your beer has “Imperial” in its name, you’re holding a heavyweight. These are amped-up versions of classic styles, with more hops, malt, and attitude.

Style	Example	Alcohol By Volume (ABV)	IBU Range
Imperial IPA	Hoptimum by Sierra Nevada	Usually 7%+	60-100+
Imperial Stout	The Abyss by Deschutes	Darkness incarnate (8%+)	50-90

Sour Wheat Beers: Pucker up, buttercup. These tart, refreshing brews like Berliner Weisse or Gose are like warheads in a bottle. But in a good, mouth-watering way.

Remember, specialty beers are your ticket to tasting the unconventional.

Whether it’s a pale ale that’s been hijacked by hops or a porter that’s been pumped up with coffee, every sip is an adventure. Cheers to the brewers who dare to be different, and to you for being wise enough to sip outside the lines!

Damian

A lifelong learner, hop enthusiast and a lover of the state of extreme exhaustion.

Finance Analyst in the Investment Bank and co-founder of hopsmatcher.com