Malt aroma & flavor
Extremely rich malty aroma and flavor is typical. Coffee, caramel, roasted malt, or chocolate aromas and flavors may be evident.
All Origin Hybrid/Mixed Lagers or Ales
Dessert Stout or Pastry Beer
Mixed / specialty · Deep amber to black
What to expect
Malt character: Extremely rich malty aroma and flavor is typical. Hop character: If present, very low.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
13–40+
›
Pale / strawBlack
Deep amber to black · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
7.0–13.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
20–65
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 52 · PDF page 61. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
If present, very low
Perceived bitterness
Not present to low.
Body & mouthfeel
Full
Clarity
Beer color may be too dark to perceive. When clarity is perceivable, chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures.
Color
Deep amber to black
Fermentation characteristics
High alcohol content is evident. Fruity esters may be present at low levels. Diacetyl, if present, should be at low levels.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Beers in this category are built on a strong beer base and incorporate culinary ingredients to create rich, sweet flavor profiles mimicking the character of desserts, pastries, or candies. Examples of culinary ingredients used in these beers include, but are not limited to, chocolate, coffee, coconut, vanilla, maple syrup, peanut butter, and marshmallow as well as fruits, nuts, and spices. The addition of sugars from any source may contribute to the pronounced sweetness of these beers. While this category may overlap several other styles defined in these guidelines such as Chocolate or Cocoa Beers, Field Beers, and others, the combination of a dark beer base, elevated alcohol content, and rich, sweet, dessert-like flavor profiles sets this style apart as a unique entity. Wood or barrel-aged versions of these beers are classified elsewhere.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.080-1.120 (19.3-28.0 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.020-1.060 (5.1-15.0 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 5.5%-10.25% (7.0%-13.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 20-65 • Color SRM (EBC) 13-40+ (25- 70+ EBC)