Malt aroma & flavor
Malt perception may vary widely
Belgian and French Origin Ale Styles
Other Belgian-Style Ale
Ale · May vary widely
What to expect
Malt perception may vary widely. Hop character: May vary widely.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
Varies with style
Varies with style. No numeric color range is assigned.
Pale / strawBlack
May vary widely · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Return to color discoveryAlcohol · ABV
>5.0%
›
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
Varies with style
No numeric range is specified.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 29 · PDF page 38. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
May vary widely
Perceived bitterness
May vary widely
Body & mouthfeel
Varies with style
Clarity
Chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures
Color
May vary widely
Fermentation characteristics
Phenolic spiciness may be absent or may be present at low levels. Fruity-ester complexity may range from low to medium, in harmony with malt and other attributes. Diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Beers in this category recognize the uniqueness and traditions of Belgian brewing, but do not hew to any other Belgian-style categories defined elsewhere in these guidelines. Balance is a key component when assessing these beers. Wood-and barrel-aged versions which exhibit sensory attributes of wood-aging are categorized here. Fruited versions are categorized as Belgian-style fruit beers. When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, brewers may be asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Such information might include an underlying Belgian beer style not otherwise defined in these guidelines or other information unique to the entry such as ingredients or processing (dry hopping, wood-aging, etc.) which influence perceived sensory outcomes.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) Varies with style • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) Varies with style • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) >4.0% (>5.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) Varies with style • Color SRM (EBC)