Custom Styles

Overview

Custom Styles allow you to create your own beer style guidelines with target ranges for all brewing parameters. Perfect for house styles, competition categories not in standard guidelines, or experimental beer styles you're developing.

How to Use

  1. Create Style: Go to Profiles → Custom Styles → tap + button

  2. Enter Basic Info:

    • Name (required)

    • Style Guide (required)

    • Category (optional)

    • Sub-Category (optional)

  3. Set Target Ranges:

    • ABV Min/Max

    • Original Gravity Min/Max

    • Final Gravity Min/Max

    • IBU Min/Max

    • Color Min/Max

  4. Add Descriptions (all optional):

    • Description (Overall Impression)

    • Aroma

    • Appearance

    • Flavor

    • Mouthfeel

    • Comment

    • History

    • Ingredients (Characteristic Ingredients)

    • Examples (Commercial Examples)

    • Origin

  5. Save Style: Store for use in recipes

  6. Apply to Recipe: Select your custom style when creating recipes

Style Parameters

Gravity Ranges

  • OG Min/Max: Starting gravity range (e.g., 1.048-1.056)

  • FG Min/Max: Final gravity range (e.g., 1.010-1.014)

  • Defines expected strength and attenuation

Bitterness (IBU)

  • IBU Min/Max: International Bitterness Units range

  • Indicates hop bitterness level

  • Consider balance with malt sweetness

Color

  • SRM Min/Max: Standard Reference Method (US)

  • EBC Min/Max: European Brewery Convention (Metric)

  • Visual appearance from pale straw to black

Alcohol

  • ABV Min/Max: Alcohol by volume percentage

  • Calculated from OG and FG ranges

  • Key factor in style definition

Style Descriptions

Overall Impression

Brief overview of the style's character and what makes it unique. Include dominant flavors, overall balance, and distinguishing features.

Aroma

Describe expected aromas from malt, hops, fermentation character, and any special ingredients. Note intensity levels.

Appearance

Color range, clarity, head formation and retention, carbonation visual cues.

Flavor

Malt character, hop flavor, fermentation notes, balance, finish, and aftertaste. Include any unique flavor components.

Mouthfeel

Body, carbonation level, warmth, creaminess, astringency, and other tactile sensations.

History

Optional background on style origins, evolution, and brewing traditions.

Characteristic Ingredients

Typical grains, hops, yeast strains, and special ingredients that define the style.

Commercial Examples

List commercial beers that exemplify this style (if any exist).

Comments

Additional notes, variations, or brewing tips specific to this style.

Common Custom Styles

House Styles

House IPA

  • OG: 1.055-1.065

  • FG: 1.008-1.012

  • IBU: 50-70

  • SRM: 6-9

  • ABV: 6.0-7.0%

  • Your signature hop combination and process

Session House Ale

  • OG: 1.035-1.042

  • FG: 1.008-1.012

  • IBU: 20-35

  • SRM: 4-8

  • ABV: 3.5-4.2%

  • Easy-drinking everyday beer

Hybrid Styles

IPA-Lager Hybrid

  • OG: 1.048-1.056

  • FG: 1.008-1.012

  • IBU: 40-60

  • SRM: 3-6

  • ABV: 5.0-6.0%

  • Clean lager fermentation with IPA hopping

Wheat IPA

  • OG: 1.050-1.060

  • FG: 1.010-1.014

  • IBU: 45-65

  • SRM: 4-7

  • ABV: 5.5-6.5%

  • Wheat softness with hop character

Experimental Styles

Pastry Stout

  • OG: 1.080-1.120

  • FG: 1.020-1.030

  • IBU: 20-40

  • SRM: 40+

  • ABV: 8.0-12.0%

  • Sweet, dessert-like imperial stout

Brut IPA

  • OG: 1.040-1.050

  • FG: 0.998-1.004

  • IBU: 20-30

  • SRM: 2-4

  • ABV: 5.5-7.0%

  • Bone-dry, champagne-like IPA

Regional Variations

Local Historic Style

  • Research and recreate historic local styles

  • Document traditional parameters

  • Preserve brewing heritage

Climate-Adapted Style

  • Adjust traditional styles for local climate

  • Consider ingredient availability

  • Optimize for local water

Creating Competition Styles

For Homebrew Competitions

  1. Check competition guidelines

  2. Create custom style matching special categories

  3. Include judge's expectations in notes

  4. Set parameters slightly wider than target

For Commercial Breweries

  1. Define house style standards

  2. Set tight parameter ranges

  3. Include process notes

  4. Document successful batches

Using Custom Styles in Recipes

Style Conformity

  • Recipe indicators show if you're within style parameters

  • Green = within range

  • Yellow = close to limits

  • Red = outside style guidelines

Adjusting to Style

  • Use style parameters as targets

  • Adjust grain bill for color and gravity

  • Balance hops for IBU range

  • Select appropriate yeast for attenuation

Iterating Your Style

  1. Brew initial version

  2. Take detailed notes

  3. Adjust style parameters based on results

  4. Refine over multiple batches

  5. Document final parameters

Tips for Custom Styles

  1. Start from Known Styles: Modify existing guidelines rather than starting from scratch

  2. Be Realistic: Set achievable parameter ranges

  3. Consider Balance: Ensure IBU/OG ratios make sense

  4. Document Everything: Include process notes and ingredients

  5. Allow Flexibility: Set ranges, not exact numbers

  6. Test and Refine: Brew multiple batches to dial in parameters

  7. Share Your Styles: Export and share successful custom styles

Troubleshooting

Parameters Don't Match?

  • Review calculation settings

  • Check efficiency settings

  • Verify ingredient measurements

Style Too Narrow?

  • Widen parameter ranges

  • Allow for batch variation

  • Consider ingredient substitutions

Style Too Broad?

  • Tighten ranges after brewing

  • Define clearer targets

  • Add more specific notes

Exporting and Sharing

Custom styles can be:

  • Exported as JSON files

  • Shared with brew buddies

  • Backed up with recipes

  • Used across devices

  • Submitted to style guidelines (if accepted)

PreviousWaterNextStyles

Last updated

Was this helpful?