--- title: "Brewers Association Unveils Its 2026 Beer Style Guidelines" description: "The Brewers Association has just published the latest update of its 2026 Beer Style Guidelines, one of the most influential reference documents for the craft in" url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/brewers-association-unveils-2026-beer-style-guidelines/ date: 2026-02-18 modified: 2026-07-06 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Brewers-Association.jpg categories: ["News"] tags: ["Craft Beer", "Estilos de Cerveja", "Present"] type: post lang: en --- # Brewers Association Unveils Its 2026 Beer Style Guidelines The Brewers Association has just published the latest update of its 2026 Beer Style Guidelines, one of the most influential reference documents for the craft industry globally. ![Brewers Association](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Brewers-Association.jpg)*Brewers Association* This new edition aims to update beyond the routine and presents itself as a statement of intent on where the sector is heading, highlighting the addition of Rice Lager as an official category and a comprehensive redefinition of quality standards for traditional European styles. For industry professionals, this launch marks the beginning of a new technical cycle in brewing and sensory judging. ## Key points of the update - Rice Lager is established as its own style, moving away from being a mere attachment to becoming a standard for lightness and technique. - Critical adjustments in the descriptions of Belgian and German families to reflect the evolution of ingredients and traditional methods. - Direct response to the rise of light-bodied and low-alcohol beers that dominate the current landscape. ## The emergence of Rice Lager The Brewers Association’s decision to grant exclusive space to Rice Lager is not a coincidental move. Over the last decade, the use of rice in craft beer has gone from being a stigmatized practice, associated with cost reduction in the macro industry, to a design tool for achieving extremely clean and dry profiles. Unlike conventional lagers, the rice variant seeks to minimize the footprint of barley malt to highlight crystal clarity. The challenge for the brewer lies in managing the gelatinization of the cereal and ensuring that the yeast works without generating byproducts that mar the subtlety of the final product. According to the new guide, a pale to straw-colored beer is expected, with contained but perceptible bitterness, where rice provides a silky texture and a refreshing finish that makes it the preferred option for pairing with Asian gastronomy or warm climates. Chuck Skypeck, Technical Brewing Projects Director, Brewers Association, states: > This update reflects how product portfolios continue to diversify to meet changing consumer preferences. ## German and Belgian tradition On the other hand, the 2026 guide has deepened the descriptions of Belgian abbey beers and German regional specialties. These changes respond to a need for greater accuracy in sensory vocabulary. For example, in German low-fermentation styles (Kellerbier or Zwickelbier), the allowed levels of cloudiness and the presence of sulfur compounds have been nuanced, seeking a balance between the rusticity of the style and the technical quality demanded today. In the Belgian spectrum, updates focus on the complexity of esters and phenols, providing judges with a more graduated scale to evaluate the typicality of styles such as Saison or Dubbel. ## Impact on WBC and the global industry For breweries, aligning with these guidelines does not mean renouncing creativity, but rather speaking a universal language. A brewer in Mexico or Spain who decides to label their product as a Rice Lager under the 2026 criteria is guaranteeing the consumer and distributor a quality standard and a specific sensory profile. This reduces market friction and elevates the professionalization of the sector. The Brewers Association has facilitated access to this essential document through its official channels and you can [download it here](https://cdn.brewersassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/19140641/2026_BA_Beer_Style_Guidelines.pdf). (*) ## Information architecture The guide’s structure is organized hierarchically, facilitating quick consultation for professionals. It is divided into major families (European-origin Lagers, North American-origin Ales, hybrid styles, etc.) and within each technical sheet, critical variables such as appearance, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel are detailed. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### 1. Why is Rice Lager added now and not before? The recognition of a style requires a critical mass of commercial production and a defined sensory identity. Rice Lager has proven to be a stable trend, not a passing fad. ### 2. Do these changes affect beers already registered in competitions? Yes. Breweries planning to compete in 2026 should review whether their recipes match the new descriptions, especially in Belgian and German categories. ### 3. What is the difference between this guide and the BJCP’s? The BA guide is more oriented toward the commercial industry and professional competitions, while the BJCP traditionally focuses on the homebrewer realm. ### 4. Are there new experimental styles in 2026? The 2026 guide continues to expand the experimental styles section, allowing innovations that do not fit into fixed categories to have an evaluation framework based on the brewer’s intent. ### 5. Where can I consult the guide in Spanish? Although the original source is in English, organizations such as the [Brewers Association](https://www.brewersassociation.org/) offer resources that are usually translated by local associations throughout the year. (*) At The Beer Times, we have created a Spanish translation with automated tools that you can [download here](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026_BA_Beer_Style_Guidelines-Espanol.pdf). ## We recommend - [English IPA vs. American IPA: Style references, similarities and differences](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/english-ipa-vs-american-ipa-style-references-similarities-and-differences/) - [Beer and blue cheese: The diet of Austrian miners 2,700 years ago](https://www.thebeertimes.com/cerveza-y-queso-azul-la-dieta-de-los-mineros-austriacos-hace-2-700-anos/)