The Style of the Quarter (SOQ) is an internal homebrew competition run for and by members of BAM, four times a year. The style is announced usually in the quarter before they are scheduled to be judged to give everyone a chance to craft something to enter.

The entries are judged by a mixture of BAM officers, members, and BJCP certified judges. Beers are judged based on the BJCP styleguide and score sheets.

Entries should consist of two, 12oz capped bottles. Make sure they are clean (this is a point category on the BJCP scoring sheet) and labeled appropriately. Here is the official label that you can print and attach to your bottles: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/BJCP_BottleID.pdf 

The drop-off for entries is usually at Oak Barrel Wine Craft in Berkeley unless otherwise stated. Also, please don’t submit any swing top bottles as most likely you won’t get the bottles back from the judging.

Have a suggestion for an upcoming style? Notify the officers since the chosen styles are based off of the members interests.

Current 2018 Fourth Quarter SOQ – Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beers (SHV)

In this category, you take a classic style— say an IPA—and add a complimentary ingredient, maybe lemongrass. You choose some great flavor hops like Citra and Amarillo to pair well with the added citrus of the lemongrass. The beer still tastes like an IPA, but it also showcases the unique flavor that lemongrass imparts. There are two things to keep in mind when brewing a beer for this category in competition: 1) the base beer style needs to be obvious, and 2) any special ingredients you list need to be obvious. If you brew a beer with five herbs, but only two are really noticeable, it’s better to just list those two rather than lose points because the other three aren’t discernible. (click for more tips)

This 4th quarter SOQ is a PEOPLES CHOICE competition. To enter you must bring a keg to our annual Holiday party in December. This mean each attendee will vote on what they liked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best. You can technically participate without a keg, but you might have limits on getting enough votes if you run out!

Click for more information on 30A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beers (SHV)

Upcoming SOQ

2019 SOQ1 will be lagers so we’re letting you know early!

Dark European Lagers (Munich Dunkel and Schwarzbier) and Strong European Beer (Doppelbock, Eisbock, Baltic Porter).

These entries will coincide with our club’s very own World Cup of Beer!

Past SOQs

• • • 2018 SOQ 3 – Farmhouse Ales
    • 2018 SOQ 2 – European Wheat and Rye Beers (must collaborate with another BAM member)
    • 2018 SOQ 1 – Amber Hybrid Beers
    • 2017 SOQ 4 – Specialty IPA
    • 2017 SOQ 3 – Collaboration Challenge (5SRM or less, use Golden Naked Oats)
    • 2017 SOQ 2 – Hazy IPAs with Sea Salt
    • 2017 SOQ 1 – Select Scottish Ales and Irish Red
    • 2016 SOQ 4 – Old / Stock Ale
    • 2016 SOQ 3 – Fruit Beers
    • 2016 SOQ 2 – Wheat Beers
    • 2016 SOQ 1 – Stouts
    • 2015 SOQ 4 – “Jason’s IPA” (winners)
    • 2015 SOQ 3 – Smoked Beer
    • 2015 SOQ 2 – Rye Beer
    • 2015 SOQ 1 – English Pale Ale
    • 2014 SOQ 4 – Belgians
    • 2014 SOQ 3 – Bocks
    • 2014 SOQ 2 – Black and White IPA
    • 2013 SOQ 3 – Session Ales
    • 2013 SOQ 2 – Extract
    • 2013 SOQ 1 – Irish red ale
    • 2012 SOQ 3 – IPA
    • 2012 SOQ 1 – CA Common
    • 2011 SOQ 3 – Cost Challenge
    • 2011 SOQ 2 – American Brown
    • 2011 SOQ 1 – Dry Stout
    • 2010 SOQ 3 – Belgian Strong
    • 2010 SOQ 2 – IPA
    • 2009 SOQ 4 – Mild
    • 2009 SOQ 3 – Altbier
    • 2009 SOQ 2 – West Coast Pale
    • 2009 SOQ 1 – MaiBock
    • 2008 SOQ 3 – Kolsch