Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.  (Read 1649 times)

Offline snook32

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 6
BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« on: August 25, 2013, 02:38:13 pm »
I make a grapefruit "cider". I'm calling it a cider because I ferment it with cider yeast and age it along the guidelines of a cider. The entire process is no different than apple cider, except no apples are used.
What category would this fall under or can it be entered into competitions?  It seems the cider categories refer to apples as a base. Any information would be appreciated.

Offline lupulinmax

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 16
Re: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2013, 03:03:13 pm »
Cider is an apple based beverage.  Maybe a fruit wine or country wine category in a wine competition would be a better match.  Sounds like an interesting drink using grapefruit.

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10687
  • Milford, MI
Re: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2013, 05:09:13 pm »
There is the Perry categories, made from pears, so not just apples.

No idea where a pineapple wine would go. Will defer to someone more expert.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Online dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4730
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2013, 08:58:47 pm »
I believe the fermented juice of anything other than pears or apples is called wine.  Hence there are no BJCP guidelines... but you might be able to find wine guidelines elsewhere.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline tomsawyer

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1694
Re: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2013, 08:52:53 am »
I've made grapefruit wine before.  Stuff is pretty tasty if you like grapefruit.  I make mine dry but it would probably be good to backsweeten to an off-dry.

You could probably put a little malt extract in it and enter it as a fruit beer, or add some honey and enter it as a melomel.  Backsweetening with honey sounds good too.
Lennie
Hannibal, MO

Offline Jimmy K

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3643
  • Delaware
Re: BJCP Category for fruit cider that is not apple based.
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2013, 10:06:03 am »
I don't think there is a category for it. The process of making wine and cider are similar - the main difference is the base - cider is made from apples, wine is made from other fruit. Early on in the BJCP, amateur wine competitions already existed, but they ignored mead and cider. So BJCP added mead and cider categories for those neglected styles. Basically, all the misfits got together and formed a band.
 
That said, if there character is "cidery" you could try entering it as specialty cider. It will probably be up to the judges how much they want to see apple character. Don't be surprised if you loose points for not being apple based though.
 
Or you could make one with some apple and enter that as fruit cider - but the apple character would need to be prominent.
Delmarva United Homebrewers - President by inverse coup - former president ousted himself.
AHA Member since 2006
BJCP Certified: B0958