One of my staple brews is what I call my German American Pale Ale. To put it simply, it is an American Pale Ale but I replaced the traditional American hopes with German hop varieties (often American grown) -- primarily Spalt Select. I am considering entering some of beers in a competition to get some feedback from people other than the ones who are just happy to be drinking beer for free.
I am trying to decide whether to enter this as an APA or in the Specialty Beer category. By the letter, it meets the APA style because the description says that it is not required to have the citrusy hop flavor or aroma. My concern, however, is that judges are so conditioned to expect the citrusy hop flavor and aroma from an APA that they will simply ding my beer as being out of style. On the other hand, I am worried that if I enter it as a Specialty Beer, I may get dinged because it technically meets the definition of an APA.
Thoughts?
(By the way, I am having a similar issue with what to do with my German IPA, which is a stronger, hopped up version of my German APA).
I am trying to decide whether to enter this as an APA or in the Specialty Beer category. By the letter, it meets the APA style because the description says that it is not required to have the citrusy hop flavor or aroma. My concern, however, is that judges are so conditioned to expect the citrusy hop flavor and aroma from an APA that they will simply ding my beer as being out of style. On the other hand, I am worried that if I enter it as a Specialty Beer, I may get dinged because it technically meets the definition of an APA.
Thoughts?
(By the way, I am having a similar issue with what to do with my German IPA, which is a stronger, hopped up version of my German APA).