BJCP standards for IIPA

[h-bar]

According to the BJCP standards for an IIPA, the IBUs should be between 60-120. However, they list beers like Pliny the Elder (which have well over 120) as examples. How strict are they on the IBUs? I have an imperial IPA I'm considering entering in a competition, but it has about 150 according to an online calculator I used.

 

[Wynne-R]

High to absurdly high hop bitterness

I think you’re good. I doubt if anyone can tell the difference between 120 and 150. Also nobody is going to ding an IIPA for being overhopped.

 

[IL1kebeer]

Calculated and measured IBUs are completely different. Plinys lab measured IBUs are under 100 (around 70 according to some sources). The truth is, those IBU formulas aren't right. They ballpark it pretty good, but it's hard to get your IBUs up after a certain point. The only way to determine your IBUs is to get it tested at a lab and getting much over 100 isn't really happening.

So to answer your question: you will be fine.

 

[Darwin18]

You're going to go up against other absurdly high IBU IIPAs in a category where the judges expect absurdly high IIPAs. The judges are not going to have your recipe in front of them with the estimated IBUs, and you want to stand out against the other beers in your flight. I think you'll be alright.

 

[h-bar]

Okay good, I haven't entered a competition before, so I wasn't sure what information about the beer I'd have to give them. Thanks!

 

[Darwin18]

Usually you don't have to provide very much, just the name and style of your beer. In the other categories you provide more details. In the Specialty category you would mention any special ingredients and style. Good luck with the competition and hope you score well! That's a tough category to judge just due to the palate fatigue.

 

[h-bar]

Thanks!

 

[GrumpySquirrel]

Another thing to remember is that human taste buds can't typically discern over 100 IBUs anyways. 120 or 160 should be unnoticeable for example.

 

[biereblanche]

Another thing to remember is that human taste buds can't typically discern over 100 IBUs anyways. 120 or 160 should be unnoticeable for example.

BJCP judges don't always use standard taste buds like you or I.

 

[biereblanche]

Also remember palate fatigue. The fifth 80 IBU sample isn't going to register as bitter as the first.

 

[h-bar]

I'd hope the judges would take that into account, or maybe eat something between beers. I mean, someone could get a slightly lower score for not enough hop character in that situation.

 

[Homercidal]

I'd hope the judges would take that into account, or maybe eat something between beers. I mean, someone could get a slightly lower score for not enough hop character in that situation.

Palate fatigue happens when you take it into account or not. It's a fact of judging. And in the IIPA category, it only takes 1-2 samples to start happening.

IIPAs are a tough category to judge. Between the IBUs and ABVs competitions often put some of the most experienced judges in that cat. But you can only do so much.