What are the BJCP cider style guidelines?
The BJCP cider style guidelines are the Beer Judge Certification Program’s written standards for judging cider and perry. The 2025 cider document (version 2) groups traditional, strong and specialty ciders plus perry, with notes on strength, sweetness and typical character for each category.
Updated
Key facts
- Publisher. Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).
- 2025 cider guidelines, v2. Categories for traditional cider, strong cider, specialty cider and perry. [1]
- Use. Competition judging and shared vocabulary — not a statute.
What do the guidelines cover?
They describe expected aroma, flavour, strength and sweetness bands for styles such as Common Cider, English Cider, ice cider and perry. [1] [2] Makers and drinkers use them as a map; shops may not print BJCP codes on labels.
How should I use them as a drinker?
Match a bottle’s story (English bittersweet, Spanish sidra, hopped specialty) to the nearest category, then taste for yourself. Style tour: types of cider. Specialty hopped: styles of IPA cider.
Where do the guidelines sit beside national law?
BJCP categories never replace TTB hard-cider tax class, UK duty cider tests or French AOP cahiers. Use them to decode tasting notes, then confirm legal naming separately via TTB rules for hard ciders or what cider is in the UK. Competition scores also do not equal a catalogue ranking on Cider Radar.
Related answers: English vs American cider · perry vs pear cider
Related on Cider Radar
- Rate sweetness, tannin and funk on bottle cards.
- Glossary: cider
- Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android
Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
Questions
Are BJCP styles the same as legal definitions?
No. BJCP categories help judges and makers talk about style; tax and label law use separate rules such as US hard-cider tax class or UK duty cider. [1]