BJCP 2015 - Double/Imperial Red Ale

[doublehaul]

There doesn't seem to be a category for an American Double Red Ale in BJCP 2015. Lots of commercial examples. The closest is Red IPA, but it suggest max OG of 1.070 and max ABV of 7.5. Most commercial examples are 8.5%+. It is confusing. I want to brew a hoppy, malt forward but dry, double red around 8.5%. And enter in a competition - any suggestions on category?

 

[apeet]

It looks like that would go into the American Strong Ale Category.

 

[AnOldUR]

It's near impossible to tell the difference between a 7.5% and an 8.5% ABV beer. The judges will never know in a properly balanced beer. I'd ferment cool to keep the fusels down and enter as a Red IPA.


Edit to say:
Me eating crow. American Strong Ale it is.

 

[Jonkl]

@apeet is right.

Category 22B: American Strong Ale
...
Comments: A fairly broad style that can describe beers
labeled in various ways, including modern Double/Imperial
Red/Amber Ales and other strong, malty-but-hoppy beers that
aren’t quite in the Barleywine class. Diverse enough to include
what may be viewed as a strong American Amber Ale with
room for more interpretations of other “Imperial” versions of
lower gravity American Ale styles. Many “East Coast” type IPAs
might fit better in this category if they have considerable
crystal malt or otherwise more of a malty-sweet finish.

 

[doublehaul]

thanks all

 

[doublehaul]

for a double red, for color, would you recommend chocolate malt, black malt, or midnight wheat?

 

[slym2none]

Why not try Red X as a base-malt?