What makes a clone a clone?

[Brewslikeaking]

What justifies a clone beer? In particular in regards to a clone recipe kit for entry into a competition. If i used a different yeast strain or a combination of yeasts, is it a different beer? Should it be entered under its bjcp style? Or is it still a clone. What if the hops are changed? Etc

 

[thehaze]

A clone should mimic the beer you are trying to clone, from ABV to mouthfeel, colour, etc. If you change the hops, you will definitely not get the same aromas and flavours into the beer ( if the beer is a hop forward example ).

Changing the yeast will also not get you there. If you are cloning, say a belgian beer, but use a different american, clean yeast or a combination, you will not brew a belgian beer, let alone the clone of the original belgian beer you were trying to clone.

If it is a clone, it should be entered as a clone. If it is not, then it should be entered in the apropriate category.

 

[hawkbox]

That just made it more confusing to me.

 

[Brewslikeaking]

"This style is intended for reproductions of specific commercial beers that aren’t good representations of existing styles. The use of the word clone does not imply an exact copy it implies an interpretation of a style represented by a specific beer that does not have a defined style within the guidelines. The beer should be judged as to how well it fits the broader style represented by the example beer, not how well it is an exact copy of a specific commercial product. If a ‘clone beer’ does fit another style, do not enter it here." - thats instructions on a clone beer according to bjcp 2015. My question is if the clone beer is a perfect clone and is accurate to the style should it be entered as an ipa or porter etc. What happens when a cloned beer entered as its style wins the competition? Hypothetically

 

[TheHopfather]

Seems pretty straight forward. The BJCP clone category is for a "reproduction of a specific commercial beer" that DOES NOT fit into another BJCP category. Think something like Arizona Wilderness Brewing - Tres Leches. It is a blonde brewed with lactose and vanilla/cinnamon, it doesn't fit into a BJCP category. If you entered this into a competition you'd enter it into the clone category.

Now if you made a clone of say Sam Adams Rebel IPA, you'd enter that into the IPA category, because it fits into that category.

If your clone beer wins its category, or the show, congrats, you won. Nothing more happens.

 

[Calder]

Clones can be entered into any category they happen to fit. Just because you tried to make a beer similar to a commercial doesn't prevent it from being entered.