- January: Lagers
1A American Light Lager
3B Czech Premium Pale Lager
3C Czech Amber Lager
4A Munich Helles
5D German Pils
6A Marzen
6B Rauchbier
7A Vienna Lager
8A Munich Dunkel
8B Schwarzbier
X5 New Zealand Pilsner
- February: Wheat Beers
1D American Wheat
10A Weissbier
10B Dunkles Weissbier
10C Weizenbock
22D Wheat Wine
23A Berliner Weisse
24A Witbier
27 Piwo Grodziskie (Historical)
27 Gose (Historical)
X4A Catharina Sour
- April: Pale and Bitter Ales
5B Kolsch
11A Ordinary Bitter
11B Best Bitter
11C Strong Bitter
12A British Golden Ale
12B Australian Sparkling Ale
18B American Pale Ale
19A American Amber Ale
- June: Porters and Stouts
9C Baltic Porter
13C English Porter
15B Irish Stout
15C Irish Extra Stout
16A Sweet Stout
16B Oatmeal Stout
16D Foreign Extra Stout
20A American Porter
20C Imperial Stout
- August: Belgians
23B Flanders Red Ale
24B Belgian Pale Ale
25A Belgian Blonde
25B Saison
26A Trappist Single
26B Belgian Dubbel
26C Belgian Tripel
26D Belgian Dark Strong
- October: IPAs
12C English IPA
21A American IPA
21B Black IPA
21B Red IPA
21B Rye IPA
21B White IPA
21B NEIPA
22A Double IPA
For details see BJCP 2021 guidelines: https://www.bjcp.org/docs/2021_Guidelines_Beer.pdf
BABBs mini-competitions are run six times a year at our regular meetings, and they are great fun!
We judge entrants at communal tables together with the guidance of more experienced judges. The mini-comps are more about getting unbiased feedback on your brew, and learning about beer evaluation than winning.
Each mini-comp has a limited theme or style category such as IPA, Belgian, or Wheat Beers. Members find that this is great for pushing them out of their comfort zone, and encouraging them to brew new styles. Mini-comp style guidelines are set by the committee each year, and published with our calendar of events in the November newsletter for the following year.
Scroll down to see this year’s Mini-comp style guide.
Information for Entrants
Members and non-members alike may participate in the mini-comps, non-members cannot win places and prizes but receive unbiased feedback about their beer. Simply bring your beer along, and fill out an entry form on the night.
Mini-comp entries must be entered according to the designated mini-comp style guidelines – see below. Those entered out of style will be judged accordingly.
Members can ender more than one beer, but must nominate only ONE beer to contribute towards scoring – additional beers can be entered for be feedback only.
The Ernie Melville Trophy
Named after our founder, this award is for the Most Consistent Brewer of the year. Club members can win prizes for placing in each mini-comp, and go in to the running to win the coveted Ernie Melville Trophy for overall performance throughout the year.
The Most Consistent Brewer award is now calculated as follows: The top six places in each mini-comp get points toward the award. Six points for first place, five points for second, and so on till one point for sixth place. The brewer with the highest points at the end of the year wins.
The mini-competitions are run by our chief steward, assisted by the committee. Their decision on competitions matters is final.
Style Guide Archives
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2023
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2022
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2021
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2020
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2019
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2018
- Mini Comp Style Guide 2017