No Respect! Malt Liquor

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of Zymurgy Magazine

By Ron Minkoff

Homebrewers show disrespect for Budweiser and Coors all the time, but there are always plenty of BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) competition entries for categories 1A (American Light Lager) and 1B (American Lager). Those homebrewers think, “I can brew the same style as Bud but make it better and like it.” And for many homebrewers, they’re right. You could say malt liquor is in a similar position. Actually, it’s worse. In the homebrew world, malt liquor isn’t taken seriously. There’s no BCJP category for it, other than 34C (Experimental), and few people homebrew it. It don’t get no respect, no respect at all. Basically, malt liquor is the rRodney Dangerfield of beer styles.

Access the full article in the September/October 2024 Zymurgy Magazine.

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