Beer History Storyline
Competitions, Judging, and Style Taxonomy
Explore how competitions, judging organizations, writers, and formal guidelines created shared ways to classify and evaluate beer.
Chronological milestones
Sources and further references are available on each individual event page.
1886
The Brewers’ Exhibition Hosts an Early Professional Beer Competition
1905
A National Brewing Competition Gives Rise to Spéciale Belge
1977
Michael Jackson Popularizes The Modern Concept Of Beer Styles
1978
CAMRA Holds the First Beer of the Year Competition
May 5, 1979
First National Homebrew Competition Is Held
June 4, 1982
The Great American Beer Festival Is First Held
May 31, 1985
The BJCP Holds Its First Beer-Judging Exam
1987
The Great American Beer Festival Introduces Judged Competition
1996
The First World Beer Cup Is Held
1997
The BJCP Publishes Its First Formal Style Guidelines
1999
Vienna Lager Enters The Modern Style Guidelines
2004
Double India Pale Ale Becomes A Recognized Beer Style
2004
The BJCP Defines Baltic Porter as a Separate Competition Style
2004
American Wheat Beer Becomes a Recognized Modern Style
2004
The First European Beer Star Competition Is Held
2015
Italian Grape Ale Enters The BJCP Guidelines
March 20, 2018
New England India Pale Ale Achieves National Recognition
March 8, 2019
First Heimbrau Convention Is Held at Schloss Romrod
April 12, 2019
Home Brew Bayreuth Is First Held
September 14, 2022
Seb’s Pale Ale Wins Gold at the European Beer Star
May 23, 2023
Brewers Association Adds Dessert or Pastry Stout Style
2025
Zum WØL Wins World's Best IPA At The World Beer Awards
April 18, 2026
Christian Tille Wins Home Brew Bayreuth 2026