This system attempts to break the styles into groups based on historical development and derived styles in a more granular approach than the style family sorting.
| (5) 1. Pilsner | (5) 15. English Mild |
| A. 3A. Czech Pale Lager B. 3B. Czech Premium Pale Lager C. 5D. German Pils D. 7C. Kellerbier (Pale Kellerbier) E. 27. Historical Beer (Pre-Pro Lager) F. 5A. German Leichtbier |
A. 13A. Dark Mild |
| (5) 2. Mass Market Pale Lager | (5) 16. Dark American Beer (derived from English Styles) |
| A. 1B. American Lager B. 2A. International Pale Lager C. 1A. American Light Lager |
A. 19C. American Brown Ale B. 27. Historical Beer (Pre-Pro Porter) C. 20A. American Porter D. 20B. American Stout |
| (5) 3. European Pale Lager | (5)17. Porter |
| A. 5C. Helles Exportbier B. 4A. Munich Helles C. 4B. Festbier D. 4C. Helles Bock |
A. 13C. English Porter B. 9C. Baltic Porter |
| (5) 4. Amber Lager | (5) 18. Irish Stout |
| A. 7A. Vienna Lager B. 6A. Märzen C. 7C. Kellerbier (Amber Kellerbier) D. 3C. Czech Amber Lager E. 2B. International Amber Lager |
A. 16D. Foreign Extra Stout B. 15C. Irish Extra Stout C. 15B. Irish Stout |
| (5) 5. European Smoked Beer | (5) 19. English Stout |
| A. 27. Historical Beer (Piwo Grodziskie) B. 27. Historical Beer (Lichtenhainer) C. 6B. Rauchbier |
A. 20C. Imperial Stout B. 16B. Oatmeal Stout C. 16A. Sweet Stout D. 16C. Tropical Stout |
| (5) 6. Indigenous American Beer | (5) 20. Strong Ale |
| A. 1C. Cream Ale B. 19B. California Common C. 27. Historical Beer (Kentucky Common) D. 18A. Blonde Ale |
A. 17B. Old Ale B. 17A. British Strong Ale C. 22B. American Strong Ale |
| (5) 7. Dark Lager | (5) 21. Barleywine |
| A. 8A. Munich Dunkel B. 3D. Czech Dark Lager C. 8B. Schwarzbier D. 2C. International Dark Lager |
A. 17D. English Barleywine B. 22C. American Barleywine C. 22D. Wheatwine |
| (5) 8. Bock | (5) 22. Belgian Ale |
| A. 6C. Dunkles Bock B. 9A. Doppelbock C. 9B. Eisbock |
A. 25A. Belgian Blond Ale B. 26A. Trappist Single C. 26B. Belgian Dubbel |
| (5) 9. English Pale Ale | (5) 23. Belgian Strong Ale |
| A. 11A. Ordinary Bitter B. 11B. Best Bitter C. 11C. Strong Bitter D. 12C. English IPA |
A. 26C. Belgian Tripel B. 25C. Belgian Golden Strong Ale C. 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale |
| (5) 10. Pale Ales (derived from English Pale Ale) | (5) 24. Wheat Beer |
| A. 15A. Irish Red Ale B. 12B. Australian Sparkling Ale C. 24B. Belgian Pale Ale D. 12A. British Golden Ale |
A. 10A. Weissbier B. 10B. Dunkles Weissbier C. 10C. Weizenbock D. 24A. Witbier E. 27. Historical Beer (Roggenbier) F. 1D. American Wheat Beer |
| (5) 11. American Pale Beer (derived from English styles) | (5) 25. German Sour Ale |
| A. 18B. American Pale Ale B. 19A. American Amber Ale C. 21A. American IPA |
A. 23A. Berliner Weisse B. 27. Historical Beer (Gose) |
| (5) 12. American Bitter Beer (derived from American IPA) | (5) 26. Belgian Sour Ale |
| A. 21B. Specialty IPA (all) B. 22A. Double IPA |
A. 23B. Flanders Red B. 23C. Oud Bruin C. 23D. Lambic D. 23E. Gueuze E. 23F. Fruit Lambic |
| (5) 13. Top-Fermented German Lagers | (5) 27. Specialty Beer |
| A. 5B. Kölsch B. 7B. Altbier |
A. All remaining beers in Categories 28-34 |
| (5) 14. European Farmhouse Beer | |
| A. 24C. Bière de Garde B. 25B. Saison C. 27. Historical Beer (Sahti) |