We all know how to drink beer, but do we know what goes into making our favorite brews? If you’re serious about setting down your old standbys and trying something new, it’s worth its weight in hops to gain some knowledge about the different styles of beer you’ll encounter at a bar or local beer store.
In this edition of "Knowing Your Beer," get ready for a quick guide to the basic beer styles.
Basic Styles
Beer styles are differentiated by factors such as color, strength, origin, ingredients and production method. The main difference? It’s all in the yeast — which can be either ale or lager. These are some of the most popular varieties you’re likely to see on tap.
Ales
Pale Ale: originating from the India pale ales of Britain, the American version is usually cleaner in taste with a burst of hops that can range from lightly floral to pungent.
India pale ale (IPA): First brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s, IPAs ramped up the hops used in regular pale ales to help withstand the voyage. Hops are a natural preservative. The American IPA helped spur the current craft beer surge we’re seeing now, balancing a big herbal and/or citric character with a malty undertone.
Belgian pale ale: Originally brewed to compete with the popular pilsners permeating Europe during WWII, Belgian pale ales are generally less hoppy than American versions, using aged hops to create a more delicate hop finish.
Stout: Commonly dark brown or black in color, don’t judge this brew by its intimidating color. Stouts are my favorite style, thanks to the rich flavors found in every glass. American brewers have really taken a liking to experimenting with this style, whether it’s adding coffee or chocolate to complement the roasted flavors or upping the hop content.
Porter: A medium-bodied, dark beer with plenty of history, porter flavors commonly draw from roasted grains, chocolate and toffee. This style used to be the most popular choice on both sides of the pond before it was upended by the current industry leader: pilsner. Now you can find it being reinvigorated with techniques like infusing it with smoke.
Barley wine: A complex style that is known for extreme amounts of flavor from using up to three times the normal amount of ingredients in the brewing process. A typical barley wine will have lots of alcohol, lots of malt flavor and lots of bitterness from hops, so be ready for a smack of rich flavor when your lips hit the glass. With so much flavor packed in, it can sometimes take years for the brew to mellow out to its best taste.
Lagers
Bock: Robust malt character balanced by light hops. Stronger than your typical lager.
Maerzen (Oktoberfest): Full-bodied and rich style traditionally brewed in March. It has a toasty flavor and a mild hop flavor.
Pilsner: One of the youngest beer styles in the world, this style is easily the most popular beer style in the world. Breweries in every city from Beijing to Anchorage are brewing up batches of the clean, pale brew. The flavor is refreshing, with light hints of grains and hops.
What do you think beginning craft beer drinkers should know about beer? Let me know in the comment section below or tweet me @Beer_4Breakfast.
Posts in Beer for Breakfast appear on Fridays.
Beer styles are differentiated by factors such as color, strength, origin, ingredients and production method.
