Beerducation
Styles of Beer
So many beers, but what are the main differences? Light beer, dark beer, red beer flavored beer! We will introduce you to the main styles seen regularly across the globe.
The top 10 (and one more)!
Ale Beer
Ale beers are the original style of beer created through the ages. It is a very broad category, with sub categories like pale or brown ales underneath it. This is a very popular type of beer for home brewers as it allows for warm temperature fermentation and can be completed in a shorter period of time.
The fermentation process involves brewers using top-fermenting yeasts, which ferments at the top, naturally. This top fermenting morphs a barley / malt tea into your frothy beer!
Lager Beer
Lagers are almost the opposite of ales in how they are processed. Lagers ferment at a colder temperature for quite a bit longer than ales, and the fermenting yeasts are meant to sink to the bottom rather than the top. Color can range from blonde to dark.
Lagers are very popular in European countries such as Germany, Netherlands, and even in North America such as Canada. Fun fact, lagers make up more than half of all beer sales in Canada!
Porter Beer
Porters are technically a sub-category of ales. Porters are well known for having a dark almost black color, with roasted malt aromas. Porters will tend to be dry or fruity in flavor. This flavor and aroma profile changes depending on how much roasted malt is used in the brewing process.
Stout Beer
Stouts and porters often get confused, however there is a slight difference between the two. Stouts typically will have a more bitter almost coffee like taste rather than the sweet flavor of a porter. This is created from unmalted roasted barley that is added to the wort. A stout will also usually have a wonderfully thick, foamy head. This is a top fermenting beer. Guinness from Ireland is a world renowned stout beer!
Blonde Ales
Blonde ales are the summer go-to for many. Typically crisp and dry with possible traces of bitterness, this light colored and clear looking beer comes in many varieties.
Brown Ales
Often overlooked, brown ales are like the kid that can’t figure out what he wants to be when he grows up, and that’s actually a good thing in this case! They can range from dark brown to a lighter amber color, can have flavor profiles similar to other beers, and are found all over the world. Some common flavor notes are chocolate, citrus, caramel and nut. Personally, Newcastle is one of my favorites!
Pale Ales
There are 3 common pales. The classic is an English style and known for having a fruity scent but not overpowering taste with a slight copper color. These are typically very strong and complement spicy food nicely.
A second type is the newer American Pale Ale. This is a cross between the English pale and Indian pale. American pale ales will often feature American two row malt (Double IPA) and be a bit hoppier than their English counterpart.
India Pale Ale
Such a popular style especially in the United States, it deserves (and usually gets) it’s own section! There is quite a story behind IPA’s. As Britain was worldwide before days of refrigeration, they needed beer to go with them! By adding extra hops to their English pale ales, their beer would NOT spoil. The extra hops adds a bittering agent that kept the beer stable to endure long trips across the seas by boat to India!
Traditionally IPAs would have fruit forward citrus flavors or taste or resin and pine. With the ever growing beer frenzy, American brewers are now trying all sorts of things with IPAs, adding flavors and ingredients that have never been thought of!
Wheat Beer
Another summer favorite with more intensity, wheat beers have a hazy body and a deliciously smooth flavor. Many wheat beers still have sediment in them, so it can be good to pour into a glass, making sure to spin the bottle when close to empty to get all the particles with the pour and not left behind in the bottom.
This is a top fermenting beer, although some Oktoberfests are actually bottom fermenting. Hefeweizens are the most common type of wheat beer, seen especially during Oktoberfest season!
Pilsner Beer
Pilsners typically have a very clear body and a lighter almost golden color to them. They are part of the lager family and tend to be rather hoppy but not heavy like a pale ale. Pilsners are categorized often due to the water used, which can vary from hard to neutral.
This is a bottom fermenting beer. This is another great summer favorite if you want something a little more light and perhaps even with a bit of a bite!
Sour Beer
Although they seem new to the market, sour ales are actually one of the oldest styles of beer. They are made using spontaneous fermentation, which is using wild yeasts similar to sourdough bread. As the name suggests, these beers are tangy and tart, and usually will have a wide range of flavor profiles such as tropical fruits or other exotic spices.
There are quite a few sub-genres of sour ales and styles. German sour beers are often made with sea salt and coriander, and Belgians have a variety called Flanders which is sour beer fermented in wood tanks. There are also lambics which are Belgian sour beers mixed with fruit, and we have even seen some sour beers with cucumber or cactus!
More flavors than the soda bar!
Although this is simply the main beer styles you will see on a daily basis, there are tons of subcategories of these beers that are absolutely worth delving into. If there’s a style of beer you might not usually enjoy but a flavor that sounds enticing, give it a shot (or a flight!). You might just have a new favorite flavored beer!