Grabbing a beer seems like an easy spur-of-the-moment decision until you see all the available options on the drink menu.
You can’t just order beer. You have to choose between a German lager, double IPA, lambic, imperial stout, wheat beer…
Don’t even get me started on deciding to brew your own beer at home.
But choosing a type of beer shouldn’t be such a tedious task. In fact, beer categorization gets much easier once you understand the basics, so let’s start with that.
Here are all the leading beer types explained.
What Is Beer?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of all the different beer types that exist nowadays, let’s get technical. We all love beer – but, what exactly is that drink?
By definition, beer is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting cereal grains. Typically, that’s barley, but wheat, corn, oats, and rice are also used.
Pretty simple, right?
To make beer, the grains are mixed with water and yeast. It’s a pretty simple recipe that dates back thousands of years. In fact, beer is one of the oldest fermented drinks in the world!
Of course, the craft of brewing was mastered over time. That’s why today we have a pool of beer styles to choose from.
Basic Beer Categorization
Many people think of beer in terms of where it comes from. We’ve all heard the classic “Oh, I prefer American/German/Czech type of beer.” Yet, geography plays just a tiny role in a brew’s categorization.
In fact, we can categorize types of beer based on numerous other factors, such as color, taste, and ingredients. However, all those types can further be classified into two groups, based on the fermenting process used to make beer: ales and lagers.
Ales
An ale is a type of beer created using a top fermentation method. The yeast used for this process ferments at warmer temperatures, settling at the top of the beer and creating foam.
Ale was the go-to drink during the medieval era, particularly in the United Kingdom. According to historical records, pensioners who lived in monasteries received two gallons of ale every day!
Originally, ale was brewed without hops, which were first introduced to the brewing process as a natural preservative. Over time, it became the crowd’s flavor enhancer, and today, you expect a certain degree of hoppiness from your ale.
Of course, there are other ingredients that also contribute to the flavor – one of them being the ale yeast. There are numerous strains of this yeast, and they all bring different flavors to the table, ranging from fruity and citrusy to woody and earthy.
Ales come in a wide variety of styles, which differ not only in flavor profile, but also in appearance and alcohol content. Here are the most popular ale styles:
Pale Ale
Until the 18th century, people brewed their ale dark. But that changed when high-carbon coke was invented, a type of fuel that allowed a lighter malt roast. This change resulted in the creation of pale ale, which is lighter in color and flavor, with hoppy notes just “peaking” through.
If you’re just getting into ales, pale ale is the gateway drink. It’s very balanced – slightly fruity, mildly hoppy, and with just a hint of bitterness. This flavor profile, paired with a low ABV of 4%-6%, makes pale ale a suitable drink for different occasions.
India Pale Ale
For those who prefer their drink stronger and more bitter, India pale ale is the way to go.
This particular style of beer was invented in 18th-century England. At the time, the Brits were heavily invested in trading in the Indian subcontinent. The demand for beer was high here, but exporting it was no easy task.
Months of long boat rides and warm climates would cause the beer to spoil before reaching its final destination. So, the Brits came up with the idea of adding more hops and increasing the ABV to preserve the beer on its journey to the East.
As with most English beers with a long history, the exact IPA formulation has changed over time. It’s still strong and hoppy, with prominent notes ranging from herbal to fruity.
American Pale Ale
American pale ale is the reinterpretation of the IPA style with New World hops. Compared to its British cousin, APA is more balanced in flavor and less bitter. American hop varieties display various flavor and aroma characteristics, ranging from citrus and flower to pine and spice.
Thanks to its crisp, refreshing finish, APA is highly versatile and pairs well with a wide range of foods, including grilled meats, spicy dishes, and even seafood.
Cream Ale
Cream ale is the classic American “lawnmower” beer – it’s smooth, refreshing, and easy to chug down. And while the name might suggest otherwise, there’s no cream or dairy products in this drink.
What makes cream ale unique is the production process. While it’s made with top-fermenting yeast, cream ale also goes through a period of cold conditioning at colder temperatures (just like lager.) As a result, you get a drink that can quench your thirst on a hot summer day.
Amber Ale
Amber ale is yet another well-loved product of the American craft beer scene. Its characteristic deep amber to coppery-brown hue results from the addition of crystal or caramel malt.
When it comes to the flavor profile, you can also taste the caramel notes, accompanied by a crisp finish and slight bitterness. Amber ale is a very refreshing drink that pairs well with grilled food.
Wheat beer
Even though it’s most commonly referred to as “beer,” wheat beer is top-fermented, meaning it’s technically an ale. Originating in Bavaria, wheat beer is light in color, low in ABV, and can be hazy or clear.
Wheat beer is fresh and lacks the bitterness usually associated with ales. Depending on the style, the taste profile can range from bready to fruity, with more prominent notes of banana and clove. Certain styles, like the Belgian Witbier, are traditionally spiced with coriander and orange peel.
Lagers
To make lager, brewers use a type of yeast that settles at the bottom at relatively cold temperatures. After fermentation, the beer undergoes a maturation process in cold storage—called lager in German—which is where the name comes from.
Lager beer is generally light and smooth, with a slight crisp to it. Compared to ale, lager is more carbonated but less bitter, which makes it an excellent entry point to beer for new drinkers.
Lager can range in colors, from extremely pale to dark brown, and each color hue has an accompanying flavor profile. Here are some of the most popular lager styles:
Pilsner
Pilsner is the world’s first pale lager, originating in the city of Plzeň (Pilsen) in the Czech Republic, which it’s named after.
Invented in the 19th century, it wasn’t long before this style of beer blew up and everyone started copying it. That’s why today, the term “pilsner” is widely used to describe beer brewed in the classic Plzeň style – with a light body, balanced bitterness, and crisp finish.
Amber Lager
This lager beer is named after its color, which can range from deep gold to copper. The color is a result of the toasted malted barley, which is also prominent in the flavor. Amber lagers are complex but balanced, with low hop bitterness and medium ABV.
Dark Lager
Like ale, lager was brewed dark until the 19th century, when the use of lighter roasted malts spread. Today, beer comes in different hues, but dark lager is still well-loved worldwide.
Despite its deep appearance, dark lager is relatively light-bodied and usually clear. The flavor profile, on the other hand, is nothing short of complex. Depending on the type, dark lager can exhibit strong notes of caramel, toast, or molasses.
Stouts & Porters
If we’re being technical, stout and porter are types of ale, as both styles of beer are created through the warm fermentation method. However, due to their distinct appearance and flavor profile, they’re not your “typical ale.”
And while they both look quite similar in the glass, these two beer styles have some clear differences.
For instance, stouts are brewed with unmalted roasted barley, which results in a complex and bold taste profile. Porters, on the other hand, are brewed with malted barley, so they’re somewhat lighter in both color and flavor intensity compared to stouts. They’re also generally sweeter and have a lower ABV, making them more drinkable than stouts
Special Categories
Many other types of beer don’t completely fit into the lager/ale categorization, so let’s address them separately:
Ice Beer
During hot summer days, nothing is as refreshing as a bottle of ice beer. And no, we’re not talking about beer that’s left in the freezer for too long.
Ice beer is a strong lager that undergoes a freezing process during production. Basically, the temperature is lowered until ice crystals form.
Now, those crystals are pure water, as ethanol has a much lower freezing temperature—a whopping −173 Fahrenheit! Once you remove the crystals, you’re left with a concentrated aroma and flavor, along with a higher ABV compared to regular beer.
Sour Beer
Sourness is not the flavor you want in your beer – unless it’s intentionally brewed to be tart. Sour beer is not a conventional brew, but the complexity and freshness it brings might surprise you.
There are two ways to make sour beer. Some brewers add fruit to develop a tangy flavor, while others prefer the traditional fermentation method, which involves allowing wild yeast and bacteria to spontaneously ferment the beer.
Fruit Beer
Simply put, this type of drink is made by adding fruit to beer. Technically, any beer style can work, but the most common styles that are made into fruit beer include wheat beer, stouts, pale ales, and sour beer.
As for the fruit flavors, pretty much anything can go into the drink. From citrus and berries to tropical and stone fruit, there’s a flavor for everyone.
Radler
Radler is a 50/50 drink—it’s part beer and part fruit juice. Typically, the beer is either a pilsner, lager, or blonde ale, while the fruit is citrus, like lemon or orange. Light in alcohol content, this is the perfect drink for cooling off.
Smoked Beer
As the name suggests, this type of beer is created using malted barley that’s dried over an open flame. The flavor can range from woody to bacon-like, depending on the type of materials used for smoking malt – just how your choice of wood affects the flavor profile of your barbecue!
Other Terms to Know
Aside from categories, there are a few other terms that can help in differencing between different types of beer.
Light Beer
Light beer (also spelled as lite) is a term that has nothing to do with the actual color of the drink. Whether lager or ale, a beer is light if it has a reduced ABV or calories compared to regular beers.
In the US, light beer is a beer with fewer calories. This is achieved by reducing carbs and ethyl alcohol from the drink. Sure, ABV is thus reduced as well, although that’s not the primary intention. That’s why light beers, like Coors Light, still have 4.2% ABV.
In many other countries, light beer is brewed for those who want to limit their alcohol consumption. Exactly how low in alcohol content these beers are differs from country to country. So for instance, in Scotland, a light beer should have an ABV ranging between 2.5% and 3.2%.
Craft Beer
Craft beer is produced by small, independent brewers, typically in smaller batches compared to macro breweries. This is quite a broad term, and it’s typically used to accentuate innovation and creativity involved in the production process. Craft brewers have distinctive, individualistic approaches to brewing, so their final product is pretty much – a form of art.
Barrel-Aged Beer
Just like other types of booze, beer can also be aged in a wooden barrel. The idea is to use the barrel that once housed whiskey, wine, or other alcoholic beverages, and the wood will slowly impart the flavor and aroma of the beer.
Dry-Hopped Beer
Every beer brewing technique involves adding hops at some point, typically in the beginning. But sometimes, the brewers add hops later (usually at the end of fermentation) to give the beer additional hoppiness without any bitterness.
How to Evaluate Beer Quality?
Not every beer is brewed equal. And before you gather your friends and family to try your new brew, you should evaluate it first. But how?
The good thing is, you don’t need to be a certified beer judge to properly evaluate a beer. Some organizations, like the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), perform formal beer evaluation – and all you have to do is follow their guidelines when doing the same with your home brew.
Here are a few things you should pay attention to:
Does It Conform to the Styles of Its Category?
First things first, does your brew conform to the style standards?
According to BJCP, four main sensory building blocks define a specific style:
-
Appearance
-
Aroma
-
Flavor
-
Mouthfeel
When you’re judging a beer, you’re checking how these sensory blocks conform to the style guidelines.
Let’s say you’re making English porter. According to style guidelines, it’s supposed to be dark brown in color and has a toasty aroma, bready malt flavor, and creamy texture.
American porter has a few similar characteristics, such as color and aroma. However, the key difference is that it’s stronger and more bitter than its English cousin. That’s why you should pay attention to these small differences in guidelines that define a specific style when evaluating your brew.
Are There Any Off-Flavors?
An off-flavor is any flavor not intended to be in the finished brew. But how does one know what the brewer actually intended?
There are many off-flavors that are acceptable in certain beer styles, even desirable, and unwanted in others.
It’s the same with cheese. For instance, you want your Gorgonzola to be sharp and tangy, but mozzarella with such a flavor has gone bad.
When it comes to beer, some off-flavors are easy to pick out, while others require a more trained palate. So don’t get discouraged – learning to detect off-flavors comes with time and practice.
Does It Meet the Serving and Storage Requirements for Its Category?
Finally, let’s not forget about serving and storage requirements for a specific beer category.
Did you know that our taste buds change the way we perceive taste based on temperature? That’s why beer tastes better when it’s cold. Basically, high temperature enhances ethanol flavor, which is both bitter and sweet. But when the beer is chilled, this compound is subdued.
What happens if it’s too chilled, though? Then even more flavor characteristics get masked, leaving the drink thin and bland.
As you know, lagers are fermented and stored at a lower temperature compared to ales – and the same thing goes for serving. Likewise, stronger beers are generally served warmer compared to lighter ones.
If you want your beer to taste exactly how you intended, you should store and serve it according to its category requirements.
FAQs
What are the main types of beer?
All beer styles can be grouped into two main types: lager and ales.
What is the difference between the types of beers?
The two beer types, lager and ale, have one key difference – the fermentation method. While lager beers are made with bottom-fermenting yeasts, ales require the use of top-fermenting yeasts.
What does IPA stand for?
IPA stands for India Pale Ale, and it’s a highly hopped version of the original Pale Ale invented in the United Kingdom.
What is a lager vs ale vs pilsner?
Lager is a type of beer made with bottom-fermenting yeasts and stored at low temperatures. Ales, on the other hand, are made with top-fermenting yeasts. Pilsner is a style of lager beer that originated in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
What is the difference between APA and IPA?
The main difference between APAs and IPAs lies in the type of hops used. While APAs are made with American hops, IPAs use British hop varieties. Furthermore, IPAs have higher ABVs than APAs.
