What Kinds of Beer Are There?

Beer can be divided into ale and lager, but there are many different types of beer. Each type of beer has a different color, alcohol content, and taste.

Pale Ale

Pale Ale is one of the most popular beers worldwide. It is characterized by its golden to copper color and hops. Its taste is dominated by a rich hop flavor, accompanied by a mild malt flavor, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It typically has a lower alcohol content and is easy to drink.

• Alcohol content: 4.4%-5.4%

• IPA: 30-50

• Pairing: Seafood, poultry, cheddar cheese

• Serving temperature: 40-45°F

American Amber Ale

American Amber Ale is typically golden or amber in color. Due to the use of a large amount of hops in the brewing process, this type of beer usually has a bitter taste. Due to its high alcohol content, many consumers may find it to have a strong flavor.

• Alcohol content: 4.4%-6.1%

• IPA: 25-45

• Examples: Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, Stone Brewing Company's Levitation Ale

• Pairing: American cuisine, meat, fish, blue cheese

• Serving temperature: 40-45°F

Pilsner Beer

Pilsner beer is typically brewed using malt, hops, and neutral or hard water. Pilsner beer is known for its dry, bitter taste and is especially popular in the summer.

• Types of Pilsner Beer

• American Pilsner Beer

• Czech Pilsner Beer

• German Pilsner Beer

Stout

Stout is characterized by its dark color and thick, creamy head. Its rich, roasted flavor comes from the addition of ungerminated roasted barley to the wort. Stout often has aromas of coffee, chocolate, licorice, or molasses, making it an excellent pairing for desserts.

American Stout

• Alcohol content: 4.5–6.0%

• Bitterness (IBW): 20–30

• Representative beers: Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, Arcadia London Porter

• Pairing suggestions: American and British cuisine, meat, chocolate, Fontina cheese

• Serving temperature: 50–55°F

Oatmeal Stout

As the name suggests, oatmeal stout contains oats added to the malt mixture. This gives the beer a smooth texture and sweetness.

• Alcohol content: 3.8–6.0%

• IBU: 20–40

• Examples: Young's Oatmeal Stout, Troegs Java Head Stout

• Pairings: Meat, seafood, chocolate, Camembert cheese

• Serving temperature: 50–55°F

Belgian Beer Style Classification

Belgian beer is renowned for its spicy, fruity flavor and high alcohol content. Despite its high alcohol content, Belgian beer typically has a lower bitterness level.

• Alcohol content: 4.0–7.0%

• International Nutrition Units: 15–25

• Examples: Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Lancaster Brewing Company Milk Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout

• Pairings: Mexican cuisine, beef, chocolate, ice cream, Cheddar cheese

• Serving temperature: 50–55°F

Wheat Beer

Made with wheat malt, this beer has a smooth texture and is slightly cloudy. It has a very low hop content, and its flavor depends on the type of wheat used. Wheat beer often has citrus flavors and a full body.

American Pale Wheat Ale

• ABV: 3.5–5.6%

• IBU: 15–25

• Examples: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat Ale, Shipyard Summer Ale

• Pairings: Mexican cuisine, spicy foods, poultry, mozzarella cheese

• Serving temperature: 45–50°F

Sour Beer

Sour beer is brewed using wild yeast and bacteria to produce high acidity. This acidity gives the beer a sour taste, rather than the bitterness commonly found in other beers. Many brewers also add fruit and spices to wild beer to give it a sweet, fruity flavor.

American Sour Beer

• Alcohol content: Varies by product

• Bitterness: Varies by product

• Representative products: Samuel Adams American Kriek, Weyerbacher Riserva

• Pairing suggestions: Fruit, rich cheese

• Serving temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit

Specialty Beer

Specialty beer is a delightful and diverse category of beer that caters to beer enthusiasts' desire for novel flavors. This category breaks the boundaries of traditional styles, constantly innovating in terms of flavor, aroma, and brewing techniques. Craft beer is brewed with passion and creativity, using a variety of unique ingredients, including exotic fruits, spices, herbs, and even barrel-aged spirits, to create complex and enticing flavors.

American Rye Beer

American stout is dark in color, with malt and roasted flavors and moderate to intense bitterness. This style is sometimes referred to as black IPA.

• Alcohol content: 6.0–7.5%

• International units of nutrition: 50–75

• Representative beers: Lagunitas NightTime, Founders Dark Penance, Victory Yakima Glory

• Pairing suggestions: Aged cheese, seafood, chocolate

• Serving temperature: 50–55°F