Beer is one of the most enjoyed alcoholic beverages by people in the United States and elsewhere the world over. You may be like many people from all walks of life you enjoy beer and yet don’t really know a great deal about the libation. With this in mind, take a moment to get to know the more common different types of beer.
Overall, beers are placed into two broad categories: ales and lagers. Within these two broad categories are different individual varieties of beer.
In addition, there are types of beers that do not fit into these broad categories. Thanks to the significant expansion of micro-breweries, craft breweries, brew houses, and the like, new and interesting variations on the beer theme are coming into being many times throughout the course of any given year. With that said, a good starting point in better understanding beer is to garner an appreciation of some of the basic types of ales and lagers that are brewed and enjoyed in this day and age.
Varieties of Ale
These beers are made by brewing what is known as a top fermenting yeast. This type of yeast is a fungus that grows at the top of what is known as a formation vessel. The process occurs at roughly room temperature. The brewing process for ales is considerable shorter than is the case with lagers.
India Pale Ale is a very hoppy beer. It most commonly is referred to as IPA and is highly popular at this juncture in time. Indeed, many craft breweries and independent brew houses specialize in brewing this type of ale.
Hefeweizen is an unfiltered wheat ale. It is also a type of ale that is favored by more than a few craft breweries.
Irish red ale is set apart from most ales not only because of its taste, but also its presentation. This type of ale contained a roaster barley content, which results in what many describe as a tea-like flavor. It also has a reddish coloration, which results in its moniker.
Porter ale is a British favorite. It has been around and enjoyed for quite a long time. It is darker in color that most ales.
Stout is at the end of the spectrum when it comes to deeply colored and heavy beers. It is considered to be the darkest and heaviest of all beers. Stout is packed with an array of toasted flavors. These include coffee, chocolate, oatmeal, or cream.
Varieties of Lager
Lagers originate in Central Europe. Unlike ales, lagers rely on bottom-fermented yeast. Lagers are cold-brewed. They are brewed at temperatures between 45°F and 57°F. The brewing time for a lager is significantly longer than is the case for an ale. Lagers also tend to be generally lighter in color as well as having a milder taste. The flavor is a lager also leans towards being more fruity.
Pilsner is one of the best known types of lagers. Pilsner beers were dominate in the U.S. and other national beer markets during a considerable part of beer drinking history. This type of beer is a light yellow lager. It presents a more bitter and hoppy flavor.
American light beer became highly popular in the United States and elsewhere, beginning in the 19801. American light beer really amount so to watered-down derivation of traditional pilsner. This type of pilsner garnered public support initially because it was marketed as being lower in calories. It also has less of the bitter and hoppy taste associated with traditional pilsner.
Bock is a strong lager. It is brewed for extra months than is the case with other lagers. This results in this type of lager having a robust malt presentation.
Märzen is a full-bodied lager. It is copper colored and has a high alcohol content when contrasted with other lagers (and ales, for that matter). This type of lager has a dry finish and a toasty flavor.
Beer Flights at Craft Breweries
A growing number of craft breweries, and craft beer houses, create enjoyable beer flights. This permits a patron the ability to compare and contrast different ales and lagers in one sitting. A good many of these types of establishments offer specials on beer flights at different times. In addition, some establishments have seasonal brews that present unique takes on these different ales and lagers. These specialty brews oftentimes are included in flights to permit a showcasing of their special efforts in coming up with variations on the ale and lager themes.
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Jessica Kane writes for TIPS Alcohol Training, offering TIPS responsible alcohol service training online for both on and off premise needs.
