Ever wondered how the many restaurants, bars, and breweries keep up with the demands of the beer enthusiasts out there? By simply introducing more types of beer of course! Beer has some astounding varieties, each having a unique and distinct flavor of its own. Whether you’re a newbie learning to enjoy the taste of beer or a beer aficionado, trying out a new style and strength is always an exciting thing to do. Read on as we take you through the different types of beer to find out which one will suit your taste and palate.
The Different Types Of Beer
- Ales
- Lagers
- Porters And Stouts
- Other Types Of Beer
1. Ales
One of the oldest types of beer is ale. It is fermented at warmer temperatures and top-quality yeasts are used in this beer. Ales are often referred to as ‘top-fermented’ beers as the yeast floats on the surface while it’s doing its job. From fruity to earthy, ales are full-bodied (complex taste, enhanced and intense mouthfeel), somewhat bitter beers with a variety of options, each having unique flavors because of the type of yeast used.
Also Read: How To Pour Beer Into A Glass?
Pale Ale
Pale ales are hoppy and known for their bitter taste. If you try English-style ales, you’ll find the beer to have earthy and malty flavors. On the other hand, American-style pale ales are medium-bodied and have fruity undertones. These beers have golden to amber colors and hence are often referred to as blonde or golden ales.
Cream Ale
Cream ales can be considered as partly ale and party lager because their brewing process is warm, just like ales. But, after that, they are cold-fermented, just like a lager. Cream ales are light in color and heavily carbonated with hoppy flavors, more than a light lager. When you taste this type of beer, you’ll be surprised that neither the flavors of hops nor sweetness dominate your palate. You’ll get the taste of moderate bitterness, slight malty flavors, and a light corny flavor towards the end.
Fun Fact: Cream Ale gets its name from its silky and creamy mouthfeel. No wonder many people have the misconception that its brewing process involves adding a dairy product, which is not true.
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ales or IPAs are a go-to for those who enjoy the bitterness of beers. These beers are known for their complex flavor profiles and fruity, earthy tastes. Since they have citrusy and fruity flavors, spicy and fatty foods go best with them.
Fun Fact: IPAs or India Pale Ale category of beers emerged in England back in the 19th century. The reason for their strong flavor was because it was made extra hoppy in order to survive their six-month journey to India by ship.
Wheat Beer
This beer comes in many different styles and a large proportion of wheat is used in its brewing process; it contains at least 30% wheat! Wheat beer has a fuller mouthfeel with hazy and citrusy flavors. This is one type of beer that’s extremely difficult to brew. That’s because the process to extract sugars from the grain becomes difficult because of the binding of proteins and starches present in it. In terms of their appearance, wheat beers can be cloudy or clear and are light in color with moderate alcohol content.
Fun Fact: You’ve probably seen the name ‘Hefeweizen’ on almost every bar menu, right? Well, that is nothing but a German beer style which is considered to be one of the most popular beers in the world.
Amber And Red Ale
As the name suggests, these are reddish-colored beers that are made using specialty malts. This results in their typical medium-bodied fruity, caramel, and toffee flavors that give these beers their unique taste. Different brewers use different strains of hops for making amber and red ales; the typical taste of these beers is moderately hoppy. Despite their citrusy and fruity flavors, these beers generally have a dry finish because of the roasted grain quality that’s acquired from the malt.
Brown Ale
The brown color of brown ales comes from the roasted malts used to make them. In terms of taste, these beers have flavors of caramel, chocolate, and toast. Compared to other ales, these beers have a moderately bitter taste. Brown ales are considered to be versatile because they can be paired with almost any food.
Dark Ale
Dark ale is also referred to as ‘Black India Pale Ale’ and is a top-fermented beer made with roasted malts and heavy hops. Just a whiff of this beer and you’ll be greeted with the aromas of raisins or baked apple. On the palate, dark ales have spicy and caramel notes. To quench your thirst for beer, try these hoppy beers which taste exceptionally well with beef.
Belgian-Style Ale
Have you ever gone to a bar and heard someone say, “This tastes Belgian, love it!”? If you have no idea what Belgian-style beer tastes like, we’ll break the ice for you. The aromas of Belgian-style ales are fruity, spicy, and herby. When it comes to the flavors of Belgian-Style ales, lightly fruity, toasty, and nut-like notes are the typical taste.
2. Lagers
As mentioned earlier, the kind of yeast used for the brewing process is what essentially differentiates ales from lagers. To put it simply, what makes ales different from lagers is the fact that lagers undergo a cold fermentation process. The yeast used to make these beers settles at the bottom while doing its work, that’s why lagers are also called ‘bottom-fermented beers’.
Pale Lager
Pale Lagers are dry and crisp because of the acidity generated as a result of the forced carbonation process. The main ingredients used to make pale lagers are water, Pilsner malt, and noble hops (hops that are high in bitterness and their aroma). There are many other variations of these beers; one such variation is made using rice and corn to lighten its body. You can relish foods like pizzas with pale lagers and make the most of your drinking experience.
Pilsner
Pilsners are light-bodied beers that are known to have emerged in 19th-century Europe. In terms of the bitterness levels, these beers have moderate to noble hop bitterness. Pilsners are usually pale and golden in color. These types of beers can be best paired with foods that are fried, like crispy cutlets, tempura, etc.
Amber And Red Lager
Amber and red lagers are made with toasted malted barley which gives these beers their crisp and light flavors. Just like their pale sister cousins, these beers have flavors of caramel, toast, and toffee notes along with dark malt sweetness. The bitterness in these beers differs for different brands and breweries of course. But generally, amber and red lagers are malt-flavored or balanced.
Dark Lager
Dark lagers are often confused with stout beers, but both are two different things. These lagers have a dark brown or black color and are made with roasted malts that add to their crispiness. Dark lagers are full-bodied beers with a hint of bready sweet flavors. You can enjoy this beer with smoked fish on dark bread or other foods like cheddar cheese as the beer’s malty flavors get balanced.
Fun Fact: Dark Lagers are also called ‘Dunkel-style lagers’, wherein ‘Dunkel’ is the German term for ‘dark’.
Also Read: Beer Cocktails That You Can Enjoy At Home
3. Porters and Stouts
The most common descriptions of porters and stouts are that these beers are heady, dark, and rich. But they are much more than that! White porters are made using malted and light-colored barley, stouts are made using dark-colored and roasted barley. In terms of the flavor profile, you’ll get a strong chocolaty flavor with porters and coffee flavor from stouts. When you have a look at both these types of beers, both have a dark-brownish color.
Imperial Stout And Porter
The origin of these beers can be traced back to the 18th century and their flavor profiles include roasted malt flavors. You’ll also get subtle notes of chocolate and coffee on your palate. These rich beers can be best enjoyed with foods like grilled meats, chocolate puddings, and chocolate cakes.
Oatmeal Stout And Porter
As you can guess from their names themselves, these beers are made with oatmeal as one of their primary ingredients. In terms of their appearance, they’re usually black and have malty flavors with subtle hints of chocolate. You can pair these beers with meats like beef and lamb. And of course, desserts like chocolate puddings also taste amazing with them!
4. Other Types Of Beers
There are many other types and styles of beers that are made using ingredients other than malt or yeast. Let us take you through a few other flavorful varieties of beer.
Fruit Beer
Fruit beers are made from fruits that are fermented to make alcohol. The sweet flavors of fruits like strawberries, plums, raspberries, cherries, etc. are used to make fruit beers. You can enjoy them with a variety of foods like salads, duck and pork dishes, desserts, etc.
Honey Beer
Honey beers are made by brewing ales or lagers with honey; the honey is added during various stages of fermentation. Along with honey, malted or unmalted grains like wheat, barley, or corn are used in the brewing process. It has a sweet and smooth taste and some brewers add herbs and spices to get a unique flavor.
Summing Up
Now that we’ve taken you through the different types of beer, it’s time you turn into a brew-head and try out different strengths and styles of beer. Who knows, you might be surprised with the taste and textures of beers you’ve never tried before. Go ahead, grab a mug or two (or three), and thank us later. ‘Hoppy’ drinking!
FAQs
What Are The Main Types Of Beer?
The main types of beer are as follows:
- Ales
- Lagers
- Porters and Stouts
- Fruit and honey beers
How Many Types Of Beer Are There?
There are over 100 types of beer including more than 73 types of ales, over 25 different types of lagers, and many other hybrid beers.
What Are The Two Main Types Of Beers?
The two main types of beers are ale and lagers. One key difference between these two beers is the type of yeast used for the fermentation of the beer.
What Is The Smoothest Beer?
Some of the smoothest beers are as follows:
- Bira 91 White
- Corona
- Hoegaarden Original White
- Bira 91 Blonde
- Budweiser
Which Is The Best Beer To Drink?
The best beers to drink in India are as follows:
- Bira 91
- Kingfisher
- Corona
- Budweiser
- Tuborg
- Carlsberg
- Heineken
- Foster’s
What Type Of Beer Is Corona?
Corona is a Mexican lager with a light and crisp texture. In terms of its flavor, it has complex and sweet notes with a little bit of hoppiness.
What Is Lager VS Ale?
Lagers are beers that are fermented at warm temperatures while ales are fermented at cold temperatures. While the former is made using top-fermenting yeast, the latter is made with bottom-fermenting yeast.
Which Beer Is Good For Beginners?
Here’s a list of beers for beginners:
- Corona
- Guinness
- Hoegaarden Original White
- Budweiser
- Bira 91 White
