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As a beer lover, there is nothing more exciting than exploring the vast and diverse world of beer. With so many different types of beer available, each with its unique flavour and characteristics, it can be overwhelming trying to navigate the world of beer. In this guide, I will take you through the most popular types of beer, the flavours and characteristics that define them, and how to pair them with food. So, grab a glass and let's dive into the wonderful world of beers.
Introduction to the World of Beer
Beer is one of the oldest and most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. From ancient Sumeria to modern-day craft breweries, beer has evolved and changed, but it has always remained a beloved and iconic beverage. It is made of water, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
But within those basic ingredients lies an infinite variety of flavours and styles, with the process of brewing beer has evolved over time.
Understanding the Different Types of Beer
Ales and Lagers: The Two Basic Categories
Every beer you'll come across falls into one of two primary categories: ales or lagers. The key difference between the two lies in the yeast and fermentation temperature. Ales use top-fermenting yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and ferment at warmer temperatures, while lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) and ferment at cooler temperatures. Now, let's explore the various types of beers within these categories.
Pale Ales
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Pale ales are classic British beers that are among the most popular types of beers worldwide. Known for their golden to copper colour, these beers are brewed with pale malt and ale yeast.
The original pale ale was brewed in the 1700s in Burton-upon-Trent, England, using water from the local River Trent and the high-quality pale malt grown in the surrounding area.
They often have a hoppy character and light malt flavours, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Pale ales typically have a low alcohol content, easy to drink and ales typically have richer, more complex flavours compared to lagers.
Types of Pale Ales
American Amber Ale
American Pale Ale
Blonde Ale
English Pale Ale
Pale Ale Food Pairings
Cheese
Spicy foods
Grilled Meats and BBQ
Burgers
Fish and Chips
India Pale Ales (IPAs)
India pale ales, or IPAs, is a sub-category style from Pale Ale. They are brewed with pale malt, which gives golden or amber in colour and is known for their bitterness due to the high number of hops used during brewing. They often have citrus or herbal notes, which help balance the bitterness and add flavour. IPAs tend to have a higher alcohol content, making them a stronger choice for some drinkers.
The history of Indian Pale Ale dates back to the 18th century when British brewers began exporting beer to their colonies in India. The long journey by sea meant that the beer had to be brewed with extra hops and alcohol to help preserve it during the voyage. The result was a beer that was much hoppier and stronger than traditional English ales, and that had a longer shelf life.
Types of India Pale Ales
American IPA
English IPA
Imperial IPA
New England Style IPA
West Coast IPA
India Pale Ale Food Pairings
Fried foods
Meats
Pizza
Tacos
Brown Ale
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Another sub-category of Pale Ale. Brown ales range in colour from amber to brown and are mellow but flavorful. They are typically brewed with a combination of pale, caramel, and chocolate malts, which gives them their characteristic deep brown colour and nutty, caramel-like flavour. They are also often brewed with a moderate amount of hops. The English version of the brown ale is usually dry and nutty, while the American version tends to be hoppier. A very underrated beer I would say
Types of Brown Ales
American Brown Ale
English Brown Ale
Mild Brown Ale
Brown Ale Food Pairings
Roast Pork
Sausages
Barbeque
Brownies
Lagers
Lager is the most popular beer style in the world. With its crisp, clean taste and refreshing character, lager is a beer that is enjoyed by beer drinkers of all stripes. The cooler-temperature fermentation process of lager leads to a beer that is crisp and clean, with a smooth finish and a refreshing character.
The origins of lager can be traced back to Bavaria in the early 16th century. At the time, beer was typically brewed using top-fermenting yeast strains, which led to a beer that was cloudy and had a fruity flavour. But Bavarian brewers discovered that by using bottom-fermenting yeast strains and storing the beer in cool, dark caves, they could create a beer that was clear and had a crisp, refreshing taste.
Lager tends to be much lower alcohol content than ales. The flavours of lager are lean, refreshing taste, with a subtle malt character and a mild hop bitterness while ale has a more complex flavour profile, with fruity, floral, and spicy notes that can vary depending on the specific type of ale.
Types of Lager
American Lager
Vienna Style Lager
Dunkel
Pilsners
Lager Food Pairings
Southeast Asia cuisine
Cheeses
Seafood
Stouts
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Stouts are known for their dark colour and thick, creamy head. They feature heavily roasted flavours from the unmalted roasted barley added to the wort. Stouts often contain hints of coffee, chocolate, licorice, or molasses, making them a great pairing for desserts.
The history of beer stouts can be traced back to the early 18th century in Ireland. The first stouts were known as "porter" beers, which were dark, rich, and full-bodied beers that were popular with the working class. Over time, brewers began to experiment with different types of malt and hops, which led to the creation of different styles of stouts, including dry stouts, sweet stouts, and oatmeal stouts.
Types of Stouts
American Stout
American Imperial Stout
Irish Dry Stout
Milk Stout
Oatmeal Stout
Oyster Stout
Stout Food Pairings
Desserts
BBQ and Grilled meats
Shellfish
Mac and cheese
Porters
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Originating in London during the 18th century, porters are known for their toasty aroma and roasted flavours. They are made with malted roasted brown malts or barley, which gives the beer strong notes of chocolate, toffee, coffee, and caramel. Although porters share a similar colour with stouts, they have a crisper taste.
Types of Porters
American Imperial Porter
Baltic Porter
English Brown Porter
Robust Porter
Smoke Porter
Porter Food Pairings
Smoked foods
Barbeque
Rich Stews
Desserts
Wheat Beers
Wheat beer, also known as Weissbier or Weizenbier, is a type of beer that is brewed with a large proportion of wheat in addition to malted barley, resulting in a smooth texture and hazy body. They have very little hops presence, and their flavour depends on the type of wheat used. Wheat beers often have citrusy and tangy flavours, making them a refreshing choice for a sunny day. Wheat beer originated in Germany in the 16th century.
Types of Wheat Beers
American Wheat
Belgian Witbier
Berliner Weisse
Dunkelweizen
Hefeweizen
Wheat Beer Food Pairings
Salads
Fruit tarts
Vegetables
Seafood
8. Sour Ales
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Sour ales are a unique and distinctive style of beer that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Sour ales are brewed with wild yeast and bacteria, giving them high levels of acidity and a tart, sour flavour. Many brewers also add fruits and spices to sour ales to create a sweet, fruity profile.
Sour ales have a long and storied history, with some of the earliest examples dating back to medieval times in Europe. At this time, beer was often brewed using a combination of wild yeast and bacteria, and sour ales were a common style of beer. Over time, the use of brewer's yeast became more widespread, and sour ales fell out of favour. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in these unique and flavorful beers.
Types of Sour Ales
American Brett
American Sour
Belgian Fruit Lambic
Belgian Gueuze
Flanders Red Ale
Sour Ale Food Pairings
Fruit tarts
Salads
Seafood
Vegetables
Congratulations, You're a Beer Expert!
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By understanding the different types of beers and their unique characteristics, you can now confidently make drink recommendations based on your preferences or those of your friends. You also have the ability to pair beers with food to create delightful flavour combinations. So go ahead and explore the incredible world of beers, armed with your newfound expertise. Cheers!
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