If you’ve decided you want to try your hand at brewing beer, you’re going to need to know a little bit about the types of beer to start.
That’s because your first beer is going to be a learning experience. You want to go into the process of brewing beer with some knowledge of what different beers are going to taste like and how they’re going to affect you.
If you want to learn some of the most common types of beer, keep reading to find out what they are.
Ale
Ale is created by fermenting malted barley, hops, and yeast in water. Ales are often described as being sweeter and higher in alcohol content than their counterparts due to the addition of varying amounts of hops and malts during the brewing process.
They may also be categorized by their color, with the most prevalent being golden, amber, and dark. The flavors of ales span a wide range of sweetness, hoppiness, and bitterness. They are often combined with certain ingredients, such as fruits and spices, to create distinct flavors and aromas, which makes drinking beer more exciting.
IPA
As for India Pale Ale (IPA), its defining characteristic is its hop bitterness and high hop aroma, but it also has a clean bitterness balanced with a malt character.
IPAs could also have different tastes and aromas depending on the brewer, such as fruity, floral, earthy, piney, and herbal.
Lager
Lagers are brewed using a bottom-fermenting process and cold-fermentation temperatures. It results in a crisp, clean-tasting beer with a slightly sweeter finish.
Lagers often have a light to medium body and a light golden to amber color. They can be top-fermented or brewed with a combination of both fermentation processes. They are well-balanced and have a light, slightly fruity flavor.
Lager beers include German pilsners, Vienna lagers, Munich helles, and Dunkel lagers. Other styles of lager-like beers, such as American light lagers, are also quite popular.
Wheat Beer
Wheat beer is a beer made primarily with wheat, as opposed to barley. There are three main types of wheat beer: Witbier, Hefeweizen, and Weissbier (also known as Weizenbier). Witbier is a pale and cloudy beer with a mild flavor and aroma characterized by citrus, herbs, and spices such as coriander.
Hefeweizen is a light-colored and unfiltered beer with the distinct taste and aroma of bananas and cloves. Weissbier is a strong, full-bodied, and dark-colored beer with aromas of clove and notes of caramel.
Stout
Stout is a dark-colored beer that possesses a thick texture and a deep-roasted, coffee-like flavor. It has high carbonation and a bold, bitter taste. While it is often heavily roasted, there are some stouts that are dry or sweet.
It also has notes of chocolate and coffee, has a creamy and heavy texture, and is often higher in alcohol content than other beers. You can pair delicious foods with this to enjoy it better.
Lactose in beer was initially used in stouts. Now, there are more beers mixed with lactose that are becoming popular.
Be Familiar With the Different Types of Beer Today
There are different types of beer that one can explore if you are interested. This makes drinking beer more fun. Beers vary greatly in flavor, color, and aroma, making them popular amongst beer drinkers of every kind.
So, if you haven’t decided which type of beer you’re looking for, why not try a few out? The right beer may be waiting for you! Don’t forget to pair the best foods with beer.
Do you want to learn more? Then, read more of our posts.
