Beer Styles
Beers are typically divided into 3 styles - Ales, Lagers and Specialty.
Ales A type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. Compared to lager yeasts, ale yeast ferments more quickly, and often produces a sweeter, fuller-bodied and frequently a fruitier taste. Most ales contain hops, which help preserve the beer and impart a bitter herbal flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt.
Lagers A type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at cold temperatures. Originated in Germany and is based of the word “lagern” which means to store. This refers to the method of storing it for several months in near-freezing temperatures. Common types of Lagers; Pilsner, Bock, Helles, Dortmunder, Märzen; as well as darker lagers like Dunkel and Schwarzbier.
Stouts and Porters Dark beers made using roasted malts or roast barley, and typically brewed with slow fermenting yeast. The name Porter was first used in 1721 to describe a dark brown beer popular with the street and river porters of London. This same beer later also became known as stout, though the word stout had been used as early as 1677. The history and development of stout and porter are very intertwined. Many breweries have expanded this sector with a large variety of Coffee Stouts, Oatmeal Stouts, Milk Stouts, and Chocolate stout.
Wheats Beers brewed with a large proportion of wheat malt, although it often also contains a significant proportion of malted barley. Wheat beers are usually top fermented. The flavor of wheat beers does vary considerably, depending upon the specific style.
Ales A type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. Compared to lager yeasts, ale yeast ferments more quickly, and often produces a sweeter, fuller-bodied and frequently a fruitier taste. Most ales contain hops, which help preserve the beer and impart a bitter herbal flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt.
Lagers A type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at cold temperatures. Originated in Germany and is based of the word “lagern” which means to store. This refers to the method of storing it for several months in near-freezing temperatures. Common types of Lagers; Pilsner, Bock, Helles, Dortmunder, Märzen; as well as darker lagers like Dunkel and Schwarzbier.
Stouts and Porters Dark beers made using roasted malts or roast barley, and typically brewed with slow fermenting yeast. The name Porter was first used in 1721 to describe a dark brown beer popular with the street and river porters of London. This same beer later also became known as stout, though the word stout had been used as early as 1677. The history and development of stout and porter are very intertwined. Many breweries have expanded this sector with a large variety of Coffee Stouts, Oatmeal Stouts, Milk Stouts, and Chocolate stout.
Wheats Beers brewed with a large proportion of wheat malt, although it often also contains a significant proportion of malted barley. Wheat beers are usually top fermented. The flavor of wheat beers does vary considerably, depending upon the specific style.
World Beer Styles
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Ale Style
British Origin Ale Styles
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Lager Style
European-Germanic Origin Lager Styles
All Origin Hybrid/Mixed Lagers or Ales
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Source: usahops.org - Hop Growers of America
