Beer is one of the world's oldest and most consumed alcoholic drinks. There are numerous styles of beer, each with its own unique taste, appearance, and aroma. Here are some of the main types:
Ale:
This is a type of beer brewed using a warm fermentation method. It typically has a sweet, full-bodied, and fruity taste.
There are many sub-types of ales, such as brown ales, pale ales, porters, stouts, and barley wines.
Lager:
Lagers are brewed with a cold fermentation process and typically have a clean and crisp flavor. They are often more lightly colored and have a lighter taste than ales.
Examples include Pilsners, Bocks, and Dortmunders.
Stout:
Stout is a dark, top-fermented beer with a number of variations, including dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout, and imperial stout. The flavor can be rich and malty with hints of chocolate and coffee.
Porter:
Porters are a dark style of beer originating in London in the 18th century. They're typically well-hopped and made from brown malt, leading to a flavor profile that can include chocolate, caramel, and other roasty characteristics.
Pilsner:
A type of pale lager, it takes its name from the Czech city of Pilsen, where it was first produced in 1842. The world’s first blond lager, the original Pilsner Urquell, is still produced there today.
India Pale Ale (IPA):
IPAs are a hoppy beer style within the broader category of pale ale. They are characterized by strong hop bitterness and floral, fruity, or citrusy flavors and aromas.
Wheat Beer:
Wheat beer is brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley.
Varieties of wheat beer include Hefeweizen, Witbier, and Dunkelweizen
Sour Beer:
Sour beer has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. One common method for achieving this involves adding various types of bacteria or wild yeasts, like Brettanomyces.
Examples include Lambics, Gose, and Berliner Weisse.
Belgian Styles:
Belgian beers are known for their high alcohol content and rich variety. They include Trappist beers, Abbey beers, Saisons, Belgian Strong Ales, and more.