American pale ales are hoppier and usually feature American two row malt. Related to the pale is the APA, or American Pale Ale, which is somewhat of a hybrid between the traditional English pale ale and the IPA style. Don't let the name fool you: these beers are strong enough to pair well with spicy foods. Brown ales are a bit of a mixed bag, since the different malts used and the country of origin can greatly affect the flavor and scent of this underrated beer style.Īn English style of ale, pale ales and known for their copper color and fruity scent. Brown Alesīrown ales range in color from amber to brown, with chocolate, caramel, citrus, or nut notes. They tend to be crisp and dry, with few traces of bitterness, rather than hop-heavy or dank. As the name suggests, blonde ales have a pale color and a clear body. This easy drinking ale is a summer favorite, thanks to its light malt sweetness and trace of hops, which add aroma.
Ireland's Guinness may be one of the world's best-known stouts. They are characterized by a thick, creamy head. Stouts taste less sweet than porters and often feature a bitter coffee taste, which comes from unmalted roasted barley that is added to the wort. Like porters, stouts are dark, roasted ales. Porters may be fruity or dry in flavor, which is determined by the variety of roasted malt used in the brewing process. PorterĪ type of ale, porter beers are known for their dark black color and roasted malt aroma and notes. Lagers are common among European countries, including Czechia, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as in Canada, where they make up more than half of all beer sales.
Lagers ferment for a long time at a low temperature, and they rely on bottom-fermenting yeasts, which sink to the bottom of the fermenting tank to do their magic. Lagers are a newer style of beer with two key differences from ales. The fermentation process turns what would otherwise be a barley and malt tea into a boozy beverage. In the brewing process, brewers introduce top-fermenting yeasts which, as the name suggests, ferment on the top of the brew. What distinguishes an ale - and also makes this category of beer accessible for home brewers - is a warm-temperature fermentation for a relatively short period of time. This is the oldest style of beer, which dates back to antiquity. AleĪle is a general category of beer: You'll find sub-categories like brown ales or pale ales. Learn about common styles of beer to increase your comfort and familiarity with one of the world's oldest drinks. While craft brewing has exploded in popularity in recent years, beer ultimately consists of a few basic styles.