{"id":244,"date":"2022-01-01T18:47:38","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T18:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beerjourneyblog.com\/?p=244"},"modified":"2022-01-01T18:47:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T18:47:43","slug":"beer-types-styles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beerjourneyblog.com\/?p=244","title":{"rendered":"Beer Types and Styles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Craft Beer Sampler Tray with different beer styles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been to a Brewery or Taphouse and stood in front of the menu board in wonderment or confusion on what you would like to taste? “I’ll have a …… no wait what does ______ taste like”. With a little understanding of the different beer types and styles we can help ourselves overcome that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait a minute, I am confused already, aren’t types and styles the same thing? In this writing we will refer to the type<\/strong><\/em> of beer by the process in which it is made and the style<\/strong><\/em> as the variations within that type. The idea is to keep it simple right? The purpose being that we can then enjoy the beers that we like and then start to “Journey” further into similar beer styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with beer types. In today’s ever growing craft beer market beer can become confusing when looking at the big menu board. To keep it simple there are basically 2 types of beers – Ales and Lagers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Beer<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2 types of beer are separated by the way that they are made, specifically in the fermentation phase of brewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ales are fermented at a higher temperature using a top fermenting yeast. The combination of the warmer temperature fermenting and the ale yeasts produce beers that can have more sweet and fruity flavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lagers are fermented at colder temperatures using a bottom fermenting yeast. This process takes much longer to complete a beer but leads to a clear crisp beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait..Wait.. you are forgetting the Stouts and Porters and Wheat Beers.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, I did not forget. These will fall under the different styles of beer. Remember the type just designates the process in which it is made not the complete profile of the beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles of Beer<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let’s break down the different styles that fall under each type of beer. Many of us would never classify a stout of porter as an ale assimilating ales as lighter in color. Think of it the different styles of bread. White, Rye and Pumpernickel bread are all made with grains, but it is the different grains used that make them different in appearance and taste – same with beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with the ales, we have the following that fall into that category (I have not listed everything that has come into the craft beer world today but just enough to give the big picture to help you on your Journey.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Ale Styles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

English Ales – typically sweet and malty with less bitterness. These can range in color from pale to darker beers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n