SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

ALE

Think King Henry VIII with his silver tankard. No one knows when ale was invented, but it goes back beyond written history. It is made with barley and malt with yeast added on top and then fermented at a warm temperature for a relatively short time compared with other beers. There are dark ales and pale ales, the difference being what is added for flavor and the colors of malt used.

PALE ALE

As the name implies, these are ales that are blonde to orange in color. Pale ales prominently feature hops in aroma and flavor, with noticeable bitterness. The most common beers in this category are pale ale and IPA (India pale ale). India pale ale was developed in England to withstand long shipping times from the UK to India; hence, the name.

AMBER ALE

Named for their color, these beers are enhanced by flavors such as caramel, toffee, toast, nuts, figs, or dark fruit. English styles tend to focus more on sweet barley flavors compared with American versions that center around hops and have more pronounced bitterness.

PORTER

Porter is a style of beer that was developed in England in the early 18th century, heavy on hops and the use of brown malt. The name originated from its popularity with street and river porters.

STOUT

A stout is a porter on steroids— denser, darker, and more roasty in flavor than a porter.

WHEAT BEER

Wheat beer refers to any beer where a substantial portion of the grain used in brewing is wheat rather than barley. In general, these are hazy, citrusy, and have a fuller feel. Most craft beers you’ll find in a bar are brewed primarily with malted barley.

BELGIAN ABBEY ALE

Originating in Belgian abbeys, these ales can be anywhere from pale in color to dark strong ales. Added flavors may include clovelike spice, orchard fruits (apples and pears), orange zest, and honey.

FARMHOUSE ALE

From the farmlands of Belgium and France comes this category of beers brewed by farmers and villagers at home. These are similar to abbey ales but a bit more rustic in taste with more earthy, bitter tones, sometimes with pepper and spice.

LAGER

Lager is the most common type of beer in the world. The cooler temperatures and bottom-fermented techniques used to brew it result in a crisp, refreshing beer. Lagers include American beers such as Budweiser, Busch Lite, Coors, and Miller Genuine Draft. Lagers are the lightest beers.

HIGH-GRAVITY BEER

High gravity refers to the alcohol content of a beer. It can include any beer with pumped-up alcohol content. The name really just equates to high alcohol content.

SOUR BEER

These beers have a tart and funky taste from the use of “wild” yeasts and bacteria as opposed to those made in sterile environments with specific yeast strains. They are often made with fruit or spice additions.