Beginner’s Guide to Beer Styles
Beer is the most casual category, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. Here’s the lay of the land in plain English.
6 min read
The light side
Lagers, pilsners and wheat beers live here. They’re crisp, refreshing and almost universally easy to enjoy. Lagers are clean and neutral, pilsners add a bit more hop snap, and wheat beers are soft and slightly fruity. This is where most beginners (and most beer drinkers worldwide) live.
The middle
Pale ales, amber ales and Belgian blondes occupy this space. They have flavor and character without intensity — caramel maltiness, gentle hop fruit, sometimes a hint of spice. Pale ales are the most popular craft beer style and a great step up from lager.
The bold side
IPAs, stouts, porters and sour beers live in bold territory. IPAs are aggressively hoppy and bitter. Stouts are dark, roasty and often coffee-like. Porters are smooth dark beers — less roasty than stouts. Sour beers are tart and fruity — polarising but increasingly popular.
The wild card: Belgian beers
Belgian brewing breaks rules. Tripels are strong and fruity. Dubbels are dark and dried-fruit-rich. Lambics are spontaneously fermented and wildly tart. Trappist beers are made by monks. Belgium punches far above its weight in beer culture.
Reading a label
ABV (alcohol by volume) tells you strength — most beers are 4-7%, but craft styles can hit 10%+. IBU (international bitterness units) tells you bitterness — over 50 IBU starts to feel noticeably bitter. Style name on the label tells you the broad flavor expectation.
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Find my drinkFrequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a lager and an ale?
Yeast type and fermentation temperature. Lagers ferment cold with bottom-fermenting yeast and taste cleaner. Ales ferment warmer with top-fermenting yeast and have more flavor complexity.
Is craft beer always better than mass-market?
No — craft has more variety, but well-made mass-market lagers and pilsners can be excellent and exactly what some occasions call for.
Why does some beer taste skunky?
Light damage — beer in clear or green bottles exposed to sunlight develops "skunked" off-flavors. Brown bottles and cans prevent it.