About the Craft

Words by Lifestyle Staff

The craft beer industry has blown up in recent years, and as a result, it’s easier to find local microbreweries than it was a decade ago. However, it can be overwhelming with so many beer styles and flavors on tap to choose from.

MAIN INGREDIENTS:

Water | Malt | Hops | Yeast

Brewers control the levels of four main ingredients along with added flavorings to impact the final taste, look, alcohol percentage, and texture of the brew. Knowing the difference in the varieties can make things a little bit easier when visiting a brewery or pairing it with a meal. Here, we share the styles and characteristics of the most common options.

CRAFT BEER TERMINOLOGY

ABV

Alcohol by Volume is the percentage of alcohol in the beer.

IBU

International Bitter Units. The higher the IBU, the higher the bitterness.

BODY

This is the feel of the beer. Low-body beer has a thinner texture and high-body beer is thicker or heavier.

MALTINESS

More malt means more sweetness.

MAIN STYLES

ALES

Ales are fermented with top-fermenting yeasts at warm temperatures of 60-75°F, causing them to be ready within 2-5 weeks due to the faster fermentation process.

LAGERS

Lagers are fermented with bottom-fermented yeasts at colder temperatures of 40-50°F, causing a longer fermentation process of 1-2 months.

COMMON TYPES

PALE ALE

Taste: Balance of malty and hoppy (bitterness)

Look: Golden

Food Pairing: Sandwiches, burgers, pizza

IPA (INDIAN PALE ALE)

Taste: Strong hoppiness and sweetness

Look: Gold to amber

Food Pairing: Spicy foods, tacos, steak

AMERICAN LAGER

Taste: Light bodied, low in bitterness and maltiness

Look: Pale Golden

Food Pairing: Salads, fish, chicken

SOURS

Taste: Acidic and tart (can be similair to Kombucha)

Look: Range of colors

Food Pairing: Rich tasting cheese, chocolate

BROWN ALE

Taste: Malty with low bitterness

Look: Copper to dark brown

Food Pairing: Pork, chicken, fish

PILSNER

Taste: Light and yeasty

Look: Pale yellow

Food Pairing: Salads, chicken, vegetables

PORTER

Taste: Rich, robust, and toasted

Look: Dark

Food Pairing: Steak, barbecue, chocolate

HEFEWEIZEN

Taste: Low to medium malt sweetness

Look: Golden yellow

Food Pairing: Spicy noodles, salad, seafood

STOUT

Taste: Rich and robust, roasted grain

Look: Deep brown to black

Food Pairing: Barbecue, beef stew, macaroni and cheese

DUNKEL

Taste: Deep maltiness and toasty

Look: Light amber to dark brown

Food Pairing: Pizza, sausage, steak