Beer – a timeless beverage, beloved across continents and cultures, with a history as rich and varied as its flavours. For a deeper dive, the folks at Wikipedia have a great historical read ready for you.
It’s a drink born from the fermentation of grains like barley, wheat, oats, and even rice, resulting in a kaleidoscope of styles, colours, and strengths. From humble lagers to robust ales, beer has found its way into every corner of the globe and every type of gathering, from royal feasts to casual pub nights.
But how well do we really know the beer we drink? Beyond the familiar lagers and ales most of us gravitate toward, there’s a world of fascinating brews, each with its own story to tell.
Let’s dive in for a rather quick and simple brief! Below is your ultimate beer primer – a curated selection of styles to deepen your appreciation of this ancient, ever-evolving drink.
Ale: The Backbone of Beer
One of the oldest styles, ale is brewed with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, resulting in a wide spectrum of flavours. From light and citrusy pale ales to rich, chocolatey stouts, ales are beloved for their complexity.
Ales often have fruity, spicy notes from the yeast, and brewers frequently add hops, fruits, or spices to enhance their character.
Belgian Ale: Complex and Unique
Known for their distinct yeast strains, Belgian ales deliver a sensory experience like no other. These beers range from light and spicy to dark and malty, with fruity, funky, or even sour notes that surprise and delight.
Belgium’s beer culture is a UNESCO-recognized treasure, and Belgian ales are a must-try for any serious beer enthusiast.
Cream Ale: American Ingenuity
Despite the name, there’s no cream in cream ale a name believed to have originated from the smooth and creamy “mouthfeel”. Originating in the United States, this hybrid style blends the crispness of a lager with the complexity of an ale.
Smooth, light, and slightly fruity, cream ales are easy-drinking and perfect for summer days.
Christmas Ales: A Festive Tradition
Nothing warms the soul like a Christmas ale. Brewed for the holiday season, these beers often feature spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, along with honey, fruit, and rich malts. A reminder of holiday treats that is perfect for an afternoon, or evening dinner.
While some Christmas ales are sweet and dessert-like, others are spiced and dry – colours and styles ranging from light and refreshing to dark and rich, with the perceived sweetness of the beer from the spices not the cruel sugars added, if at all any.
A true festive treat in every sip.
Danish Elephant Beer: A Strong Brew with a Story
From Denmark’s Carlsberg Brewery comes Elephant Beer, a strong lager with a distinctive kick. With a malty sweetness and a bold alcohol content, it’s not for the faint of heart.
Named after the elephants on Carlsberg’s gates, this beer has become a symbol of Danish brewing ingenuity. Included here as an example of the varied brews out there, and we love it!
Hefeweizen: Bavaria’s Cloudy Delight
Hefeweizen, meaning “yeast wheat,” is a Bavarian wheat beer known for its cloudy appearance and signature banana and clove flavours.
This beer is light, low on the bitterness scale, effervescent, and often served with a slice of lemon or orange to accentuate its fruity notes.
Kölsch: Cologne’s Crown Jewel
A specialty of Cologne, Germany, Kölsch is a crisp, clean ale that drinks like a lager. It’s light-bodied, golden, and has a delicate balance of malt and hops, with a moderate set of fruity notes and mild hop bitterness.
Traditionally served in a tall, narrow glass called a Stange, Kölsch is synonymous with refreshing simplicity and easy drinking beer.
IPA (India Pale Ale): The Hop Lover’s Choice
Known for their bold bitterness and aromatic hop profiles, IPAs have become a craft beer staple.
Originally brewed to survive long sea voyages to India, today’s IPAs range from bitter and piney West Coast IPAs to fruity, juicy New England IPAs.
Lager: The Crowd-Pleaser
Lagers are the most widely consumed beers in the world. Brewed at cooler temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeast, they’re known for their refreshing, smooth, clean taste.
From pale pilsners to dark lagers, there’s a lager for every palate.
Pilsner: The Gold Standard
Originating in the Czech city of Pilsen, pilsners are pale, crisp, refreshing lagers with a light malt sweetness and delicate hop bitterness.
Known for their golden hue and floral, herbal aroma, pilsners are the go-to for those seeking a balanced, easy-drinking beer.
Porter: A Dark Classic
Porters are dark ales with rich, roasted malt flavours. First popularized in 18th-century England, porters offer chocolate, coffee, and caramel notes, with a mild bitterness. Making them perfect for chilly evenings, that
are much loved during the holiday season.
From lighter porters to full-bodied robust versions, this style has a timeless charm.
Scottish Ale: A Taste of the Highlands
Known for their malty sweetness caramel richness, and a mildly hoppy bitterness Scottish ales are perfect for cooler climates. Typically a deep amber to dark brown colour with alcohol ranges from 3.5% to 7%.
Ranging from light-bodied 60 Shilling ales to full-bodied Wee Heavies coming in at 10% ABV, these beers bring a sense of hearth and home with every sip.
Pair them with hearty dishes like stews, roasts, and cheeses for a serious gastronomic experience.
Stout: Dark and Decadent
Stouts are the big, bold cousin of porters, known for their creamy texture and intense deep flavours of roasted malt. These beers are dark, rich and creamy, brewed with a high proportion of barley or malt that gives them their unique dark colour and complex flavour.
Varieties range from Dry Irish Stouts (like Guinness) to Sweet Milk Stouts and strong Russian Imperial Stouts.
Sour Ale: Wild and Adventurous
Love a bit of pucker? Sour ales are the wild child of the beer world. Brewed with wild yeast strains or bacteria, they’re prized for their tart, funky flavours.
From mildly tart fruity lambics, think cherries or raspberries, to barrel-aged gueuzes, sour beers are a favourite among those who enjoy bold, complex profiles.
Wheat Beer: Light and Fluffy
Brewed with a significant proportion of wheat malt alongside barley malt, these beers are hazy, with a fluffy “mouthfeel”, and are truly refreshing.
Whether it’s a German hefeweizen with banana and clove notes, a Belgian witbier flavoured with citrus and spices, or an American wheat beer, these brews are perfect for warm weather, best known for their clean, crisp profiles.
Bottoms Up?
Beer is more than just a drink – it’s a journey through cultures, histories, and traditions. From ancient monasteries in Belgium to modern craft breweries in the U.S., beer continues to evolve and inspire.
I may have missed some of your favourites or regions, but like all connoisseurs, I endevour to please and try – so let me know about those overlooked brews, I’d love to learn about them and possibly include in another post.
So next time you crack open a cold one, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship, stories, and countries behind every sip.
Now armed with this basic knowledge, its time to hit the taps, and go forth, spout and sip wisely.
Cheers to beers of the world!
