Beers! These drinks have a different fan base. One may drink alcoholic beverages, but as they say, Beer is an acquired taste. Not everyone loves it, but amongst those who like beers, one cannot live without them. One of the best things about this is there are different types of beers. Variety is what sets Beer apart from other drinks. They are crafted with types of ingredients and formulations, and they vary across regions and countries.

If you are a beer lover, you must know all about these drinks. So let us go ahead and explore different kinds of Beer around us.

Beer and Its History:

Do you know, Beer is among the oldest record and known drinks in history? As per several beliefs, alcohol was first brought out by ancient Egyptians around 5000 BC. The first amongst beers are fermented and formulated with ingredients such as herbs, dates, and pomegranates. Beer made its way to different regions only later, first to the Middle East and to Northern Europe. After around 1150, Germans took over the Beer and began to experiment with fermented sugar, barley, etc. From here on, Europe gave an introduction to Beer to a new world. By now, it is amongst the most favorite drinks in the world, with thousands of varieties. Isn’t it cool?

Main Types of Beer Styles:

The Beers offer several varieties, but do you know, primarily, most can be segregated according to the styles they offer?! Here are the most popular different styles of beers you may be interested to know about! These are characterized mainly by the type of yeast used in the process of fermentation and where they settle.

  • Lagers: In simple language, lagers are a technique of bottom-fermenting. In lagers, the ingredients sit in the bottom of the liquids while they are in the process of working. This fermenting here for lagers is at very cold temperatures. As a result, the lagers are very crisp and dry.
  • Ales: Not like Lagers, Ales beer types prefer a perfect fermentation in a warmer and relatively hotter environment. That is why ales are called top-fermented beers. These are stored at room temperatures, and yeast here floats on the surface. As a result, ales have different tastes, depending on the ingredients, from fruity and tasty to bitter and earthy.
  • Stouts and Porter: Most of you may not have heard this, partly because several people throw this category of beer styles into ales in itself. However, stouts and porters beer types have a roasty flavor; they are neither bitter nor very sweet. They are pretty strong in flavor and heavy and intensely dark in looks.

Read: Coffee Drink Varieties

20 Popular Varieties and Beer Brands to Drink Around the World:

By now, you know there are different types of beer styles. The types of beer varieties also differ according to these styles, with some top fermentation techniques and bottom fermentation techniques. While there are over thousands of varieties of beers present in this world, let us know about the most famous and popular kinds. From types of Lager to ale, IPA and stouts, there are several popular ones. We have narrowed down a few significant ones to give you an idea.

A. Dark Lagers:

As the name suggests, these beers are much malty and with darker colors than pales. They have low bitterness, and the alcohol content is in the mid-range.

1. Amber American Lager:

The Amber lagers have a bit of caramel and toffee flavor and aroma, with a very smooth taste. They are darker in appearance and have good texture too. Their bitterness here is from low to medium, depending on the craft. The ingredients include German hops, yeast, and Munich/Vienna/Caramel malt.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8-5.4%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 18-30
  • Examples: Yuengling Lager
  • It pairs well with American cuisine, cheese, and poultry meat

2. Vienna Lager:

Vienna lager is quite distinct among several beers. It comes in bright red or copper color appearance and has slight sweetness, along with a malty aroma. The texture is crisp and subtle, and mild hop flavor. As the name suggests, the ingredients are Vienna malt, German hops, carbonated water, and yeast.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.5-5.5%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 22-28
  • Examples: Vienna Amber lager, Bluepoint lager
  • It pairs well with Cheese, Mexican cuisine, German Cuisine, and spicy food.

3. German Schwarzbier:

If you like drier and darker tasted beers, this German Schwarbier is the perfect choice for you. These are roast in taste and have very pale color foam around them. The sweetness is at shallow levels, and the bitterness is high. Ingredients include roasted barley, chocolate malt, crystal, German hops, and yeast.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.8-4.9%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 22-30
  • Examples: Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
  • It pairs well with German and spicy food cuisine.

B. Pale lagers and Pilsners:

These types of beer are primarily golden in color, with low alcohol content compared to other types. They hence come in light flavor. Most of the famous Pale lagers of the world are in and around Germany and the Czech Republic.

4. American Lager:

The American lagers are very pale in color. These are brought out in large quantities and are very light in alcohol content. They are not strong in flavor and are ideally preferred even by beginners. They come in a clean and crisp taste with high content of carbonation. The common ingredients are bittering hops, barley, and, more significantly, yeast.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.2 to 4%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 5-15
  • Examples: Coors, Budweiser, Blue Ribbon
  • Pairs well with: spicy food types

5. German Helles:

The German Heles comes in a slightly darker color than the American Lagers. It has a darker gold color and crispy texture too. The alcohol content is, however, lighter and is more of a traditional taste. Both bitter hops and larger yeast are used in this beer type too.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8-5.6%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 18-25
  • Examples: Victory Helles Lager
  • Pairs well with: Subtle cuisine; German food

6. German Pilsner:

The German Pilsner comes in medium hop flavor. They have a crisp maltiness, taste, and texture within them. They have malt sweetness within them and with moderate flavor. The ingredients include larger yeast, Pilsner, and German hops. They are refreshing and have the property to quench thirst. They are also perfect for hotter climates and summers.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.5-5.3%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 25-40
  • Examples: Sierra Nevada’s Nooner Pilsner
  • Pairs well with: fish, spicy foods, cheese

7. Bohemian Pilsner:

The Bohemian, otherwise also called Czech Pilsner, are very bitter hop in flavor and taste. As the name suggests, the Pilsner is from the Czech Republic around 1842. These Pilsners are dark in color and have low mineral content. They have a bit of sweetness within them and a bready malt-type character.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.1-5.1%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 30-45
  • Examples: Dogfish piercing pics
  • Pairs well with: fish, spicy foods, and Asian cuisine

C. German Bocks:

Bocks, as you guess, are very high in texture and flavor. They are very intense, nutty, and sweet. Of course, they have a strong malt flavor too.

8. Doppel Bock:

Doppelbocks are very traditional beers and are strong in taste and texture. They have high alcohol content. They are full-bodied and dark brown in most cases. Ingredients include hops, yeast, water, and bock (according to a speciality such as German/Munich/Vienna malt.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.6-7.9%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 17-27
  • Examples: Samuel Adams Double Bock
  • It pairs well with heavy, spicy meat and foods

Read: Varieties of Tea with History

9. Weizenbock:

Weizenbock is much fruity in flavor. The fruits include raisins, plums, and grapes that are used to bring on carbonation and bitterness. They are wheat version taste and are based crucially on weizen ale yeast to make them.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7-9.5%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 15-35
  • Examples: Victory Brewing Co’s Moonglow
  • It pairs well with Chocolate, meat, and poultry foods

D. Brown Ales:

As the name suggests, brown ales mostly appear around brown and darker color appearance. They have a toasty and very caramel kind of flavor and have bitterness with mid-range alcohol content.

10. American Brown Ale:

The American Brown Ale has a full-bodied profile, with a caramel darker color and taste. These brown ales come with medium hop flavor and, as the name suggests, originated in the US. They are bitter and are medium intensity. The malt here is pale, chocolate and crystal.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.2-6.3%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 25-45
  • Examples: Sierra Nevada’s Autumn Brown
  • It pairs well with red meat, American Cuisine

11. English Brown Ale:

This Brown Ale is a classic English-inspired variant that originated in Europe. They are nutty in flavor, with chocolate maltiness and dry in texture. The English Brown Ale is not as bitter as its American counterpart and comes with a sweet flavor and taste. The malts here include Pale Ale, crystal, pale chocolate, and special roast.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.0-5.5%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 15-25
  • Examples: New Castle Brown Ale
  • It pairs well with American cuisine, red meat, cheese

E. Pale Ales:

The different types of Pale Ales are mild in alcohol content. They are easily drinkable beers and are light in texture and appearance.

12. American Pale Ale:

The American Pale Ale is a copper color and is popular among the most classic and famous American Beers. It is medium-bodied and has a floral and fruity feel to it with toasted maltiness. The ingredients here are pretty simple, such as pale malt, caramel, yeast, and hops.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.4-5.4%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 30-50
  • Examples: Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale
  • Pairs well with: Heavy foods, fish, spicy and seafood

13. English Pale Ale:

This is the counterpart of American Pale Ale. The English Pale Ale is extra bitter, known for its authentic variety of hops, with a bit of fruity feel. They are rich in flavor with yeast strains and residual malt.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.5-5.5%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 20-35
  • Examples: Sharp Brewery’s Doom Bar Bitter
  • It pairs well with fish, fried foods

F. Indian Pale Ales (IPA):

If you haven’t ever heard of the Indian Pale Ales, they too are a must-try. However, they come with a good amount of bitterness and high alcohol content too.

14. American IPA:

The American IPA has herbal, fruity and floral with a citrus kind of flavor and feels with very high bitterness. The taste is very hoppier here.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.3-7.5%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 50-70
  • Examples: Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo extra IPA
  • Pairs well with: fish, spicy foods, American and Indian Cuisines

See More: Types of Whiskey with Images

15. English IPA:

However, this is almost similar to the American IPA with bitterness, citrus, and flavors, with a bit low alcohol content.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5-7%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 35-63
  • Examples: Samuel Smith’s Indian IPA
  • Pairs well with: fish, spicy foods, and American cuisine

G. Wheat Beers:

As the name suggests, the wheat beers have malt taken from the wheat. That is why these beers are lighter in color and shade. Do you know there are several different types of wheat beer around us? These are the most popular ones.

16. American Wheat Beer:

The American Wheat Beer is prepared with wheat malt comprising over fifty per cent, and hence there is a tinge of sweetness with it. They are lighter in color and are perfect with seasonal fruit brewing too.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.5-5.6%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 10-35
  • Examples: Blue Moon summer honey wheat beer
  • It pairs well with poultry, spicy foods, cheese

H. Porters:

Porters are specialized beers that contain flavors such as caramel, coffee, or chocolates. In addition, they come in dark brown color.

17. American Imperial Porter:

The American Imperial Porter doesn’t give you any taste of regular Beer with a malty feel. Instead, it has a medium-level taste of caramel or chocolate with sweetness. They are warm and delightful.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7-12%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 35-50
  • Examples: Sierra Nevada’s Porter
  • It pairs well with Barbeque, American Cuisine

18. Baltic Porter:

Baltic style porter gives you a very intense and smooth effect that is cold and very highly fermented. These porters are brewed with more significant yeasts. There are fruits such as grapes and berries and specialized flavors with it. This porter beer almost appears in darker color near to black.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.8-9.6%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 35-40
  • Examples: Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter
  • Pairs well with: fish, spicy foods, cheese

I. Stouts:

Stouts are very similar to the porters. However, it is especially suitable for those who like very strong alcoholic flavors. They also have a strong sense of smell, flavor, bitterness and taste, something that is similar to dark chocolate. The types of stouts are also commonly used as an ingredient to prepare meat deep roasted items.

19. American Stout:

These American Stouts bring on a strong chocolatey flavor and taste, with a malty flavor and strong alcohol content. In addition, there is both mild sweetness and bitterness in the drink, giving it a perfect rich overall flavor.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.7-8.9%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 35-60
  • Examples: High Land Black Mocha Stout
  • It pairs well with fish, seafood, chocolate, and cheese

20. Irish Dry Stout:

These are almost dark and black color shaded that is made with roasted barley fermented well with yeast. The malt aroma with hop bitterness and smooth texture is what determines the Irish stout variant. The alcohol content is lesser than the other stouts. The Irish dry stout is popular types of beer drink within Stouts.

  • Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.8-5.0%
  • International Bitterness Unit (IBU): 30-40
  • Examples: Beamish Irish Stout
  • It pairs well with Stews, Steaks, and burgers

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Most Popular and Best-Selling Beer Styles in the World:

What we have shown you about different beers is just a tip in the bucket. Do you know which is the best type of beer on this list? Well, one can never say!

Within these several styles of beers and the varieties, what are the most common and well-known ones?

Well, we all get this doubt. However, it is to be from that of wheat beers. Indian Pale Ale and Lager are the most common type of beer styles and categories in India. However, Lager is the most common and consumed type of Beer in Western countries if we see the entire world.

Interesting Facts About Beers:

Well, there are some funny and shocking facts about the beers in the world too. Do you know,

  1. We, humans, take over 50 billion gallons of Beer every year?!
  2. The oldest beer brewing is not something of a new phenomenon. On the contrary, it is dated back to 1040.
  3. The most famous brand in the world is Budweiser; it is available in almost all countries.
  4. Beer is the world’s famous drink and is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage not just in one country but the whole world.

We hope you enjoyed knowing all about the different types and kinds of Beers in the world today. They are pretty interesting to know. So, what do you think of them? Tell us any thoughts you have; we love to hear from you.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:

1. Who prepared the first Beer in the world?

It is believed that the Sumerians of Mesopotamia produced the first Beer in the world. However, the invention of Beer has developed many debates over the years, and no scientific concluding evidence can be found.

2. What are the top best-selling beers in the world?

The Beers by Bud Light, Budweiser, Heineken, Brahma, and Yanjing are the most sold and best-selling ones around the globe.

3. Which country drinks the most Beer?

Romania, Germany, Poland, Spain, Croatia, Ireland, and Latvia drink and consume the most Beer globally.

4. What is the oldest beer company ever know?

The beers from Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan are said to be the oldest manufacturing company of Beer.

5. What are the top expensive beers in the world?

Brew Dog’s, Pabst, and Sam Adams is said to be the costliest beers across.

Disclaimer:

This is exclusively a guide about types of beers for informative purposes only. The opinions and overview in this article are provided from various sources across the web. The author does not guarantee or promise any accuracy of the facts provided in this article.

Yashasvi

About Yashasvi

Yashasvi developed a deep passion for writing ever since she was completed her Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and has chosen a career that is driven by creativity. A Parenting expert who believes in communicating effectively with a personal touch, she writes about pregnancy, baby care, lifestyle, and just about anything else.
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