What is Your New Favorite Style of Beer?
As we have switched back and forth talking about sports and
beer. This week let’s discuss what different types of beers are out there to
have at your next tailgate or party. And we are not talking about the typical
beer lagers, Bud Light, Miller Lite, or Coors Light. Beers with flavor and
complexity are taking over the main stream palette. A few styles of beers that
are becoming extremely popular are India Pale Ales, or IPAs, Stouts, and Belgian
styles. There are many, many more styles but I don’t want to overwhelm and
discourage the new craft beer drinker.INDIA PALE ALES
The most popular trend in the craft beer realm is the India
Pale Ale. IPAs started way back in time when British explores starting to
travel to India. When taking beer with them on their voyage, they added more
hops (an integral ingredient in the brewing process) to act as a preservative for
the long trip. At first the travelers did not like the extremely bitter taste
of the beer but grew to love it. Now craft beer brewers are creating different
styles of IPAs. There are double IPAs, American East-Coast style IPA, West
Coast IPAs, and Session IPA to name a few. The difference between each are the
type of hops used and how the beer is brewed. Typically the alcohol percentage
per volume of these beers are higher than a traditional lager or ale. These
styles are my favorite! I consider myself a “Hop Head.”
STOUTS
Stouts are type of ale based on the brewing process of the
beer. Stouts get their dark color and texture from the dark roasted malt and
barely used. The texture is due to the high gravity in the brewing process. The
most recognizable stout is Guinness. However, craft brewers are producing more
of the different style of stouts than the recognizable, thick taste of
Guinness. Imperial stout, oatmeal stout, and milk stouts are the most popular
styles that are on trend.
BELGAIN STYLES
This category of beers can be overwhelming to many new craft
beer drinkers. Dubble, Triple, Saison, Lambic, Strong Blonde Pale Ale, Strong
Dark Ales… the list goes on. But do not get overwhelmed. These style of beers
are fun to drink and most drinkable for a new palette. These beers are not as
bitter as an IPA or thick and heavy as a Stout. Again compared to traditional
lagers, like Bud Light, these complex beers are higher in alcohol by volume and
are traditional sold in smaller bottles or 4-packs.
Check out Beer U's YouTube page to learn more about styles of beers at https://youtu.be/gWpL170CCwM
