There are too many types of beer, how to classify them? There are many classification methods on market, for simplicity and clarity, in this article we will divide them into two categories according to process of brewing beer: Ale (Ale) and Lager (Lager), and then separate them to see which you like best. drink What is a snowflake, IPA or stout for you?

1. The main classification of beer: ale and lager

The most basic classification of beer falls into two categories based on brewing process: ale (top-fermented) and lager (bottom-fermented). The difference between them is mainly reflected in fermentation temperature and working position of brewer. yeast. Ale yeast works at top of fermenter at around 10-20°C, while lager yeast works at bottom of fermenter at temperatures below 10°C. Someone used a more poignant phrase to express difference between two fermentation methods: when drinking ale beer, you can first taste yeast and ancillary materials, and then you can detect malt flavor. When you drink light beer, you will taste malt first, and then there will be taste of other accessories. Snowflakes, Budweiser, Yanjing, etc., which we usually drink, belong to light beer.

2. El

Beer ale is brewed all over world. This beer is usually full-bodied, mild-tasting, light golden to dark brown in color and has a varied taste. Therefore, many varieties have been bred. , The following will introduce a common few.

1. Pale Ale

Pale Ale originally referred to beer that was fermented after roasting malt with coke (1624), and name "Pale Ale" came into use around 1703. This beer is one of most important types of ale beer. Due to high proportion of light malt in raw materials, beer is light in color, but rich in hops.

It is worth noting that one of ales called IPA (India Pale Ale, India Pale Ale) is very famous. IPA was produced during British colonial period in India. To facilitate long sea transportation, a lot of hops were added to this beer, playing a preservative effect, so taste is bitter. IPAs tend to be dry, dark amber in color, and often flavored with tropical fruits such as banana and pineapple.

2. Brown Ale

Brown Ale is reddish brown to dark brown in color, slightly darker in color, less hoppy and bitter, medium flavor, overall fruity, with plenty of coffee and malt, nuts, caramel and pastries . cookie. Commonly found in England, this beer first appeared in early 20th century and today comes in a variety of styles, from sweet to dry.

3. Porter

Porter is generally a darker color, ranging from dark brown to black. It first appeared in England in 18th century and got its name because porters loved it. A mixture of three different ales, brewed with roasted malt, has a balanced taste with hints of chocolate.

4. Stout Beer

A stout is a darker ale derived from porter. Its body color is due to roasted black barley malt, while its bitterness and burnt aroma are due to hops. Malty flavor, mainly produced in Ireland. Due to addition of beer gas during canning, stouts are very punchy when first opened. The most notable example of this type of beer is Guinness.

3. Lager

Lager has a wider market coverage than ale. Due to lower fermentation temperature, fermentation time is longer, and then it will ripen at a low temperature for a long time. Lagers tend to be fresh and clean with low alcohol content. Here are some common types of lager:

1. Light lager

Pale Lager is most produced and sold beer in world. It is usually light golden in color, lean in texture, and usually has a bitter flavor from hops. The most representative of this style is Czech Pilsner, which evolved from Czech Pilsner in 17th century. This beer has a clean taste and strong bitterness. In everyday life, Heineken and Carlsberg, which everyone drinks, or domestic Tsingtao and Snowflake are all pilsners, but they are a simplified version of American industrial style.

2. Vienna Laage

In 1841, Austrian brewer Anton Dreher invented beer in Vienna. It is usually light brown or amber in color, medium in strength, with a hint of malty sweetness in aftertaste. This is a Viennese lager (Viennese lager). Today, this style of lager is rarely made in Europe, with most production in Americas. Americans refer to it as "pre-prohibition lager," meaning that style was very popular before American Prohibition in 1919.

3. Dark Lager

Dark lager comes in a variety of colors, ranging from amber to a very dark reddish brown, typically 4.5% to 6% alcohol, usually roasted, cocoa beans, and Coke. Flavors such as sugar are medium in strength, soft and rich. , most famous dark lager has to be German stout. If you see a beer with words "Dunkel" (meaning dark) or "Schwarz" (meaning black) on label, it is a German dark beer in general sense of the public.

4. Beer Glass

The bock first appeared in northern Germany in 13th century. Originally a dark malt ale, Munich brewers turned it into a lager in 17th century, rich, full-bodied and dark in color. It also has many classifications: traditional bock has a more pronounced malt flavor, while doppelbock is an improved version of traditional bock with an alcohol content of 7%-12%. Mailbock is lighter in color and contains more hops. There is also an ice drink (Eisbock) which is partially frozen when brewed and ice water is removed to concentrate flavor and alcohol.