What are the differences and how can I recognize them from taste?
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So broadly speaking there are two types of beer. You have Ale’s and Lager’s. The difference between these two are the strain of yeast used to ferment them.
Ale yeast is most popular and easiest to work with. As it does it’s work best at room temperature. Lager yeast needs colder temperatures to work effectively. So is generally more difficult to produce. But not *that* difficult with modern technology.
Aside from the yeast there isn’t much difference between an ale and a lager. Sitting at different temps for the ferment likely does something to the flavor. But as far as ingredients it’s mostly the same.
All beers are made of (malted) grain, and yeast. Hops are frequently added as flavoring and preservative. You can also add whatever flavoring agents. The English like to use non-hop flavoring herbs.
When you start getting more specific than ale or lager you’re talking about these ingredients and the ratios of them.
A wheat beer for example might be mostly or exclusively wheat for the grain (instead of barley which is the normal grain used).
A Belgian Whit is fermented with citrus fruits/peels.
An IPA is an India Pale Ale. It’s made with a lot of hops. Like a lot. Remember how I said the hops act as a preservative? So way back in the day when the British empire ruled India, they supplied their troops with beer rations. But they found normal beers went bad before they got to India. So they developed a beer that can be preserved for a very long time for the express purpose that it’s still good when it gets to India. Thus the India Pale Ale.
A porter typically has dark roasted grains added to give it a darker nuttier color and flavor. And is heavily hopped.
A stout is like a porter but lighter on the hops.
In case you’re having trouble following. Wheats, Belgian Whites, porters, stouts, and pale ales are all ales.
So what kinds of beers are Lager’s? Well, Pilsners are a lager. There’s also Pale Lager’s which are probably what most people think of when they think of American domestic beer, bud lite, Miller lite, etc. And recently getting popular again are black Lager’s or dark Lager’s, which is like a pale lager but with roasted grains. So nuttier in flavor.
It’s a whole big wonderful world of beer out there. I recommend you try a few! Even if you don’t like some, there’s probably something out there to your liking.
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