What are the differences and how can I recognize them from taste?
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These are all different styles of beer, made with different methods and ratios of the primary ingredients of beer (water, hops, malted grains).
The two top-level types of beer are ale and lager. These are differentiated by how they are made – primarily differentiated by the temperature conditions of the fermentation. A five year old doesn’t need to know the fine details of fermentation so I will leave that out.
IPA is a style of Ale (India pale ale).
Pilsner is a style of Lager.
Lagers tend to be described as “crisp” “clean” and “refreshing” whereas ales tend to be described as “fruity” and tend to be more substantial and filling.
In a lot of Europe – Britain especially – many ales are served flat and at room temperature, whereas lagers are served cold and carbonated.
IPAs – to answer your question – tend to be citrusy and piney in flavor and can tend towards bitterness. They are also supposed to be particularly high in alcohol content as the traditional method of production required.
Pilsners tend to be hoppy rather than malty, so a crisp bitterness with some floral notes, but there are also many types of pilsners and tastes can vary.
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