The Beginner's Guide to Ordering Beer
There's no reason why wine lists should take all the heat for being super intimidating and exclusionary.
Indeed, for those still operating on a learning curve when it comes to beer, many of the great lists at today's geekiest spots read like a textbook for an AP class you weren't prepared to take.
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It's no secret that the country's craft beer revolution has been growing with fervor over the last decade - filling taps, bottles, and cans with a richly diverse array of inspired and boundary-pushing creations dreamed up by breweries both large and small. There are intensely hopped and aggressively aromatic IPAs, low-alcohol yet highly flavorful session beers, and boundary-pushing porters.
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It's a lot to keep track of - and an overwhelming amount of information for beginners to take on. Even beyond the ever-expanding selection of brews to choose from, there are things like learning how to taste a beer and food pairing basics to master.
To that end, we've put together this basic guide to help you become a more informed imbiber.
Ales vs. Lagers
Although the beer family tree is a large and complex one, at least the roots are simple and easy to remember: All beers are either lagers or ales. Lagers are made with bottom-fermenting yeasts and are usually characterized as crisp and refreshing, whereas ales use top-fermenting yeasts, are usually fuller bodied, and represent a wider variety of styles.
Session Beers
The connective thread between the beers in this category is not the style, but rather their alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage. These are flavorful, interesting brews with a low enough ABV - generally around 4 to 5 percent - to allow you drink several (within reason) and not regret it the next morning. Within the genre you'll find pale ales, dry stouts, lagers, and nut brown ales (although, of course, the craft beer industry being the way it is, there are no hard-and-fast rules.)
Favorites to Try: 12 Great Session Beers
IPAs
Bold flavor and in-your-face bitterness (in a good way) are the hallmarks of this beer style. Explains Bernstein of its origins, "According to lore, the IPA is so-called because 18th- and 19th-century sailors alighted from England to India with pale ales fortified with extra doses of hops - a climbing plant's fragrant flowering cones that act as preservatives and impart bitterness." And if a regular IPA doesn't pack enough bitter punch for you, try a double (or imperial) variety.
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Porters
Originating in England in the 18th century, this style regained popularity in a slightly reimagined form during the 1980s among the burgeoning U.S. microbrew scene. Not surprisingly, today's American-style porters are the most bold and intensely flavored - not to mention boundary-pushing in terms of creativity. The aroma and flavor of these rich, medium- to full-bodied beers is characterized primarily by the use of darker malts like black, chocolate, and smoked brown. "Roasty," "toasted," "chocolaty," "nutty," and "robust" are all common descriptors for this smooth style of brew.
Favorites to Try: Hoppin' Frog Silk Porter, Rogue Mocha Porter, Stone Brewing Co. Smoked Porter
Wheat Beers
As the name suggests, these are beers made primarily using wheat, as well as a lesser amount of malted barley. Most commonly they are ales - the two main styles are the Belgian witbier and the German weissbier. This style tends to produce light, thirst-quenching beers with fruity flavors and a good amount of carbonation.
Favorites to Try: Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Left Hand Brewing Haystack Wheat
Pale Ales
Within this style of light, crisp beers there are a range of sub-genres, ranging from English Bitter to Extra Special Bitter, American Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, and Strong Pale Ale. Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman is credited with creating the American Pale Ale style, which features local hops and the beers are characterized as well-balanced and drinkable with a pilsner-like bitterness.
Favorites to Try: Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Three Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale
Pilsners
Originating in Plzen, Czech Republic, in the 1840s, this style of lager is typically pale golden in color, with a crisp taste that balances a bitter hop character with malt, floral, and sometimes citrus notes. The style varies slightly depending on whether you are talking about Bohemian, German, or American pilsners.
Favorites to Try: Sam Adams Noble Pils, Pilsner Urquell, Lagunitas Pils, Tröegs Sunshine Pils, Victoria Prima Pils, Dogfish Head My Antonia
Food Pairing Pointers
As is the case when considering food and wine pairings, or food and cocktail pairings, there are no hard-and-fast rules to matching food and beer. That said, many recommend looking for pairings that are either complementary or contrasting - beer expert Josh Bernstein suggests a light witbier with sushi or a hoppy IPA with a spicy Thai curry, for example. Another common piece of advice? Use the seasons as a guide - it's only natural that seasonally inspired beers should pair well with the foods and flavors of that given season.
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- Maryse Chevriere, The Daily Meal
