Brewing Enlightenment: The Path to Achieving a Comprehensive Beer Knowledge

There are now more craft breweries in the world than ever, suggesting that the craft beer market is bigger than ever. If you’re interested in opening a bar or starting your brewery, it’s important to understand the different types of beer and their unique flavors. Micet Craft breaks down the most popular types of beer so you can discuss craft beer like a pro, make recommendations and brew your style.
Every beer that you’ve served at your brewery, bar, or restaurant can be broken down into 2 basic types: ales and lagers. The main difference between an ale and a lager is the type of yeast used to ferment the beer.

Lager and Ale

Most types of beer are classified as lager or lager. Lagers are made with yeast that ferments at the bottom of the beer mix, while ale is made with yeast that ferments at the top. Of course, in addition to the yeasts used to make lagers and lagers, there are also self-fermenting beers that produce wild or sour beers.

Top Fermented Beer

The yeast used in beer production ferments throughout the beer and settles on top of the liquid. Top-fermenting yeast is more tolerant to alcohol and ferments at warmer temperatures than the yeast used to make lager. IPA, stouts, and wheat beers are all examples of top-fermented beers.

Bottom-fermented beer

The yeast used for lager production is more prone to breakage than the yeast used to make ale, and after fermentation settles to the bottom of the liquid container. It ferments more slowly, at lower temperatures, and is less tolerant to alcohol than the yeast used in ale production. Pilsners, bocks, and Okerberfests are all examples of bottom-fermented lagers.

Spontaneous fermenting beer

Lambics and sour beers are made through a process called spontaneous fermentation. This type of fermentation occurs when beer is exposed to wild bacteria and yeast. These beers originated in Belgium, but brewers around the world have found ways to manipulate the process to create their tart and funky beers. The American sour, Belgian gueuze, and Flanders red ale are all examples of spontaneously fermented beers.

A unit to describe the style of beer

Types of beer can be divided into hundreds of different styles, all with unique flavors, colors, and aromas, so two characteristics that describe a style of beer are derived, the alcohol content (ABV) and the International Bitterness Unit (IBU).

What is ABV?

ABV stands for Alcohol Volume and refers to the percentage of alcohol in the beer. The alcohol content in the beer can affect the taste of the beer. Beers with a higher ABV taste more bitter. In very strong beers, the alcohol numbs the tongue and neutralizes the flavor, so extra spice needs to be added to compensate. Winemakers use ABV to achieve the perfect balance between sweet and bitter.

What is an IBU?

IBU is the International Bitterness Unit, a measure of the number of bitter compounds in beer. The IBU scale starts at zero and has no upper limit, but most beers are between 5~120 IBU. Anything above 120 IBU cannot be detected by ordinary taste.

Beer style

Now, at almost any bar or beer dealer, you’ll find a wide variety of options for consumption. You might see everything from traditional lagers to double IPAs to barrel sours, and even a few niche beers you don’t recognize. Depending on the yeast used and the fermentation process, many other styles of beer may appear, such as wheat beers, stouts, porters, brown ales and others may beer.

Types of Pale Lagers and Pilsners

The pale lagers and pilsners are golden-yellow beers that are light in taste and low in alcohol. This style of beer became popular in what is now the Czech Republic and Germany.

American Lager

American lager is light in flavor, color, and alcohol content, and it’s often produced in large quantities. ABV: 3.2-4.0%
IBU: 5-15 Examples: Budweiser, Coors, Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pairs With: American cuisine, spicy food
Serving Temperature: 30-40℉

German Helles

German helles is maltier than a traditional pilsner and features a bright gold color.
ABV: 4.8-5.6%
IBU: 18-25
Examples: Victory Helles Lager, Stoudt’s Gold Lager
Pairs With: German cuisine, pork, brie
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

German Pilsner

German pilsner is pale gold in color with a medium hop flavor and a slight note of maltiness.
ABV: 4.6-5.3% IBU: 25-40
Examples: Tröegs Sunshine Pils, Sierra Nevada’s Nooner Pilsner
Pairs With: German cuisine, poultry, fish, spicy cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Czech or Bohemian Pilsner

Czech or bohemian pilsner is a straw-colored beer with a noticeably bitter hop flavor. These beers can sometimes have a floral aroma.
ABV: 4.1-5.1%
IBU: 30-45
Examples: Lagunitas PILS, Dogfish Head Piercing Pils
Pairs With: Spicy food, Asian cuisine, sharp cheddar cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of Dark Lagers

Dark lager is malty and smooth with toasted caramel flavors. These beers tend to have mid-range alcohol content and lower bitterness profiles.

Amber American Lager

Amber lager features prevalent malt flavors with varying levels of hoppiness. This beer is also characterized by a darker color, caramel aroma, and smooth taste.
ABV: 4.8-5.4%
IBU: 18-30
Examples: Yuengling Lager, Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Pairs With: American cuisine, poultry, beef, cheddar
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Oktoberfest

Named for the Oktoberfest celebration in Munich, Oktoberfest is a full-bodied beer with a rich, toasted flavor and a dark copper color.
ABV: 5.1-6.0%
IBU: 18-25
Examples: Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen, Victory Brewing Company Festbier
Pairs With: German cuisine, meat, and vegetables, spicy cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

German Schwarzbier

Schwarzbier is a dark beer that is surprisingly light in flavor. Schwarzbiers are less malty than would be expected but still boast a slight sweetness.
ABV: 3.8-4.9%
IBU: 22-30
Examples: Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Guinness Black Lager
Pairs With: German cuisine, spicy food, muenster cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Vienna Lager

Vienna lager is reddish in color with a sweet malty flavor. These beers boast a subtle hop flavor and crisp drinkability.
ABV: 4.5-5.5%
IBU: 22-28
Examples: Dos Equis Amber Lager, Great Lakes Eliot Ness, Blue Point Toasted Lager
Pairs With: German cuisine, Mexican cuisine, pork, spicy cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of German Bocks

German bocks are heavy on malty flavor, making them sweet and nutty. Bocks have lower alcohol levels, while doppelbocks, Weizenbock, and maibocks move up the alcohol scale.

Traditional Bock

The bock is a malty, sweet beer with a toasty flavor and a dark copper color.
ABV: 6.3-7.5%
IBU: 20-30
Examples: Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Great Lakes Rockefeller Bock
Pairs With: German cuisine, meat, and vegetables, chocolate, Camembert cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Doppelbock

Doppelbocks are stronger than the traditional style and boast a higher alcohol content and a fuller body. ABV: 6.6-7.9%
IBU: 17-27
Examples: Tröegs Troegenator Double Bock, Samuel Adams Double
BockPairs With: Heavy foods like red meat, pork, or ham, and sharp cheeses Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Weizenbock

Weizenbock is wheat bocks and can take on fruity, malty flavors.
ABV: 7.0-9.5%
IBU: 15-35
Examples: Victory Brewing Company’s Moonglow, Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Goat Boy
Pairs With: German cuisine, meat, and poultry, chocolate
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Maibock

Maibocks are more pale and hoppy than traditional bocks, although the malt flavor is still present.
ABV: 6.0-8.0%
IBV: 20-38
Examples: Capital Maibock, Hofbräu Maibock, Smuttynose Maibock
Pairs With: Italian and German cuisines, fish and shellfish, asiago, and swiss cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Types of Brown Ales

Brown ales feature malty overtones and tend to have toasty, caramel flavors. They typically feature mid-range alcohol content and hop bitterness.

American Brown Ale

American brown ale is a dark beer without the bitterness of porters and stouts. This style boasts a dark caramel color and a medium to full-bodied profile.
ABV: 4.2-6.3%
IBU: 25-45
Examples: Brooklyn Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown
Pairs With: American cuisine, heavy foods like beef stew, red meat
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

English Brown Ale

English brown ale features a nutty malt flavor with a caramel aroma.
ABV: 4.0-5.5%
IBU: 15-25
Examples: Newcastle Brown Ale, City Star Brewing’s Bandit Brown（H4）
Pairs With: American cuisine, heavy foods, red meat, poultry, gouda cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of Pale Ales

Pale ales are generally hoppy but lower in alcohol content than IPAs. They are typically light, drinkable beers.

American Amber Ale

American amber ale is a malty, medium-bodied beer with a caramel flavor and amber color.
ABV: 4.4-6.1%
IBU: 25-45
Examples: Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, Stone Brewing Company’s Levitation Ale
Pairs With: American cuisine, meat, fish, blue cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45 F

American Pale Ale

American pale ale is a medium-bodied beer with a noticeable hop flavor and a light copper color.
ABV: 4.4-5.4%
IBU: 30-50
Examples: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Pale Ale, Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale
Pairs With: Fish and seafood, poultry, cheddar cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Blonde Ale

Blonde ales balance the flavors of malt and hops nicely, and they often have a fruity aroma.
ABV: 4.1-5.1%
IBU: 15-25
Examples: Victory Brewing Company’s Summer Love, Flying Fish Brewing Company’s Farmhouse Summer Ale
Pairs With: Italian cuisine, spicy food, fish, pepper jack cheese
Serving Temperature: 35-40℉

English Bitter

English bitters are named for the bitter flavor that the hops present. They have fruity flavors and lower alcohol content.
ABV: 3.0-4.2%
IBU: 20-35
Examples: Sharp’s Brewery’s Doom Bar Bitter, Surly Brewing Company’s Bitter Brewer
Pairs With: Fried food, fish, feta cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

English Pale Ale

Also known as “extra special bitters,” English pale ales have a strong hop flavor that is balanced by sweet malt.
ABV: 4.5-5.5%
IBU: 20-40
Examples: Black Sheep Ale, Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale
Pairs With: American and English cuisines, meat, and English cheeses
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of India Pale Ales (IPAs)

IPAs (short for India pale ales) boast strong hop bitterness with piney and floral flavors. These beers also have high alcohol content.

American IPA

American IPAs have more hops, big herbal or citrus flavors, and high bitterness compared to pale ale.
ABV: 6.3-7.5%
IBU: 50-70
Examples: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
Pairs With: American and Indian cuisines, meat, poultry, fish, and gorgonzola cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Imperial or Double IPA

Imperial or Double IPAs are American IPAs, but with a stronger flavor, hop bitterness, and higher alcohol content.
ABV: 7.0-14.0%
IBU: 65-100
Examples: Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Elder, Lagunitas Maximus
Pairs With: American cuisine, meat, fish, and sharp cheddar
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

English IPA

English IPAs are similar to the American style, but with a weaker hop flavor and lower alcohol content.
ABV: 5.0-7.0%
IBU: 35-63
Examples: Goose Island India Pale Ale, Shipyard IPA, Samuel Smith’s India Ale
Pairs With: American and Indian cuisines, fish, and parmesan cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of Porters

Porters are all dark in color, and they feature flavors reminiscent of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. They tend to be more chocolatey than brown ales, and less coffee-like than stouts.

American Imperial Porter

American imperial porters are dark in color, but lacking in burnt malt taste. They also boast a malty sweetness.
ABV: 7.0-12.0%
IBU: 35-50
Examples: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Porter, Stone Smoked Porter
Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, meat, and asiago cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

English Brown Porter

English brown porter is similar to the American style but usually with lower alcohol content and less malt sweetness.
ABV: 4.5-6.0%
IBU: 20-30
Examples: Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, Arcadia London Porter
Pairs With: American and English cuisines, meat, chocolate, and fontina cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Robust Porter

Robust porters are stronger and more bitter than brown porters and feature a subtle caramel flavor.
ABV: 5.1-6.6%
IBU: 25-40
Examples: Smuttynose Robust Porter, Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter
Pairs With: American and English cuisines, heavy foods like stew, and Colby cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45℉

Types of Stouts

Stouts are dark beers that are similar to porters but with stronger roasted flavors. This style also features mid to high alcohol levels.

American Stout

American stouts feature malt flavors working to create strong chocolate and coffee notes, but without overpowering hop bitterness.
ABV: 5.7-8.9%
IBU: 35-60
Examples: Highland Black Mocha Stout, Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
Pairs With: Heavy foods, meat, oysters, chocolate, and brie cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

American Imperial Stout

American imperial stouts are strong dark beers with a malty flavor and a deep black color.
ABV: 7.0-12.0%
IBU: 50-80
Examples: Dogfish Head Brewery’s Worldwide Stout, Stoudt’s Fat Dog Imperial Stout, Bell’s Java Stout
Pairs With: Heavy foods, poultry, aged cheddar
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Oatmeal Stout

As their name suggests, oatmeal stouts feature oatmeal in their malt blend. This adds smoothness and sweetness to the beer.
ABV: 3.8-6.0%
IBU: 20-40
Examples: Young’s Oatmeal Stout, Tröegs Java Head Stout
Pairs With: Meat, shellfish, chocolate, camembert cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Milk Stout

Lactose sugar adds smooth sweetness to milk stouts.
ABV: 4.0-7.0%
IBU: 15-25
Examples: Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, Lancaster Brewing Company’s Milk Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout
Pairs With: Mexican cuisine, beef, chocolate, ice cream, and cheddar or goat cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Irish Dry Stout

Irish dry stouts are dark beers; black with a bitterness that comes from roasted barley.
ABV: 3.8-5.0%
IBU: 30-40
Examples: Guinness Draught, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Beamish Irish Stout
Pairs With: Heavy food like beef and stew, barbecue, burgers
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Types of Belgian Styles

Belgian beers are known for their spiced fruity flavors and high alcohol content. Despite their high ABV, Belgians are usually low in bitterness.

Belgian Pale Ale

Belgian pale ale contains a toasted malt flavor that is subtle enough to not overpower the taste of the hops.
ABV: 4.0-6.0%
IBU: 20-30
Examples: Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Verboten, Samuel Adams Belgian Session
Pairs With: American cuisine, fried food, fish, salad, and tangy cheeses
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Belgian Dubbel

Belgian dubbels feature-rich and malty flavor with a spicy, fruity note.
ABV: 6.3-7.6%
IBU: 20-35
Examples: Chimay Premiere, Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale, Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel
Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, meat, and Limburger cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Belgian Tripel

Belgian tripels are lighter-bodied beers with a slightly hoppy bitterness and a high alcohol content.
ABV: 7.1-10.1%
IBU: 20-45
Examples: Victory Golden Monkey, Weyerbacher Merry Monks
Pairs With: Pasta dishes, meat, poultry, gouda cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Belgian Quadrupel

Belgian quadruples are dark brown, full-bodied beers that exhibit flavors like brown sugar and fruit. They also have very high alcohol content.
ABV: 7.2-11.2%
IBU: 25-50
Examples: Weyerbacher QUAD, Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers
Pairs With: Smoked meat, goose, brie cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Belgian strong dark ale features a very high alcohol content with complex fruity flavors.
ABV: 7.0-15.0%
IBU: 20-50
Examples: Bell’s Brewery’s Hell Hath No Fury Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery’s Raison D’Être
Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, blue cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Belgian Saison

Saisons (also known as farmhouse ales) have earthy notes and a medium hop flavor.
ABV: 4.4-6.8%
IBU: 20-38
Examples: Samuel Adams Rustic Saison, Dogfish Head Brewery’s Noble Rot, Victory Brewing Company’s Helios
Pairs With: Indian and Asian cuisine, poultry, seafood, and parmesan cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Types of Wheat Beers

As you might have guessed, wheat beers use wheat as their malt. They’re generally lighter in color and alcohol content. Their tangy flavors go great with fruit and brewers often add seasonal fruits to wheat beer.

American Pale Wheat

American pale wheat beer is pale in color, lower in alcohol content, and has a light bready flavor.
ABV: 3.5-5.6%
IBU: 10-35
Examples: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, Shipyard Summer Ale
Pairs With: Mexican cuisine, spicy food, poultry, and mozzarella cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50 F

Belgian Witbier

Witbier gets its name from its white color and has a light, fruity flavor to match.
ABV: 4.8-5.6%
IBU: 10-17
Examples: Hoegaarden White Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery’s Namaste, Blue Moon Belgian White, Victory Brewing Company’s Whirlwind Witbier
Pairs With: Seafood, poultry, pork, salad, and soft cheeses
Serving Temperature: 45-50 F

Berliner Weisse

Berliner Weisse is a tart, sour beer with a pale color. Sometimes raspberry syrup is added to dull the sour taste.
ABV: 2.8-3.4%
IBU: 3-6
Examples: Dogfish Head’s Festina Peche, Freetail Brewing Company’s Yo Soy Un Berliner
Pairs With: German Cuisine, ham, salad, and soft cheeses
Serving Temperature: 45-50 ℉

Dunkelweizen

Dunkelweizen is a darker version of a Hefeweizen. These beers have a malty flavor with hints of banana.
ABV: 4.8-5.4%
IBU: 10-15
Examples: Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel
Pairs With: German and Indian cuisines, fish, and goat cheese
Serving Temperature: 40-45 ℉

Hefeweizen

Hefeweizen is a light-colored wheat beer with a crisp taste that can sometimes have hints of cloves or apples.
ABV: 4.9-5.6%
IBU: 10-15
Examples: Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen, Magic Hat Circus Boy
Pairs With: German cuisine, seafood, fish, and brick cheeses
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Types of Wheat Beers

American Pale Wheat

American pale wheat beer is pale in color, lower in alcohol content, and has a light bready flavor.
ABV: 3.5-5.6% IBU: 10-35
Examples: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, Shipyard Summer Ale
Pairs With: Mexican cuisine, spicy food, poultry, and mozzarella cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50 °F

Belgian Witbier

Berliner Weisse

Dunkelweizen

Hefeweizen

Types of Wild & Sour Ales

Wild or sour ales are typically very low in alcohol, and feature tart, sour flavors that come from (safe) bacteria in the brew mash.

American Sour

American sour beer packs a wild punch from the bacteria used in the fermentation process.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies
Examples: Samuel Adams American Kriek, Weyerbacher Riserva
Pairs With: Fruit and strong cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Belgian Fruit Lambic

Belgian fruit lambics are brewed with fruit to make an intense sweet and sour flavor.
ABV: 5.0-8.9%
IBU: 15-21
Examples: Upland Brewing Company’s Raspberry Lambic, Dogfish Head Festina Lente
Pairs With: Fruit, salad, chocolate, and soft cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Flanders Red Ale

Flanders red ale evokes a malty, fruity flavor underneath a strong sour taste brought on by Lactobacillus bacteria during fermentation.
ABV: 4.8-6.6%
IBU: 5-18
Examples: New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie, The Lost Abbey’s Red Poppy Ale
Pairs With: Meat, blue cheese, and cheddar cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-50℉

Belgian Gueuze

Gueuzes are aged beers that give off a very strong sour flavor.
ABV: 6.2-8.1%
IBU: 9-23
Examples: Brouwerij Boon’s Boon Gueuze, The Bruery’s Rueuze
Pairs With: Strong cheeses
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Types of Specialty Beers

Beers made with additional spices, flavorings, or fruits are called specialty beers. Any lager or ale can be made into a specialty beer by adding ingredients to enhance the flavor.

American Black Ale

American black ales are dark in color and feature a malty, roasted flavor with medium to high hop bitterness. This style is sometimes called a black IPA.
ABV: 6.0-7.5%
Examples: Lagunitas NightTime, Founders Dark Penance, Victory Yakima Glory
Pairs With: Aged cheeses, seafood, and chocolate
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Barrel-Aged Beer

Barrel-aged beer is any type of beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel. Sometimes these barrels have been used to hold bourbon, wine, or other spirits, adding to the flavor of the beer.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies
Examples: Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel), Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout, Narwhal Imperial Stout (Barrel-Aged)
Pairs With: Varies
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Chocolate Beer

Chocolate or cocoa can be added to any style (lager or ale) to form a delicious chocolate beer.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 15-40
Examples: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, Shenandoah Chocolate Donut Beer, Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter
Pairs With: Varies
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Coffee Beer

Coffee beer is typically a porter or stout with added coffee flavor. This flavor can be achieved by steeping coffee beans in water or the beer mixture.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 15-45
Examples: Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout, Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout, Stone Brewing Company’s Coffee Milk Stout
Pairs With: Meaty stew, hard cheeses
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Fruit and Vegetable Beer

Any type of beer can be infused with fruit and vegetable flavors, so flavors will vary greatly.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 5-50
Examples: Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA, Modern Times Beer’s Fruitlands Sour Cherry Gose, Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Pairs With: Salad, brie cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Gluten-Free Beer

Gluten-free beer is brewed with fermentable sugars and grains that do not contain gluten. These beers vary in color, flavor, and alcohol content.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies
Examples: Wicked Weed Brewing’s Gluten FREEk, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company’s Omission IPA, Lakefront Brewery’s New Grist Gluten-Free Pilsner
Pairs With: Varies
Serving Temperature: Varies

Herb and Spice Beer

Herb and spice beer is any lager or ale that has added flavors from roots, herbs, or other spices. Many pumpkin spices and seasonal fall beers are examples of this style.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 5-40
Examples: Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch, Rogue Ales’ Juniper Pale Ale, Small Town Brewery’s Not Your Father’s Root Beer
Pairs With: Varies
Serving Temperature: 45-55℉

Honey Beer

Honey beers are ales or lagers that are brewed with honey to add sweetness and unique flavor.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: Varies
Examples: Boulder Beer’s A Honey of a Saison, Samuel Adams Honey Queen, Burial Beer Company’s The Keeper’s Veil Honey Saison
Pairs With: Salad, light creamy cheeses
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Pumpkin Beer

Pumpkin beer is brewed with fresh pumpkin and common fall spices. These beers are increasingly popular and can be made with lagers, ales, and sour beers.
ABV: 2.3-5.0%
IBU: 5-70
Examples: Elysian Brewing Company’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
Pairs With: Poultry, soft creamy cheeses
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Rye Beer

Rye beer often features malty, roasted flavors, with lower hop bitterness. Rye beers can be made as ales or as lagers, and will either take on a sweet or spicy flavor.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies
Examples: Founders Red’s Rye IPA, Great Lakes’ Rye of the Tiger IPA, The Bruery’s Sour in the Rye
Pairs With: Spicy meat, creamy cheese
Serving Temperature: 45-55℉

Session Beer

Any style of beer can be brewed as a session beer, as sessions are simply less strong, more drinkable beers that are perfect for summertime consumption.
ABV: 3.5-5.0%
IBU: 10-35
Examples: New Belgium Brewing’s Slow Ride Session IPA, Samuel Adams Rebel Rider Session IPA, Victory Brewing Company’s Swing Session Saison
Pairs With: Varies
Serving Temperature: Varies

Smoke Beer

Smoke beer is any beer that is brewed with malt that has been kilned over an open fire. The smoke adds a noticeable, but not overpowering flavor, which is inspired by traditional German rauchbier.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies
Examples: Ithaca Beer Company’s Gorges Smoked Porter, Goose Island Beer Company’s Prairie Smoke, Denver Beer Company’s Smoked Lager
Pairs With: Roasted vegetables, hard cheese
Serving Temperature: 50-55℉

Summary

Now that you know more about the different types of beer on the market, hopefully, you can be inspired to add some unique beers to your brewery’s list. Use this guide to help you and your servers feel more confident in recommending beers to customers, and even create a menu centered on the perfect beer pairing. Contact us if you plan to expand the range of beers you can brew. Micet Craft’s engineers will recommend the best expansion plan for you.

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