This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I don’t know about you, but I love beer. Your love of beer may have brought you to this article, or perhaps it was just some curiosity. Regardless of whether beer is your drink of choice, there is something for everyone. However, that can cause some problems. The world of beer is incredibly diverse with many different brewing styles. When I turned 21 and started to frequent bars, I was often lost as to what each beer would taste like. I also didn’t want to spend money on something I didn’t like. The situation can get even more confusing when you step into the world of craft beer. To help you avoid some of the struggles I faced, let’s lay out a guide to craft beer for beginners.
Macro Breweries vs. Microbreweries
The most important difference between beers is understanding where they came from. There are two main types of breweries, macro breweries and microbreweries. Macro breweries are the major brands of beer you see on shelves everywhere from gas stations to grocery stores. Some notable names include Budweiser, Coors, and Miller Lite. Although many of these brands are divided into various subsidiaries, most of them are owned by a small number of international corporations. Like most else in this world, I know shocking. While many of these beers are reliable old friends, mass production and long waits in warehouses can tarnish the freshness of their flavor profile. Furthermore, if you ask any beer connoisseur, they also get a bit boring.
Most of the real fun is relegated to microbreweries, the home of craft beer. This is where you will find a diverse set of styles and the freshest pours. Both of which are key to a good drink. Over the last few decades, the world of craft beer and microbreweries in the US has exploded. That means there are likely plenty of options to choose from no matter where you live. Nonetheless, the first step to understanding craft beer for beginners is to digest all the different offerings and how they’re likely to taste.
Major Styles of Beer
Traditional Lagers
Lagers are kind of like the water of beer. More often than not, they are the plainest option out there and one of the most widely enjoyed. There is some differentiation between them as certain options may be more malty, while others are crisper from the addition of hops. Overall, it’s a reliable and straightforward taste. If you order one, you’ll know what to expect. Most of that is owed to the use of a cold or bottom fermentation process used in all lagers. The dependability of their flavor is a central reason why a high proportion of major beer brands fall into this category. Consequently, even though lagers dominate the macro brewery scene, their predictable nature has made them less popular among craft breweries. Since their flavor is quite basic, lagers pair well with virtually any food dish.
Amber Lagers, Red Lagers, and Dark Lagers
Here are some subtypes of lagers that may not be as popular as those mentioned above but are worth noting, nonetheless. This is where things get increasingly malty as brewers add various ingredients to increase the depth of flavor profiles. I would argue that there is a lot of overlap between all styles of lagers as most of the flavors are quite similar. There is a general base of malty flavor that can either get lighter and crisper as you move toward pilsners or increasingly dark and full-bodied as you swing toward amber, red, and dark lagers.
Pilsners
Long, long ago there was a brewery in Plzeň, Czechia and the pilsner was born. Pilsners are technically a subtype of lagers as they are considered pale lagers. So much so that there are pilsner-style lagers, which blur the lines. However, the biggest difference in the jump to this category is a distinctly crisper and more hoppy flavor profile. Even though pilsners aren’t too far off from regular lagers, they have more taste and variation. Additionally, they are generally split between Czech and German styles. Czech pilsners tend to be a bit more bitter while their German counterparts tend to be more balanced. The increased usage of hops can make these beers a bit bitter, but they are still rather mild. Like the rest of lagers, pilsners go well with most foods. One of my favorite combinations to pair with these beers is chicken wings.
Ales
Ales are where the lines get a little bit blurry. I have tried quite a few ales, and they can be incredibly diverse. The result is some unpredictability in flavor. One example is Belgian abbey ales. They tend to possess an almost creamy taste complimented by hints of clove and vanilla rendering them perfect for a cold winter night paired with a steak dinner. On the other hand, this category technically includes Pale Ales and IPAs. More on those in a moment but suffice it to say pale ales are much different in taste.
All these beers are united in their use of a yeast that prefers a warmer temperature. This renders them top-fermented beers. Belgian-style ales, as well as dark, amber, or red ales, tend to have a darker malty taste, and all share a ton of similarities. Because there is such diversity within the realm of ales, it’s worth noting a few oddballs that buck the trends of the offerings we just discussed.
Wheat Ales
Wheat ales are generally more popular in Europe, but they have made an impression on some of us in the US. In the summer nothing is better than a cold wheat ale like Blue Moon or Hoegaarden as they offer an orange or citrusy aroma to help beat the heat. However, other wheat beers can taste more like traditional ales. For example, Weihenstephaner Vitus is a wheat bock that is close to abbey ales yet somehow tastes both crisper and darker all at the same time.
Pale Ales and IPAs
Still not enough options? Don’t worry, there’s more. We have now arrived at the preeminent category. A place of true pallet refinement if you will. The one the only India Pale Ale. Well, and just regular pale ales too. Back when the British Empire was busy colonizing the world, they had a problem. When they shipped beer to India, it wasn’t taking the journey well and often arrived spoiled. To remedy this situation, they increased the number of hops in their recipes to provide more shelf life. The result was an iconic style of beer that has continued to amass popularity. Thanks imperialism, I guess. Despite its rather unfortunate backstory, this is truly a great type of beer.
Because it has become a staple in craft brewing there are a lot of different IPAs and Pale Ales out there with literally hundreds of different spices, herbs, and fruits creating distinct flavor profiles. Most of these options have a distinct bitterness as heavy use of hops up the IBU count (a measure of bitterness). I can confidently say that there are plenty that you will hate but there also may be just as many that you like. While my intention here is to create some predictability in what to expect when trying beer, the reality is there is so much diversity in this style that sometimes you won’t know what to expect. American IPAs, West Coast IPAs, and Hazy IPAs all have subtle differences but are more traditional examples. Meanwhile, juicy IPAs are far from my favorite as they often have a fruity or literally “juicy taste”.
Porters and Stouts
We have entered a dark arena now. Quite literally, porters and stouts are generally the darkest beer offerings. Too dark for my taste but that’s just my opinion and they are still widely enjoyed. These beers are often heavier in flavor and have notes of chocolate and coffee. Some may even have a milky or creamy profile as well. The most famous beer in this category is Guinness, which has made quite a splash on TikTok as the younger generation has leaned more into this category of beer.
Craft Beer For Beginners: Final Tips
Understanding the methodology behind these various brewing styles will help beginners better navigate the world of craft beer. Don’t get me wrong, I do love more basic beer like Stella Artios or Coors Light from time to time. However, nothing beats the fresh and unique nature of craft beer. Since craft beer has become so popular throughout the country, I am confident there is a brewery near you just waiting to be enjoyed. I mentioned a lot of beers from macro breweries as examples because they will be much easier to find. However, nearly all breweries will have their take on all these styles.
ABV
Now that we have discussed the major different styles, there are a few additional tips I would like to add. Probably the most important thing to remember is to drink responsibly. While there are plenty of lower ABV (alcohol by volume) beers out there, craft beer tends to include some punchier options. It’s not uncommon for many ales to exceed 7% ABV so just be mindful when trying new things. Furthermore, the ABV can affect the taste as well. I’ve noticed that this is less relevant with higher alcohol pale ales and IPAs. Conversely, darker ales and stouts can carry a stronger alcohol taste.
IBU
ABV isn’t the only three-letter abbreviation that’s relevant to craft beer. IBU or International Bitterness Scale indicates exactly what you think. The higher the IBU on a beer, the more bitter it will be. This is generally due to the number of hops utilized in the beer’s recipe. Pilsners, pale ales, and IPAs tend to be the higher IBU beers. Lagers, darker ales, and stouts tend to be much less bitter.
Flights
My final tip is to take advantage of establishments that offer flights. They’re common in most breweries but can also be found in many bars and restaurants. My biggest fear was always ordering something that I wouldn’t want to finish. The best solution for that is to order a flight. Flights are boards that contain multiple beers, in much smaller quantities than a usual pint. That way you are only committing to a smaller amount of liquid. Additionally, you get to try more than one thing. Even if your favorite watering hole doesn’t have flights, most bartenders will allow you to taste a small splash of one or two beers to make sure you like your selection.
Go Out And Enjoy Some Craft Beer!
That sums up this guide to craft beer for beginners. I encourage all of you to go out with some friends and enjoy what your local breweries have to offer. It’s always great to have the chance to support local businesses. Having a great beer is always good too. Feel free to share your favorite local breweries in the comments below.
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