Lagunitas IPA
Stone IPA
Russian River Blind Pig
Firestone Walker Union Jack
Ballast Point Sculpin
Description
Vampire Weekend is to indie rock as IPA is to craft beer -- people who are into the social cachet aspect of beer-drinking say they like IPAs to show their outside-of-mainstream cred, but it's the example that everyone uses, thereby rendering it decidedly mainstream.
That said, it's a lot of people's introduction to the craft beer world, and is an interesting, now somewhat-ubiquitous style. It couldn't be more shocking to try an American IPA (as opposed to the more traditional British version)
Budweiser
Miller High Life
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Coors Original
Description
Lagers (specifically American Light or American Lagers) are what you were drinking before you were old enough to legally drink. They are typically served very cold, and are meant to be refreshing.
They aren't technically "craft beer", as they represent a good portion of the most widely-available beer in America, but they are very difficult to brew properly -- it's not a style that homebrewers tend to try out. It's a testament to the consistency and quality of the Budweiser/Coors/Miller-sized b
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Stone Pale Ale
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Firestone Walker Pale 31
Description
Pale Ales are another good gateway to the world of craft beer. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is one of the most solid, easily-accessible beers that there is. American-style Pale Ales tend to be hoppy, but more balanced than an IPA, and are usually quite refreshing. It's a good, drinkable beer that is more substantial than your standard lager.
The folks at the BJCP define American-style Pale Ales as, "A pale, refreshing and hoppy ale, yet with sufficient supporting malt to make the beer balanced and dr
New Belgium Fat Tire
Mendocino Brewing Co. Red Tail Ale
North Coast Red Seal
Anderson Valley Boont Amber
Description
The beer equivalent of Fall, if only in color. Ambers/Red Ales typically have a hoppy, bitter character, tempered by some malt sweetness. Some have a distinct booziness and warmth, though in good examples, this is never overwhelming.
The BJCP describes Ambers/Red Ales as "an amber, hoppy, moderate-strength American craft beer with a caramel malty flavor. The balance can vary quite a bit, with some versions being fairly malty and others being aggressively hoppy. Hoppy and bitter versions should
Trumer Pils
Firestone Walker Pivo Pils
Lagunitas Pilsner
Paulaner Premium Pils
Description
Pilsners (or Pilseners, or Pils) are a very drinkable, clean, refreshing style of beer. The German and Czech-styles are predominant, both of which are similar enough to be considered siblings. A utility beer, they are good in all seasons and with many different kinds of food. It is a well-defined style, but has room for movement within it that makes trying new types a joy.
The BJCP describes pilsners as, "A light-bodied, highly-attenuated, gold-colored, bottom-fermented bitter German beer showi
Belgian-style beers are a whole world unto themselves, with a remarkable amount of variation. For simplicity's sake, we will cover three varieties in this guide that you are likely to find on a grocery store shelf or in a bar serving craft beer.
Belgian-Style Blond(e) Ales are an approachable style and good introduction to non-drinking game beers. They are typically golden-colored, with hints of spice characteristics. While easy to drink, they can pack a deceptive alcoholic punch. They tend to
Chimay Red (Première)
Allagash Double
New Belgium Abbey
Westmalle Dubbel
Description
Dubbel (or Double) beers are a complex, varied style. They are sometimes referred to as "Abbey" beers, hinting at their monastic brewing origins. They have a distinctive richness to them, implying fruits like raisins, figs, or plums, as well as bananas, in taste and aroma. The malt character can be reminiscent of chocolate or toast. This is a good beer to drink to act like you know about beer.
The BJCP describes Dubbel beers as "a deep reddish-copper, moderately strong, malty, complex Trappist
Anchor Porter
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Sierra Nevada Porter
Description
Porters are a darker style that can vary by region (Baltic-style, English-style, etc.) There is a smoked variation and they can be bulked up to Imperial status. For simplicity's sake, we will focus on the American-style porters here. Like most things American, they are bigger and bolder than their counterparts elsewhere in the world, and with less of a tendency for warmongering (what better way to prevent wars than drinking beer together?)
There is a great deal of complexity to porters. They ar
Saison Dupont
Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
Prairie Standard
Description
Saisons (sometimes called farmhouse ales) are a dry, flavorful, surprisingly strong type of beer. Refreshing and drinkable, there is room for all sorts of complexity -- they can range from hop-forward to richer and more malty, to sour or funky. A nice alternative to hop-bomb prevalence.
The BJCP defines this style as follows: "Most commonly, a pale, refreshing, highly-attenuated, moderately-bitter, moderate-strength Belgian ale with a very dry finish. Typically highly carbonated, and using non
Deschutes Obsidian Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Sierra Nevada Stout
Description
A fitting name, stouts are as big-tasting of a beer as you are likely to try on your foray into craft beer. They are also a favorite of brewers and beer nerds alike (especially the Imperial variety), as they lend themselves well to experimentation and have an inherent complexity.
It helps to think of stouts as an after-dinner beer -- they lend themselves well to dessert-like flavors like coffee, caramel, vanilla, and more. They are also heavy-duty, and work much better than sleeping pills -- dr
Russian River Supplication
New Belgium Eric's Ale
Russian River Temptation
The Bruery Rueuze
The Bruery Saison Rue
Boulevard Saison Brett
Description
Sour beer/wild ales are unusual, sometimes off-putting styles. There is an extremely wide variability to these beers, which makes them simultaneously exciting and daunting to begin tasting.
It helps to go into trying sour beers with a different mindset -- if you approach it like wine, you are more likely to be able to enjoy it on its own terms. Some smell inviting, others like a cow pasture; some taste delicious and fruity, others have a puckering sourness.
It's a fascinating genre of beer w
Chimay Blue (Grande Rèserve)
Rochefort 10
Unibroue La Terrible
Description
Quadrupel (or Quad)-style beers are a stronger version of the Dubbel or Tripel. High in alcohol content and extremely complex, this is a rich style with plenty of layers to delve into. You should probably not drink a bomber by yourself, no matter how delicious.
The BJCP describes Quads as if they were James Bond: "A dark, complex, very strong Belgian ale with a delicious blend of malt richness, dark fruit flavors, and spicy elements. Complex, rich, smooth and dangerous."
Bitterness (IBU)
20 - 35
Alcohol (ABV)
8.0 - 12.0%
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Porter
Loaded
Name
Porter
Glassware
Shaker Pint
Notes
The standard, 16 oz. American pint glass. There are rumblings from within the US craft beer community that this glass, designed to shake cocktails, should not be the standard.
In an article (https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/the-shaker-pint), Dr. Michael Lewis, Ph.D., professor emeritus of brewing science at U.C. Davis, describes the downside of the shaker pint: "The glass [shaker pint] is almost perversely designed to dissipate those very items the glass should enhance — that is: to
Use with These Styles
Amber / Red Ale
Porter
Lager
Pale Ale
Stout
IPA (India Pale Ale)
Readily-Available Examples
Anchor Porter
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Sierra Nevada Porter
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Description
Porters are a darker style that can vary by region (Baltic-style, English-style, etc.) There is a smoked variation and they can be bulked up to Imperial status. For simplicity's sake, we will focus on the American-style porters here. Like most things American, they are bigger and bolder than their counterparts elsewhere in the world, and with less of a tendency for warmongering (what better way to prevent wars than drinking beer together?)
There is a great deal of complexity to porters. They are malt-forward, but different ingredients and techniques can lead to notes of coffee, chocolate, nuts, and more. A heavier, more substantial style that is nonetheless drinkable and relatively approachable.
The BJCP calls porters "...a substantial, malty dark beer with a complex and flavorful dark malt character."
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{name}
Bitterness (IBU)
25 - 50
Alcohol (ABV)
4.8 - 6.5%
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Attachments
robust-porter.jpg
Appearance (BJCP)
Medium brown to very dark brown, often with ruby- or garnet-like highlights. Can approach black in color. Clarity may be difficult to discern in such a dark beer, but when not opaque will be clear (particularly when held up to the light). Full, tan-colored head with moderately good head retention.
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Aroma
Lightly burnt
Grain
Toffee
Caramel
Chocolate
Coffee
Rich
Sweet
Resinous
Earthy
Floral
Flavor
Hop flavors: Low, though sometimes used for bittering to balance out maltiness
Malt flavors: Moderately strong. Most feature a lightly burnt malt character, with malt dryness in the finish
Esters: Little to none
Finish: Dry to medium-sweet
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Mouthfeel
Medium to medium-full body. Moderately low to moderately high carbonation. Stronger versions may have a slight alcohol warmth. May have a slight astringency from dark malts, although this character should not be strong.