Beer Types & Styles
We like to say that beer brewing is equal parts science and art. And just like art, there’s ssssoooo many different types out there. And just like how some people don’t consider a receipt stapled to the wall of a gallery ‘art’, not everyone enjoys every type of beer. Which is why there’s so many – to cater to all those different palates.
Beavertown Beer Types
At Beavertown we brew up a fair few different beer types but there’s a whole galaxy of others out there. The most famous are lager and ale. But with all the different hops, grains, and yeast types out there, the different types of beers are basically infinite. And they all taste different. And are even drunk out of different glasses too if you’re a beer purist.
Why Are There So Many Types of Beer?
Despite the fact that there are only 4 ingredients in beer (water, malt, yeast, and hops), you can get basically an endless list of different flavour combos. So the reason why there are so many different beers is because of the wide variety of the types of ingredients out there.
A beer made with oats will have a totally different mouthfeel to one made with barley malt. Some beers are made using darker roasted malts too which can give the beer a more toasty flavour. And the different strains of yeast will result in different amounts of alcohol.
And don’t even get us started on the 250+ varieties of hops you can choose from to brew that beer with. The hops are what give a beer its iconic flavour. Most beers use a different combination of multiple hops. So there’s basically a bazillion different combos (maybe… We brew beer. We don’t do maths.)
So that’s why there are so many different types of beers out there.
12 Beer Types to Know
Lager
Lager is brewed at low temperatures. These types of beers tend to have a lower ABV so if you’re looking for a lager that has that great flavour, get up close and personal with Bones. This (award-winning) lager is low in bitterness, high in flavour, and guaranteed to hit the spot from your first pint to your last. It’s just dead good lager, done right.
Shop Bones Lager
Pilsner
All pilsners are lagers but not all lagers are pilsners. These dry, aromatic and hoppy lagers were named after the Czech city Plzen and were created because Czech beer at the time was a bit rubbish. The biggest difference between pilsners and other lagers is that pilsners tend to have more hoppiness. And they use a different type of yeast. Basically, they’re just more aromatic, hoppy lagers.
American Pale Ale
American pale ale (AKA: APA) is a type of pale ale created in the United States around 1980. Once upon a time, ales and IPAs were the beers and were widely available. But they fell out of fashion by the 1970s. In the 1980s, American breweries rediscovered good beer and there was a big bang of craft beers being created – one of those was the APA, inspired by the British IPA but with different hops. American pale ale is smooth and refreshing but with a little citrus-y, pine-y twist to give your tastebuds a little zap.
Shop Gamma Ray APA
Pale Ale
Pale ales have been around for a LONG time. They may not look all that pale in colour sometimes, but compared to the darker-coloured drinks that were popular before them, they’re pretty light. They're hoppy and rich with some citrus zest and fruit flavours in there too. IPA, APA, and Hazy IPA are all types of pale ales. Depending on the type, the ABV can range from 4% to 12%.
Shop Pale Ales
IPA
IPA stands for India Pale Ale. This hoppy brew was the answer to the East India Trading Company’s problem of not being able to drink beer on long boat journeys. They’re really hoppy and usually pretty bitter too. But super refreshing. And drinkable with basically anything.
What is an IPA?
Session IPA
Session IPAs were named after spending long afternoons with your mates. Basically they're less hoppy and less boozy with more malty notes. Super sippable Neck Oil is our anytime IPA which is light and crisp with an earthy undertone to it.
More Info
Wheat Beer
Wheat beers are made using a high ratio of wheat malt to barley malt and brewed using ale yeast. Lagers and ales use different types of yeast that give them different flavours. They also tend to look quite hazy but are still fairly light and refreshing. They’re great for those who want a suckerpunch of flavour.
Porter
You might think that dark beer is for the oldies, but they can actually be pretty young and hip (hides grey hairs with a Beavertown hat). Dark beers taste like you read the newspaper and know what stocks are. They’re deep and complex. And there are many different flavours like chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts, caramel and even fruit. They’re great for someone who isn’t a fan of bitter flavours.
More Info
Stout
Stouts are related to porters. But while porters are the eye-rolling, ‘I was here first’, older sibling, stouts are like the younger, cooler, more popular sibling. They’re also stronger than porters. They have stronger, roasty, toasty flavours that sometimes taste like coffee or chocolate depending on the one you’re drinking, especially if you’re sipping our Spresso coffee stout.
Spresso Coffee Stout
Fruit Beer
Fruit beers are made with fruit purees added into the mix. Which gives them a sour quality. But it also means the beer tastes like the fruit it was brewed with. They’re super unique and refreshing. And come in loads of different flavours. Fruits like cherries are more traditional while more recently brewers have been experimenting with tropical fruits like pineapple or grapefruit.
Sour Beer
Pucker up! Sour beers are intentionally tart or sour in flavour. Not as sour as those really sour sweets. But enough to make you go “ooh!” after each sip.
Usually, beer making is a sterile process so you can control exactly how the beer will turn out. But sour beers can sometimes use ingredients like fruits or a “starter” from a previous batch to introduce friendly bacteria which leave a mouthwatering tartness.
Radler
Radler’s were originally 2 parts German beer like a lager or wheat beer mixed with 1 part sparkling lemonade or a lemon-lime soda. You might be saying “that’s just a shandy.” and you wouldn’t be wrong. But in recent years, curious brewers have started experimenting with other kinds of fruit and juices or even teas to find brand new never-before-tasted blends.
