How is beer classified into different types?
How is beer classified into different types?
Can the types of beer be arranged in a hierarchy with "ales" and "lagers" at the top? Are there beers that do not fall under either category or some that fall under both?
What are the divisions under these categories?
What are the defining characteristics distinguishing one type of beer from another?
Best Answer
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/ has a vast amount of information on beer styles.
To answer your specific question, an ale is top-fermenting whereas a lager is bottom-fermenting. Lagers are generally fermented at lower temperatures than ales.
I believe that lambics would constitute a third category, since they are traditionally fermented by wild yeasts, but opinion may vary on this, I don't know.
There are dozens of styles of ales and lagers and a few different lambics, but the method of fermentation is the main distinguishing characteristic between the three types.
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Quick Answer about "How is beer classified into different types?"
The major difference between types of beer comes down to the type of yeast used to ferment it. A beer can qualify as either a lager or an ale, depending on the fermenting process. Ales are created through top fermentation, a process in which yeast ferments at warmer temperatures and settles at the top of the beer.How beers are classified?
Most types of beer are classified as either lagers or ales. Lagers are made with yeast that ferments at the bottom of the beer mixture, and ales are made with yeast that ferments at the top. Besides the yeast used to make lagers and ales, there are spontaneously fermenting yeasts, which produce wild or sour beers.What are the 3 major classifications of beer?
Q : What are the main types of beer?- Ale. Ale is a general category of beer: You'll find sub-categories like brown ales or pale ales. ...
- Lager. Lagers are a newer style of beer with two key differences from ales. ...
- Porter. ...
- Stout. ...
- Blonde Ale.
How many different types of beer are there?
There are over 100+ distinct styles of beer (over 73 different ales, more than 25 different lagers and a handful of hybrid styles) but to confuse the classification process, there are even more ways to group and/or sub-categorize beer.What are the four ways to describe beer?
\u201cThe BJCP [Beer Judge Certification Program] uses four criteria to judge beer,\u201d explains judge Beth Cangari of Placerville. \u201cAppearance, aroma, mouthfeel and overall impression.\u201d Unfortunately, if you're new to beer, those words are about as familiar as a Biere de Garde.Every Style of Beer Explained | WIRED
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Answer 2
Another Beer Advocate link: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style
Those folks make a three-level hierarchy:
- Yeast Type
- Origin
- Style
You can see another structure emerging within theirs, however, in which descriptors are tacked on to a style. For example, you have an ale, a pale ale, an imperial pale ale, a double imperial pale ale, an american imperial double pale ale, etc.
Answer 3
The classification of different beer types comes from how they are made. The first distinction is top-fermenting vs. bottom-fermenting, i.e. does the yeast get thrown in on top and work its way down the mash, or is it the reverse.
- Top Fermenting = Ale
- Bottom Fermenting = Lager
In general, lager yeasts are more sensitive to temperature control during brewing and result in a subtler and cleaner flavor. Pilsners and most German beers are of this type. Ales tend to have a larger variety of yeast strains used, so don't have as consistent a profile as lagers. (There's exceptions of course, Schwarzbier is as dark and malty as they come.)
All other styles are a result of their ingredients, locations and histories. Most have a specific quality such as Labmics, which are a sour beer that uses spontaneous fermentation. Rauchbier (also known as Smoked Beer) have a distinctive smoky flavor and sometimes are actually smoked before bottling. (And, frustratingly, can be either a lager or ale before being smoked).
Beers that use Wheat as one of their malts tends to make another broad category of ales such as the Hefeweizen and Whitbier.
Not every category is so easy. You'll be hard pressed to find a beer expert who can quote the differences between a Porter and a Stout without speaking in generalities and flavor profiles. Similarly, since the naming of beers isn't regulated everywhere in the world what is one breweries "American Pale Ale" is an others IPA.
Answer 4
In order of lightness/colour, with the palest at the top
- lager, yellow, taste dry and light (yes please)
- ale, brown, taste earthy and richer (yes please)
- stout, black, tastes like ashtrays (no thankyou, well ok sometimes a guiness is required)
More here
Answer 5
There are more types, for instance, wheat and rye beers.See http://www.beeradvocate.com/articles/351/ and http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/12/ .
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