Types of Beer

As you may know, there are lots of types of beers and not all beers are created equal. This is apparent when walking through the aisles of brews at your local grocery or liquor store. Beers vary in terms of flavor, color, ingredients, origin, history, and alcohol strength.

The bitter taste found in certain beers comes from the hops, herbs and barley they contain. A sweet taste can come from the presence of sugar. Consistency and smoothness of beer also varies. Thicker, darker beers tend to have a more complex and robust flavor than lighter beers.

The beer most frequently drank in the world is the pale lager. This style of beer is fermented at a low temperature and has a crisp taste. Popular forms of this beer come from the Pilsner style, a highly carbonated beer that is light in color. Different styles of lager beers include American-style, Viena, Bock, Helles and Pilsner.

Ale beer differs from lagers. Ale beers are fermented at a higher temperature and have a stronger flavor. They are brewed with top-fermenting yeast as opposed to lagers, which use bottom-fermenting yeast. Some different styles of ale beers include Brown Ales, Pale Ales, Stouts, Wheat Beers and Porters.

Some of the major beer brands offer their customers light versions of their beer. This variation has somewhat the same taste and flavor as the original beer with less alcohol and fewer calories. The lighter versions also tend to have a higher percentage of water than the original.

Sticking to lighter beers decreases the likelihood of a hangover because of the lower alcohol content and higher percentage of water. Keeping this in mind helps lower your chances of a hangover only if you make sure you are not drinking more than you would if drinking stronger beer.

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