The basics of craft beers

Craft beers from local breweries around the country are beginning to pop up everywhere from restaurants to your local grocer. There will no doubt be a time when you are faced with drinking and discussing the fine qualities of the local craft-beers or the favored craft-brews from abroad. Instead of blanching because you aren't beer savvy, let the following quick-guide give you a working knowledge.

DIFFERENT QUALITIES

Each beer has different qualities depending on its ingredients, where it was produced, and how long it was fermented – very similar to wine. Different beers have different flavor profiles – from stouts, to ales, to pilsners – which not only offer you a variety of tastes but also give you the chance to pair your beer du jour with a complementary meal. Also, beers, like wines, should be served in specific glasses according to how well they allow the beer to breathe and let the best flavor come out.

WHAT IS A CRAFT BEER?

American craft beers are typically small, independent breweries producing no more than 2 million barrels of beer annually. There are different varieties of craft breweries, including microbreweries, brewpubs, and regional craft breweries. Each of these breweries produces varying amounts of beer and distribute at different locations, but essentially, they are all creating a local, traditional beer. It is difficult to generalize and say that craft beers taste better than mass-produced American beers, but it is safe to say that craft beers will have a fuller, more robust taste as well as more specialty flavors.

INGREDIENTS

Beer is essentially composed of barley, hops, and yeast with the rest being water. These four ingredients, when combined, form the sweet, fermented flavor and color that is so important to a good beer. They also contribute to the thick white head of a poured beer.

BREW STYLES

You have probably heard the terms ale and lager. These are the two most general types of beer.

Ales are usually fermented quickly and end up with a sweet, full-bodied, fruity taste. Some types of ales are Belgian beers, bitters (which do not actually taste bitter), brown ales, pale ales, porters, stouts, strong ales and wheat beers. Each style has its own flavor and complexity. The only real way to figure out which one you prefer is to do a taste-test of differing styles.

Lagers on the other hand are more widely-produced, commercial-style beers. However, there are craft brewers who produce lagers. Examples of lagers are pilsners, bock beers, dark and pale lagers and Oktoberfest beers, each possessing a unique flavor profile.

Regardless of the style, certain types of beers will have the same characteristics. For example, wheat beers are usually fruity and effervescent, stouts and porters are dark and heavier than most, pale ales can be fruity and nutty with a bitter aftertaste, and pilsners are typically crisp and refreshing.

BEER TERMS

To become a true beer aficionado, you have to learn the lingo. Here are some terms to give you a common language with your savvy craft brew-drinking friends.

• Body: the sense of fullness or viscosity of the beer on your palate. Beer is usually described as being thin-, light-, medium-, or full-bodied.
• Complex: beer that involves multiple flavors and sensations on your palate.
• Crisp: effervescent and bubbly.
• Hoppy: having a bitter flavor of hops and a spicy aroma.
• Malty: sweet caramel-like flavors.
• Mouthfeel: sensations of warmth, carbonation, dryness, etc on your palate.
• Roasty/toasty: roasted grain (not burnt) flavors.

This is just the beginning of expanding your own craft beer savvy. The next step is learning about seasonal beers, how to buy beer and the right serving glass for your favorite brew.

Here are a few other resources:

BOOK: Beer For Dummies
BOOK: Michael Jackson's Great Beer Guide
BOOK: 500 Classic Brews