Comments on: 5 Types of Beer to Have in Your Cooler or Fridge http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:02:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Greg http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/comment-page-1/#comment-28579 Greg Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:24:17 +0000 http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/#comment-28579 Actually not a good guide at all. The first two items on the list encompass the entire rest of the list since all beer is either an ale or lager. Furthermore Stouts and Porters are extremely similar styles since Porters are actually an offshoot of Stouts with a slightly more specific taste, however most of them derive their flavors from the same darker malts. A better list would be more like this: 1. Witbier - The lightest in color of all beers. Taste is extremely different from the American Adjunct Lagers that are so popular in America (Miller, Coors, Bud, any other beer you've seen on TV except Sam Adams). These beers are brewed with wheat in addition to the traditional barley and flavored with orange and coriander giving it an extremely light and distinct taste. These beers are very easy for someone who has never really enjoyed beer before to start getting into quality craft brews. They're also distinct in that they are unfiltered and appear cloudy compared to other beers. It opens up a ton of new varieties in taste when you try your first Witbier. Witbiers are Ales meaning they are brewed with top fermenting yeasts at warmer temperatures and should be stored and enjoyed between 50 and 55 degrees. Recommended: Hoegaarden, St. Bernardus 2. IPAs - While the style is hit and miss with many people it remains one of the most popular styles, and if you don't know this style you won't get very far in beer conversation. Furthermore it is a great way to start learning the difference between the two main flavors in a beer: hops and malt. Hops provide the bitterness and malt the sweetness. An IPA is amongst the hoppiest of beers and trying one will help you more deeply understand the differences between beers. IPAs are also ales and should be stored and enjoyed around the same temperature as a Witbier, perhaps a few degrees cooler. Recommended: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 3. Stouts - A stout is more the opposite side of a beer to an IPA. A stout is the maltiest and darkest of ales. This brew opens up a lot of exciting possibilities a non-beer-drinker has never ventured into before. Stouts are often flavored with malts that don't exist in other styles such as caramel, coffee and even chocolate. You can't say you love beer if you haven't tried at least a few different Stouts. Serve and store between 40 and 50 degrees. Recommended: Guinness, Sam Adams Imperial Stout 4. Pilsner - A Pilsner is the Lagers take on a hoppy beer. It tastes very different from an IPA, but still focuses primarily on the hop flavors. They also tend to add a bit of a citrus zest and they are an excellent way to get acquainted with the hoppy side of lagers. Serve and store between 50 and 55 degrees. Recommended: Pilsner Urquell, Victory Prima Pils 5. Bock - A Bock is the lager equivalent to a Stout and often includes the same types of malt, however they can range anywhere from black to a pale brown color. These are generally the darkest and maltiest of lagers, but often tend to have a smoother taste than a Stout and should be enjoyed between 45 and 50 degrees. Recommended: Troegenator, Sam Adams Winter Lager Actually not a good guide at all. The first two items on the list encompass the entire rest of the list since all beer is either an ale or lager. Furthermore Stouts and Porters are extremely similar styles since Porters are actually an offshoot of Stouts with a slightly more specific taste, however most of them derive their flavors from the same darker malts. A better list would be more like this:

1. Witbier – The lightest in color of all beers. Taste is extremely different from the American Adjunct Lagers that are so popular in America (Miller, Coors, Bud, any other beer you’ve seen on TV except Sam Adams). These beers are brewed with wheat in addition to the traditional barley and flavored with orange and coriander giving it an extremely light and distinct taste. These beers are very easy for someone who has never really enjoyed beer before to start getting into quality craft brews. They’re also distinct in that they are unfiltered and appear cloudy compared to other beers. It opens up a ton of new varieties in taste when you try your first Witbier. Witbiers are Ales meaning they are brewed with top fermenting yeasts at warmer temperatures and should be stored and enjoyed between 50 and 55 degrees.

Recommended: Hoegaarden, St. Bernardus

2. IPAs – While the style is hit and miss with many people it remains one of the most popular styles, and if you don’t know this style you won’t get very far in beer conversation. Furthermore it is a great way to start learning the difference between the two main flavors in a beer: hops and malt. Hops provide the bitterness and malt the sweetness. An IPA is amongst the hoppiest of beers and trying one will help you more deeply understand the differences between beers. IPAs are also ales and should be stored and enjoyed around the same temperature as a Witbier, perhaps a few degrees cooler.

Recommended: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

3. Stouts – A stout is more the opposite side of a beer to an IPA. A stout is the maltiest and darkest of ales. This brew opens up a lot of exciting possibilities a non-beer-drinker has never ventured into before. Stouts are often flavored with malts that don’t exist in other styles such as caramel, coffee and even chocolate. You can’t say you love beer if you haven’t tried at least a few different Stouts. Serve and store between 40 and 50 degrees.

Recommended: Guinness, Sam Adams Imperial Stout

4. Pilsner – A Pilsner is the Lagers take on a hoppy beer. It tastes very different from an IPA, but still focuses primarily on the hop flavors. They also tend to add a bit of a citrus zest and they are an excellent way to get acquainted with the hoppy side of lagers. Serve and store between 50 and 55 degrees.

Recommended: Pilsner Urquell, Victory Prima Pils

5. Bock – A Bock is the lager equivalent to a Stout and often includes the same types of malt, however they can range anywhere from black to a pale brown color. These are generally the darkest and maltiest of lagers, but often tend to have a smoother taste than a Stout and should be enjoyed between 45 and 50 degrees.

Recommended: Troegenator, Sam Adams Winter Lager

]]> By: The Guy http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/comment-page-1/#comment-22662 The Guy Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:18:29 +0000 http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/#comment-22662 I agree with the last two post. The article while good is misleading since there are only two types of beers: ales and lagers. Pilsners are lagers and everything else in the article are ales but other than this, I thought it was a good article! I agree with the last two post.

The article while good is misleading since there are only two types of beers: ales and lagers.

Pilsners are lagers and everything else in the article are ales but other than this, I thought it was a good article!

]]> By: Kyle http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/comment-page-1/#comment-13913 Kyle Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:29:58 +0000 http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/#comment-13913 As a home brewer I have to agree with justonemore. Pilsners are Lagers and the rest are ale's As a home brewer I have to agree with justonemore. Pilsners are Lagers and the rest are ale’s

]]> By: justonemore http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/comment-page-1/#comment-6033 justonemore Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:44:27 +0000 http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/#comment-6033 Generally good info, but I think the classifications are misleading. It's not really 5 types here. The porters and stouts are ales, and the pilsners are lagers. So, there are only two catagories that all beer falls into. I would suggest changing the "ales" catagory to pale ales, American pale ales, or India pale ales, for example. Same for the lagers: the light yucky ones that the huge American brewers make, like the mentioned Bud and Coors, or some of the dark lagers from Germany (dunkel), for instance. Or, for a "type", how 'bout fruit beers, or Belgians, or cream ales (a hybrid). The list is endless. Jeeez, so many beers, so little time... Generally good info, but I think the classifications are misleading. It’s not really 5 types here. The porters and stouts are ales, and the pilsners are lagers. So, there are only two catagories that all beer falls into. I would suggest changing the “ales” catagory to pale ales, American pale ales, or India pale ales, for example. Same for the lagers: the light yucky ones that the huge American brewers make, like the mentioned Bud and Coors, or some of the dark lagers from Germany (dunkel), for instance. Or, for a “type”, how ’bout fruit beers, or Belgians, or cream ales (a hybrid). The list is endless. Jeeez, so many beers, so little time…

]]> By: beertard http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4268 beertard Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:43:00 +0000 http://www.ploomy.com/2008/09/08/5-types-of-beer-to-have-in-your-cooler-or-fridge/#comment-4268 Awesome list. this is a great help for those like me that like to drink beer, but don't know anything about it. now i'll be slightly less of a dumass when it comes to know what beer i might want. Awesome list. this is a great help for those like me that like to drink beer, but don’t know anything about it. now i’ll be slightly less of a dumass when it comes to know what beer i might want.

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