List of beer styles

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Dunkel beer, a German dark lager Lemke dunkel beer in glass.jpg
Dunkel beer, a German dark lager

Beer style is a term used to differentiate and categorize beers by various factors, including appearance, flavour, ingredients, production method, history, or origin. The term beer style and the structuring of world beers into defined categories is largely based on work done by writer Michael James Jackson in his 1977 book The World Guide To Beer. [1] Fred Eckhardt furthered Jackson's work, publishing The Essentials of Beer Style in 1989.

Contents

There is no universally agreed list of beer styles, as different countries and organisations have different sets of criteria. Organisers of beer competitions such as the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Champion Beer of Britain, the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) local homebrewing competitions, the Brewers Association's World Beer Cup, and the Brewing Industry International Awards have categories in which beers are judged. The categories are varied and include processes or ingredients not usually regarded as defining beer styles in themselves, such as cask ale or gluten-free beer. [2] [3] [4]

Beer terms such as ale or lager cover a wide variety of beer styles, and are better thought of as broad categories of beer styles. A number of ethnic beers, such as chhaang and cauim, are generally not included on beer style groupings. [5]

Classic styles

Term Michael Jackson [6] Roger Protz [7] Brewers Association [8] CAMRA [9] BJCP [10]
Altbier Altbier [11] AltbierGerman-Style AltbierAltbier
Amber ale Amber ale [12] American-Style Amber/Red AleAmerican Amber Ale
Barley wine Barley wine [13] Barley wineBritish-Style Barley Wine Ale
American-Style Barley Wine Ale
Barley Wine [14] English Barleywine
American Barleywine
Berliner Weisse Berliner Weisse [15] Berliner WeisseBerliner-Style WeisseBerliner Weisse
Bière de Garde Bière de Garde [16] Bière de gardeFrench-Style Bière de GardeBière de Garde
Bitter Bitter [17] BitterOrdinary Bitter
Special or Best Bitter
Extra Special Bitter
Bitter [18] Ordinary Bitter
Best Bitter
Strong Bitter
Blonde Ale Golden or Blonde Ale
Belgian-Style Blonde Ale
Blonde Ale
Bock Bok, Bock [19] BockTraditional German-Style BockHelles Bock/Dunkles Bock
Brown ale Brown Ale [20] [21] Brown aleEnglish-Style Brown Ale
American-Style Brown Ale
British Brown Ale
American Brown Ale
London Brown Ale (Historical)
California Common/Steam Beer Steam beer [22] Steam beerCalifornia Common BeerCalifornia Common
Cream Ale Cream Ale [23] American-Style Cream AleCream Ale
Dortmunder Export Export [24] Dortmunder ExportDortmunder/European-Style ExportGerman Helles Exportbier
Doppelbock Doppelbock / "Double" bock [25] DoppelbockGerman-Style DoppelbockDoppelbock
Dunkel Dunkel/Dunkles [26] DunkelMünchner Dunkel
European-Style Dark Lager
Munich Dunkel
Dunkelweizen Dunkel Weizen [27] South German-Style Dunkel WeizenDunkles Weissbier
Eisbock Eisbock [28] German-Style EisbockEisbock
Flanders red ale Red beers [29] Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red AleFlanders Red Ale
Golden/Summer ale English-Style Summer Ale
Golden or Blonde Ale
Golden Ales [30] British Golden Ale
Gose Leipzig-Style Gose
Contemporary Gose
Gose (Historical)
Gueuze Gueuze [31] GueuzeBelgian-Style Gueuze LambicGueuze
Hefeweizen HefeweizenSouth German-Style Hefeweizen
Helles Hell [32] HellesMünchner (Munich)-Style HellesMunich Helles
India pale ale India Pale Ale (IPA) [33] India Pale Ales (IPA)English-Style India Pale Ale
American-Style India Pale Ale
Session India Pale Ale
Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale [34]

English IPA
American IPA
Specialty IPA
Double IPA

New England IPA

Triple IPA

Kölsch Kolsch [35] KölschGerman-Style KölschKölsch
Lambic Lambic [36] [37] LambicBelgian-Style Lambic
Belgian-Style Fruit Lambic
Lambic
Fruit Lambic
Light ale Light Ale [38] Light Bitters [39]
Maibock/Helles bock Maibock [40] MaibockGerman-Style Heller Bock/MaibockHelles Bock
Malt liquor Malt Liquor [41] American-Style Malt Liquor
Mild Mild [42] Mild aleEnglish-Style Pale Mild Ale
English-Style Dark Mild Ale
Mild [43] Dark Mild
Oktoberfestbier/Märzenbier Marzen [44] Oktoberfest beersGerman-Style Maerzen
German-Style Oktoberfest/Wiesn
Festbier
Märzen
Old ale Old (Ale) [45] Old aleOld AleOld Ale [46] Old Ale
Oud bruin Brown Beers [21] Oud bruinBelgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red AleOud Bruin
Pale ale Pale Ale [47] Pale aleClassic English-Style Pale Ale
American-Style Pale Ale
American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Belgian-Style Pale Ale
Australian-Style Pale Ale
International-Style Pale Ale
Pale Ale [34] American Pale Ale
Belgian Pale Ale
Pilsener/Pilsner/Pils Pilsener/Pilsner/Pils [48] PilsnerGerman-Style Pilsener
Bohemian-Style Pilsener
American-Style Pilsener
International-Style Pilsener
American Lager
International Pale Lager
Czech Pale Lager
Czech Premium Pale Lager
German Pils
Porter Porter [49] PorterBrown Porter
Robust Porter
American-Style Imperial Porter
Smoke Porter
Baltic-Style Porter
Porter [50] Baltic Porter
English Porter
American Porter
Pre-Prohibition Porter (Historical)
Red ale Irish-Style Red Ale
American-Style Amber/Red Ale
Double Red Ale
Imperial Red Ale
Irish Red Ale
Roggenbier German-Style Rye AleRoggenbier (Historical)
Saison Saison [51] SaisonClassic French & Belgian-Style Saison
Specialty Saison
Saison
Scotch ale Scotch Ale [52] Scotch aleScotch AleScottish Beers [53] Wee Heavy
Stout Sweet Stout [54]
Dry Stout [54]
Imperial Stout [54]
StoutSweet Stout or Cream Stout
Oatmeal Stout
British-Style Imperial Stout
Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout
Export-Style Stout
American-Style Stout
American-Style Imperial Stout
Stout [50] Irish Stout
Irish Extra Stout
Sweet Stout
Oatmeal Stout
Tropical Stout
Foreign Extra Stout
American Stout
Imperial Stout
Schwarzbier Schwarzbier [55] German-Style SchwarzbierSchwarzbier
Vienna lager Vienna [56] Vienna-Style LagerVienna Lager
Witbier Witbier [57] Belgian-Style WitbierWitbier
Weissbier Weisse/Weissbier, Weizenbier [27] South German-Style Kristallweizen
German-Style Leichtes Weizen
South German-Style Bernsteinfarbenes Weizen
Weissbier
Weizenbock Weizenbock [27] South German-Style WeizenbockWeizenbock

Hybrid and specialty styles

TermBrewers Association [8] BJCP [10]
Fruit beer

American-Style Fruit Beer
Fruit Wheat Beer
Belgian-Style Fruit Beer

Fruit Beer
Fruit and Spice Beer
Specialty Fruit Beer

Herb and spiced beer

Chili Pepper Beer
Chocolate or Cocoa Beer
Coffee Beer
Herb and Spice Beer

Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
Autumn Seasonal Beer
Winter Seasonal Beer

Honey beer Specialty Honey BeerAlternative sugar beer
Rye Beer Rye BeerAlternative grain beer
Smoked beer Smoke BeerClassic Style Smoked Beer
Specialty Smoked Beer
Vegetable beer

Field Beer
Pumpkin Spice Beer
Pumpkin/Squash Beer

Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
Wild beer

Brett Beer
Mixed-Culture Brett Beer
Wild Beer

Brett Beer
Mixed-Fermentation Sour Beer
Wild Specialty Beer

Wood-aged beer Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Pale to Amber Beer
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Dark Beer
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Wood-Aged Beer
Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

Origin

An alternative approach is to categorize beers by the country or region from which they originated. Both the Brewers Association and the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) group their beer styles in this way. Beers that originated in a particular country or region may be subsequently produced in other countries, e.g. British style ales are now brewed in North America.

Country or RegionBrewers Association [8] BJCP [10]
Great BritainBritish Origin Ale StylesBritish Bitter
Brown British Beer
Scottish Ale
Dark British Beer
Strong British Ale
IrelandIrish Origin Ale StylesIrish Beer
North AmericaNorth American Origin Ale Styles
North American Origin Lager Styles
Standard American Beer
Pale American Ale
Amber and Brown American Ale
American Porter and Stout
Strong American Ale
American Wild Ale
BelgiumBelgian and French Origin Ale StylesBelgian Ale
Strong Belgian Ale
Czech RepublicCzech Lager
FranceBelgian and French Origin Ale Styles
GermanyGerman Origin Ale Styles
European-Germanic Origin Lager Styles
German Wheat Beer
EuropePale Malty European Lager
Pale Bitter European Lager
Amber Malty European Lager
Amber Bitter European Lager
Dark European Lager
Strong European Beer
European Sour Ale
OtherOther Origin Ale Styles
Other Origin Lager Styles
International Lager
Pale Commonwealth Beer

Other fermented drinks based on cereals

A number of ethnic beers or other fermented drinks based on cereals are generally not included on beer style groupings. [5] They are included here for completeness.

See also

References

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  2. "Brewing Awards – Welcome to Brewing Awards". www.brewingawards.org. Archived from the original on 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  3. "World Beer Cup – Competition Info". www.beertown.org. Archived from the original on 2006-05-16. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  4. "BJCP 2008 Style Guidelines – Category 21". www.bjcp.org. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  5. 1 2 "Ethnic Beer Focus". thedrinksbusiness.com. 26 Nov 2010.
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  7. The Taste of Beer: A Guide to Appreciating the Great Beers of the World, Roger Protz, Orion Books Limited, 1998 ISBN   0-7538-0725-4
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  16. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Biere de Garde". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
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  20. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Brown Ale". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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  22. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Steam Beer". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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  32. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Hell". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  33. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: India Pale Ale (IPA)". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  34. 1 2 "Pale Ale or IPA – CAMRA". www.camra.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
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  44. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Marzen". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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  48. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Pilsener/Pilsner/Pils". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  49. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Porter". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  50. 1 2 "Porter & Stout – CAMRA". www.camra.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  51. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Saison". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  52. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Scotch Ale". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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  55. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Schwarzbier". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  56. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Beer Styles: Vienna". www.beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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  58. "2015 Mead Style Guidelines" (PDF). www.bjcp.org. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
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Bibliography