When placing an order for refreshments or simply when exploring new styles of beer, it can come as a surprise to learn how many options a beer supplier can offer. Beer styles differ in a wide variety of ways, including their methods of preparation and storage, ingredients, and the flavor profiles they offer. 

What Are Some Common Beer Styles?

1. Lager

First brewed in Germany in the Medieval era, lager is one of the most common styles of beer, made with bottom-fermenting yeast with a low tolerance to alcohol. Brewed at low temperatures to preserve as much carbon dioxide as possible, the resulting beverage is typically light, crisp, fizzy, mild-flavored, and low in alcohol content. Lager pairs particularly well with food, such as freshly grilled chicken or fish.

2. IPA

India pale ales, or IPAs, are a group of ales, or beer brewed using a warm fermentation technique. IPAs typically have an alcohol by volume (ABV) level of 5% to 7%, full-bodied and fruity flavors, and a slightly bitter aftertaste. Originally used to describe a style of beer exported to British India, today beer suppliers offer a wide array of unique IPA styles, including East and West Coast, English, and session IPAs.

3. Stout

Stouts are a class of ales characterized by a dark brown or even black color and sweet or bitter flavor profiles, depending on their region of origin. They get this color due to the higher temperatures at which the grains used to brew them are roasted. In general, stouts originating in Ireland or the United Kingdom tend to be sweet and smooth, while American-style stouts are hoppier and slightly bitter.

4. Sour

“Sour beer” is an umbrella term covering everything from Belgian oud bruin and Lambic beers and Flanders red ale to Berliner Weisse and American wild ale. The one feature they have in common is a highly tart, sour taste derived from the presence of lactic acid produced by beneficial bacteria during the brewing process. Many sours are blended with fruit flavors, such as cherry or raspberry, to make them more palatable and refreshing.

5. Wheat

Wheat beers are those in which a substantial portion of the mash, or the mixture of grains prepared at the beginning of the brewing process, is made up of wheat. These tend to have a lower alcohol content than other styles and are often hazy and golden in color, with a fuller mouthfeel. Many people find wheat beer an inviting choice of drink when paired with a slice of citrus fruit on warm days.

When you’re ready to start exploring new varieties of beer, visit Classic Brands — Budweiser in Chillicothe, OH. Since 1948, this locally owned beer supplier has offered an extensive selection of satisfying beers of all styles, with delivery to customers throughout Ross, Pike, Pickaway, Highland, Fayette, and other communities. Visit them online for more information or call (740) 774-2831 to place an order today.