Beer Style Guide Info Taken from BeerTutor.com
American Amber/Red Ales:
Amber to coppery-brown in color and usually clear, although dry-hopped versions may be slightly hazy. Medium to high hop and malt flavors. The malts may be sweet, often with a caramel flavor. Malts and hops are usually well balanced. Amber ales are somewhat similar to American pale ales with more body, more caramel richness, and a balance more towards malt than hops (although hop rates can be significant). This style of beer, sometimes called "Red Ales" was created on the west coast of the United States and is now commonly found across the country. The ABV is usually between 4.5-6% and IBUs range between 25-40.
Blonde Ale:
Also known as a Golden Ale, these beers are often referred to as a starter ale for those new to craft brewing because it is the closest style to a lager in the ale family. They are light yellow to deep gold in color and are clear. Overall flavor is subdued (by comparison to other ales) and usually has a mild malt sweetness. Malts can also provide a mild biscuity or toasty flavor. Low to medium hop flavor and bitterness. Overall this is a lawnmower beer that is most commonly found in American brewpubs, although English Summer Ales and other beers also fit in this category. ABV is typically between 4-6% and IBUs between 15-25.
Hefeweizen:
Hefe means "with yeast" and weizen means "wheat". A Hefeweizen is an unfiltered German wheat beer that is pale straw to dark gold in color. These beers are cloudy because of the yeast and the high protein content of the wheat due to not being filtered. Hefeweizens have banana and clove esters that come from special yeast. They can optionally have a vanilla and/or bubblegum flavor. These flavors are accompanied by a bready wheat taste and some pilsner malt. Hop taste and bitterness are very low. These beers are medium bodied with high carbonation. They are easy to drink and a summer favorite. Alcohol is usually between 4.5-6.2%, although some new "Imperial" versions of the style are much higher. IBUs are usually between 8 and 15. These beers do not age well.
India Pale Ale (IPA):
The creation of India Pale Ale (IPA) during the 1790s was the result of tremendous efforts by British brewers to overcome a difficult problem. During the 1700s beer did not keep well on long ocean voyages, especially into hot climates. These hot environments resulted in the arrival of flat, sour beer. The high hopping and alcohol of IPAs solved this problem. American versions of this style tend to be bolder, stronger, and hoppier. Color is from golden amber to light copper, usually with an orange tint. Malts are used to balance the hops and may have a mild sweet flavor in American varieties. In English versions, malts may have a biscuity or toasty flavor. ABV ranges from 5-7.6% and IBUs from 40-60+.
Kolsch:
This style hales from Cologne (Koln), Germany and is also the word for a dialect of German spoken there. In 1986 the Kolsch Konvention was signed into law by 24 brewers and the German government in order to protect the name "Kolsch" and only allow beer brewed in Cologne to use this label. The document was developed by The Cologne Brewing Organizaton (Kölner Brauerei Verband). Kolsch beers are often mistaken for a Blonde Ale, Pale Lager, or Pilsner due to their appearance and flavor. They are pale to light gold in color with medium carbonation. Malt flavor is typically low and medium hop bitterness. Some subtle fruity flavors may be present and the finish is typically dry which can make the beer seem more bitter. Alcohol usually ranges from 4-6% and IBUs from 20-30.
Pale Ale:
Pale golden to deep amber in color and usually clear, although dry-hopped versions may be slightly hazy. APAs tend to have a moderate to high hop flavor, often showing a citrusy American hop character. Low to medium-high clean malt character (not sweet) which may be bready, toasty, biscuity. The balance is typically towards the late hops and bitterness, but the malt presence can be substantial. Moderate to high hop bitterness with a medium to dry finish. Carbonation is usually on the higher end. American pale ales are a derivative of English pale ales, however, they use local ingredients (such as American hops) which makes the difference in flavor. The ABV usually falls between 4.5-6% and the IBUs are typically around 30-45+.
Pale Lager:
This style is the most popular in the world and includes mass produced giants like Budweiser, Heineken, Carlsberg, Coors, Miller, etc. The BJCP distinguishes between light and standard versions, however, they are so similar that we have lumped them together. Light/Pale lagers are light straw to medium yellow in color due to the use of cereals such as rice or corn as adjuncts. The flavor of this style should be mild or non-existent with very little (if any) in the way of hop bitterness/flavor or malt flavor, although sometimes they are all-malt. They typically have a crisp, clean flavor with medium-high levels of artificial carbonation. These beers are designed to be refreshing with no fruit flavors. Light/Pale Lagers are typically lower in carbohydrates and calories than other styles and the alcohol usually ranges between 4%-6%.
Vienna Lager:
Named because of its origins in Vienna, Austria where it is rarely found, this style has remained popular in Mexico since the 1800s. Viennas are amber red to copper in color. Flavor is composed of mild malt taste with some toasted (not roasted) flavor from the Vienna malts. Dry finish with hop bitterness. This style usually has moderate carbonation and a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Bitterness is usually between 18-30 IBUs and ABV is 4.5%-5.7%.
Wheat Ale:
These beers are like an American version of a German Hefeweizen. They are usually pale yellow to gold, although there are some dark versions out there. Typically, they will look much like a Hefeweizen. American Wheat ales typically use a hefty amount of wheat which gives a fairly strong wheat flavor. They have a low to moderate hop bitterness and hop flavor is typically on the low end, usually giving off a citrus flavor. Despite often having "Hefeweizen" in their name, these beers lack the banana and clove flavors of a Hefeweizen and have much higher carbonation. American Wheat ales are often served with a lemon wedge. The ABV is typically between 4-6.5 and IBUs between 15-30. These beers do not age well.
