Quaffable beer tips
These days beer comes in a dizzying selection of flavours, in an equally diverse array of cans and bottles that bear labels with amazingly creative artwork. From large producers to microbreweries, there’s a flavoured beer to appeal to almost anyone.
For our recipes, we’ve provided our best recommendations based on the recipes, although there’s never just one truly perfect match. Here’s a layperson’s guide to flavours in a widely diverse selection. Let your own beer bias prevail!
IPA stands for India pale ale and is understood to be one of the first brews of the “craft” beer movement. There are many flavours in the IPA grouping, ranging from citrus high notes to hoppy and bitter overtones. Given the immense variety, a flight of IPAs covering a citrus note, hoppy tone, and herbal flavour would be the best way to cover all ranges of taste buds.
Lager is mild and easy to quaff for the beginner in the crowd. It’s a great bevvy for any grilled or chilled recipe. A honey-flavoured lager is an especially easy sipper. Pilsners fall into this grouping.
Pale ale, not to be confused with India pale ale, is blonde in colour and has light alcohol content with a hit of malt.
Stout is a dark and heavier brew stemming from unfermented sugars. Typically sweet overtones, roasted, and somewhat creamy on the tongue. Some brews come with hints of espresso and dark chocolate.
Porter is much like stout but with a greater suggestion of chocolate overtones.
Belgian beers cover the gamut from light to dark and hoppy to citrusy with an enhanced alcohol content.
Wheat beer, like the grain, is light in colour and in alcohol content—perfect for a summer day.
Sour beer is, as it’s called, “sour” as well as tart—perfect for someone with super discerning taste buds.