Beer Sip of Knowledge: Beer Styles

A beer style is a label given to a beer sometimes because of its origin (i.e. Pilsner and Oktoberfest), but mostly because it describes the character of the beer. The yeast that is used is the difference between whether the beer is an ale or lager. Ale yeast flocculate at the top of the fermentation tank generally at temperatures between 60-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Lager yeast flocculate at the bottom of the fermentation tank typically at 46-55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Within the ale and lager style there are at minimal 79 style categories according to the 2008 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidelines, and possible as many as 103 using the Beer Advocate style guidelines which includes more hybrid styles. For an example the BJCP separates the Pilsner style into three distinct style categories, German Pilsner (Pils), Bohemian Pilsner, and Classic American Pilsner.

Some of the popular ale styles include: Barley Wine, Bitter, Brown Ale, India Pale Ale, Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, Wheat Beer. Some of the popular lager styles include: Bock, Dunkel, Oktoberfest/Marzen, Pilsner.