Beer Varieties & Types

Yeasts that ferment at relatively warmer temperatures, usually between 15-24 degrees Celsius, form a layer of foam on the surface of the fermenting beer, which is why they are referred to as top-fermenting yeasts.

Yeasts that ferment at considerably lower temperatures, below 10 degrees Celsius, have the ability of to process a chemical compound known as raffinose, a complex sugar created during fermentation. These yeasts collect at the bottom of the fermenting beer and are therefore referred to as bottom-fermenting yeast. The majority of beer in production today is fermented in this way and is called lager.


Two other types of beer styles include beer of spontaneous fermentation and beers of mixed origin. Beers of spontaneous fermentation are mainly produced in Belgium using wild strains of yeast. These types of beers are often referred to as Lambic.

Beers of mixed origin include Altbier and Kölsch.

Ale styles:

American Ales

  • American Amber / Red Ale
  • American Barleywine
  • American Black Ale
  • American Blonde Ale
  • American Brown Ale
  • American Dark Wheat Ale
  • American Double / Imperial IPA
  • American Double / Imperial Stout
  • American IPA
  • American Pale Ale (APA)
  • American Pale Wheat Ale
  • American Porter
  • American Stout
  • American Strong Ale
  • American Wild Ale
  • Black & Tan
  • Chile Beer
  • Cream Ale
  • Pumpkin Ale
  • Rye Beer
  • Wheatwine

Belgian / French Ales

  • Belgian Dark Ale
  • Belgian IPA
  • Belgian Pale Ale
  • Belgian Strong Dark Ale
  • Belgian Strong Pale Ale
  • Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
  • Bière de GardeDubbel
  • Faro
  • Flanders Oud Bruin
  • Flanders Red Ale
  • Gueuze
  • Lambic - Fruit
  • Lambic - Unblended
  • Quadrupel (Quad)
  • Saison / Farmhouse Ale
  • Tripel
  • Witbier
  • English Ales
  • Baltic Porter
  • Braggot

English

  • Barleywine
  • English Bitter
  • English Brown Ale
  • English Dark Mild Ale
  • English India Pale Ale (IPA)
  • English Pale Ale
  • English Pale Mild Ale
  • English Porter
  • English Stout
  • English Strong Ale
  • Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
  • Foreign / Export Stout
  • Milk / Sweet Stout
  • Oatmeal Stout
  • Old Ale
  • Russian Imperial Stout
  • Winter Warmer

Finnish

  • AlesSahti

German Ales

  • Altbier
  • Berliner Weissbier
  • Dunkelweizen
  • Gose
  • Hefeweizen
  • Kölsch
  • Kristalweizen
  • Roggenbier
  • Weizenbock

Irish Ales

  • Irish Dry Stout
  • Irish Red Ale

Russian Ales

  • Kvass

Scottish Ales

  • Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
  • Scottish Ale
  • Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale

Lager styles

American Lagers

  • American Adjunct Lager
  • American Amber / Red Lager
  • American Double / Imperial Pilsner
  • American Malt Liquor
  • American Pale Lager
  • California Common / Steam Beer
  • Light Lager
  • Low Alcohol Beer

Czech Lagers

  • Czech Pilsener

European Lagers

  • Euro Dark Lager
  • Euro Pale Lager
  • Euro Strong Lager


German Lagers

  • Bock
  • Doppelbock
  • Dortmunder / Export Lager
  • Eisbock
  • German Pilsener
  • Keller Bier / Zwickel Bier
  • Maibock / Helles Bock
  • Märzen / Oktoberfest
  • Munich Dunkel Lager
  • Munich Helles Lager
  • Rauchbier
  • Schwarzbier
  • Vienna Lager
  • Japanese Lagers
  • Happoshu
  • Japanese Rice Lager

Hybrid Styles

  • Fruit / Vegetable Beer
  • Herbed / Spiced Beer
  • Smoked Beer

 

Source: Beeradvocate.