How To Choose a Beer

Choosing a beer used to be simple. There were only a couple of brands. Today, you have your choice of dozens of beers from around the world, in many different styles or flavors. Understanding the types of beer can help you choose one that will fit the occasion and mood. Here’s how to choose beer:

1. Understand the lager category. A Lager or Pilsner beer is preferred by most American beer drinkers. Beers falling into this category include Coors, Miller, and Budweiser. A lager is a light beer with a yellow or golden color and a mild flavor. Light lagers are less filling, while dark lagers have a sweeter taste. Bock beer is an even darker type of lager.
2. Understand the ale category. There are four varieties of ale: stock, cream, brown, and stout. Stock includes Samuel Adams, and it is known for a flat taste. Cream ale is very light, with a bitter taste. Stout is bitter and dark. Brown ale is sweeter, and can have an alcohol content approaching ten percent.
3. Understand the malt liquor category. Malt liquor, a light beer, tastes a lot like lagers. Technically, malt liquor is any beer with an alcohol content over five percent, so there are both lagers and ales that fit into this category, though many people think of beer marked as malt liquor as a lager.
4. Know what you like. Taste is subjective. There is no one “right beer” for every person and occasion. Taste many different beers so that you know what you like. There are many different varieties, including fruity beers.
5. Ask for suggestions. Ask for beer recommendations from friends or servers, but remember that your tastes may be different from theirs. Asking for suggestions is particularly important if you are traveling and want to try a good local beer. Nearly every area of the world has a local brewery, but you’ll never know it unless you ask for a local beer.
6. Visit a store with a good selection. To buy the best beer, go to a store that carries a wide variety of different types and brands, not just your local corner market. Ideally, find the brand and style you want in a bottled variety; most people feel that bottled beer tastes better than beer in cans.
7. Pair your beer with your food. This is a relatively new idea, and its popularity is increasing as the choice of beers increases. Heavy beers should be matched with heavy foods, and light beers are paired with light foods. Light lagers are often paired with white fish, while an ale is well suited to heavy German foods. The idea is to choose a beer that will not overpower your food, but rather enhance it.
8. Enjoy! Sit back and enjoy your beer.

Next time you want to buy beer, don’t settle for the typical national brands just because you don’t know what else to choose. Instead, consider your likes and the occasion, and choose a beer that fits the setting and your tastes.