Different Types of Beer

American Lager

American lager is light in flavor, color, and alcohol content, and is often produced in large quantities.
ABV: 3.2-4.0%
IBU: 5-15

Budweiser, Coors, Pabst Blue Ribbon

American cuisine, spicy food

30-40 F

German Helles

German helles is maltier than a traditional pilsner and features a bright gold color.
ABV: 4.8-5.6%
IBU:18-25

Victory Helles Lager, Stoudt's Gold Lager

German cuisine, pork, brie

40-45 F

German Pilsner

German pilsner is pale gold in color with a medium hop flavor and a slight note of maltiness.
ABV: 4.6-5.3%
IBU: 25-40

Tröegs Sunshine Pils, Bavaria, Sierra Nevada's Nooner Pilsner

German cuisine, poultry, fish, spicy cheese

40-45 F

Czech or Bohemian Pilsner

Czech or bohemian pilsner is a straw colored beer with a noticeably bitter hop flavor. These beers can sometimes have a floral aroma.
ABV: 4.1-5.1%
IBU: 30-45

Lagunita's PILS, Dogfish Head's Piercing Pils

Spicy food, Asian cuisine, sharp cheddar cheese

40-45 F

Amber American Lager

Amber lager features prevalent malt flavors with varying levels of hoppiness. This beer is also characterized by a darker color, caramel aroma, and smooth taste.
ABV: 4.8-5.4%
IBU: 18-30

Yuengling Lager, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Tröegs Nugget Nectar

American cuisine, poultry and beef, cheddar

45-50 F

Oktoberfest

Named for the celebration in Munich, Oktoberfest is a full-bodied beer with a rich, toasted flavor and a dark copper color.
ABV: 5.1-6.0%
IBU: 18-25

Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen, Victory Brewing Company's Festbier

German cuisine, meat and vegetables, spicy cheese

45-50 F

German Schwarzbier

Schwarzbier is a dark beer that is surprisingly lighter in flavor. Schwarzbiers are less malty than would be expected, but still boast a slight sweetness.
ABV: 3.8-4.9%
IBU: 22-30

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Guinness Black Lager

German cuisine, spicy food, muenster cheese

40-45 F

Vienna Lager

Vienna lager is reddish in color with a sweet malty flavor. These beers boast a subtle hop flavor and crisp drinkability.
ABV: 4.5-5.5%
IBU: 22-28

Dos Equis Amber Lager, Great Lakes Eliot Ness, Blue Point Toasted Lager

German cuisine, Mexican cuisine, pork, spicy cheese

40-45 F

Traditional Bock

The bock is a malty, sweet beer with a toasty flavor and a dark copper color.
ABV: 6.3-7.5%
IBU: 20-30

Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Great Lakes Rockefeller Bock

German cuisine, meat and vegetables, chocolate, Camembert cheese

40-45 F

Doppelbock

Doppelbocks are stronger than the traditional style and boast a higher alcohol content and a fuller body.
ABV: 6.6-7.9%
IBU: 17-27

Tröegs Troegenator Double Bock, Samuel Adams Double Bock, Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock

Heavy foods like red meat, pork, or ham, and sharp cheeses

40-45 F

Weizenbock

Weizenbocks are wheat bocks and can take on fruity, malty flavors.
ABV:7.0-9.5%
IBU:15-35

Victory Brewing Company's Moonglow, Southern Tier Brewing Company's Goat Boy

German cuisine, meat and poultry, chocolate

40-45 F

Maibock

Maibocks are more pale and hoppy than traditional bocks, although the malt flavor is still present.
ABV: 6.0-8.0%
IBV: 20-38

Capital Maibock, Hofbräu Maibock, Smuttynose Maibock

Italian and German cuisines, fish and shellfish, asiago and swiss cheese

45-50 F

American Brown Ale

American brown ale is a dark beer without the bitterness of porters and stouts. This style boasts a dark caramel color and a medium to full-bodied profile.
ABV: 4.2-6.3%
IBU: 25-45

Brooklyn Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown

American cuisine, heavy foods like beef stew, red meat

45-50 F

English Brown Ale

English brown ale features a nutty malt flavor with a caramel aroma.
ABV: 4.0-5.5%
IBU: 15-25

Newcastle Brown Ale, City Star Brewing's Bandit Brown

American cuisine, heavy foods, red meat, poultry, gouda cheese

40-45 F

American Amber Ale

American amber ale is a malty, medium-bodied beer with a caramel flavor and amber color.
ABV: 4.4-6.1%
IBU: 25-45

Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, Stone Brewing Company's Levitation Ale

American cuisine, meat, fish, bleu cheese

40-45 F

American Pale Ale

American pale ale is a medium-bodied beer with a noticable hop flavor and a light copper color.
ABV: 4.4-5.4%
IBU: 30-50

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Pale Ale, Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

Fish and seafood, poultry, cheddar cheese

40-45 F

Blonde Ale

Blonde ales balance the flavors of malt and hops nicely, and they often have a fruity aroma.
ABV: 4.1-5.1%
IBU: 15-25

Victory Brewing Company's Summer Love, Flying Fish Brewing Company's Farmhouse Summer Ale

Italian cuisine, spicy food, fish, pepper jack cheese

35-40 F

English Bitter

English bitters are named for the bitter flavor that the hops present. They have fruity flavors and lower alcohol content.
ABV: 3.0-4.2%
IBU: 20-35

Sharp's Brewery's Doom Bar Bitter, Surly Brewing Company's Bitter Brewer

Fried food, fish, feta cheese

45-50 F

English Pale Ale

Also known as "extra special bitters," English pale ales have a strong hop flavor that is balanced by sweet malt.
ABV: 4.5-5.5%
IBU: 20-40

Black Sheep Ale, Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale

American and English cuisines, meat, and English cheeses

40-45 F

American IPA

American IPAs have more hops, big herbal or citrus flavors, and high bitterness compared to pale ale.
ABV: 6.3-7.5%
IBU: 50-70

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Lagunitas IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Torpedo Extra IPA

American and Indian cuisines, meat, poultry, fish, and gorgonzola cheese

40-45 F

Imperial or Double IPA

Imperial or Double IPAs are American IPAs, but with a stronger flavor, hop bitterness, and a higher alcohol content.
ABV: 7.0-14.0%
IBU: 65-100

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Elder, Lagunitas Brewing Company's Maximus

American cuisine, meat, fish, and sharp cheddar

45-50 F

English IPA

English IPAs are similar to the American style, but with a weaker hop flavor and lower alcohol content.
ABV: 5.0-7.0%
IBU: 35-63

Goose Island India Pale Ale, Shipyard IPA, Samuel Smith’s India Ale

American and Indian cuisines, fish, and parmesan cheese

40-45 F

American Imperial Porter

American imperial porters are dark in color, but lacking in burnt malt taste. They also boast a malty sweetness that goes well with chocolate and coffee.
ABV: 7.0-12.0%
IBU: 35-50

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Porter, Stone Smoked Porter

American cuisine, barbecue, meat, and asiago cheese

40-45 F

English Brown Porter

English brown porter is a dark beer that's similar to the American style, but usually with a lower alcohol content and less malt sweetness.
ABV: 4.5-6.0%
IBU: 20-30

Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, Arcadia Brewing Company's Arcadia London Porter

American and English cuisines, meat, chocolate, and fontina cheese

50-55 F

Robust Porter

Robust porters are stronger and more bitter than a brown porter with a rich dark color and a subtle caramel flavor.
ABV: 5.1-6.6%
IBU: 25-40

Smuttynose Robust Porter, Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter

American and English cuisines, heavy foods like stew and beef, and colby cheese

40-45 F

American Stout

American stouts are dark beers that feature malt flavors working to create strong chocolate and coffee notes, but without overpowering hop bitterness.
ABV: 5.7-8.9%
IBU: 35-60

Highland Black Mocha Stout, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Dogfish Head Brewery's Chicory Stout

Heavy foods, meat, oysters, chocolate, and brie cheese

45-50 F

American Imperial Stout

American imperial stouts are strong dark beers with a malty flavor and a deep black color.
ABV: 7.0-12.0%
IBU: 50-80

Dogfish Head Brewery's Worldwide Stout, Stoudts Fat Dog Imperial Stout, Bell's Java Stout

Heavy foods, poultry, aged cheddar

45-50 F

Oatmeal Stout

As their name suggests, oatmeal stouts feature oatmeal in their malt blend. This adds smoothness and sweetness to the beer.
ABV: 3.8-6.0%
IBU: 20-40

Young's Oatmeal Stout, Rogue Ales' Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout, Tröegs Java Head Stout

Meat, shellfish, chocolate, camembert cheese

50-55 F

Milk Stout

Lactose sugar adds a sweet caramel or chocolate flavor to milk stouts.
ABV: 4.0-7.0%
IBU: 15-25

Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Lancaster Brewing Company's Milk Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout

Mexican cuisine, beef, chocolate, ice cream, and cheddar or goat cheese

50-55 F

Irish Dry Stout

Irish dry stouts are dark beers; black in color with a bitterness that comes from roasted barley.
ABV: 3.8-5.0%
IBU: 30-40

Guinness Draught, Murphy's Irish Stout, Beamish Irish Stout

Heavy food like beef and stew, barbecue, burgers

45-50 F

Belgian Pale Ale

Belgian pale ale contains a toasted malt flavor that is subtle enough to not overpower the taste of the hops.
ABV: 4.0-6.0%
IBU: 20-30

Leffe Blonde, Weyerbacher Brewing Company's Verboten, Samuel Adams Belgian Session

American cuisine, fried food, fish, salad, and tangy cheeses

45-50 F

Belgian Dubbel

Belgian dubbels feature rich and malty flavor with a spicy, fruity note.
ABV: 6.3-7.6%
IBU: 20-35

Chimay Premiere, Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale, Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel

American cuisine, barbecue, meat, and Limburger cheese

50-55 F

Belgian Tripel

Belgian trippels are lighter-bodied beers with a slight hoppy bitterness and a high alcohol content.
ABV: 7.1-10.1%
IBU: 20-45

Victory Brewing Company's Golden Monkey, Weyerbacher Brewing Company's Merry Monks

Pasta dishes, meat, poultry, gouda cheese

45-50 F

Belgian Quadrupel

Belgian quadrupels are dark brown, full-bodied beers that exhibit flavors like brown sugar and fruit. They also have a very high alcohol content.
ABV: 7.2-11.2%
IBU: 25-50

Weyerbacher Brewing Company's QUAD, Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers

Smoked meat, goose, brie cheese

50-55 F

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Belgian strong dark ale features a very high alcohol content with complex fruity flavors.
ABV: 7.0-15.0%
IBU: 20-50

Tröegs Mad Elf, Bell's Brewery's Hell Hath No Fury Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery's Raison D'Être

American cuisine, barbecue, blue cheese

45-50 F

Belgian Saison

Saisons (also known as farmhouse ales) have earthy notes and a medium hop flavor.
ABV: 4.4-6.8%
IBU: 20-38

Samuel Adams Rustic Saison, Dogfish Head Brewery's Noble Rot, Victory Brewing Company's Helios

Indian and Asian cuisine, poultry, seafood, and parmesan cheese

45-50 F

American Pale Wheat

American pale wheat beer is pale in color, lower in alcohol content, and with a light bready flavor.
ABV: 3.5-5.6%
IBU: 10-35

Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat, Shipyard Summer Ale

Mexican cuisine, spicy food, poultry, and mozzarella cheese

45-50 F

Belgian Witbier

Witbier gets its name from its white color, and has a light, fruity flavor to match.
ABV: 4.8-5.6%
IBU: 10-17

Hoegaarden White Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery's Namaste, Blue Moon Belgian White, Victory Brewing Company's Whirlwind Witbier

Seafood, poultry, pork, salad, and soft cheeses

45-50 F

Berliner Weisse

Berliner Weisse is tart, sour beer with a pale color. Sometimes raspberry syrup is added to dull the sour taste.
ABV: 2.8-3.4%
IBU: 3-6

Dogfish Head's Festina Peche, Freetail Brewing Company's Yo Soy Un Berliner, Iron Hill Brewery's Berliner Weisse

German Cuisine, ham, salad, and soft cheeses

45-50 F

Dunkelweizen

Dunkelweizen is a darker version of a Hefeweizen. These beers have a malty flavor with hints of banana.
ABV: 4.8-5.4%
IBU: 10-15

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel

German and Indian cuisines, fish, and goat cheese

40-45 F

Hefeweizen

Hefeweizen is a light colored wheat beer with a crisp taste that can sometimes have hints of cloves or apples.
ABV: 4.9-5.6%
IBU: 10-15

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen, Pennsylvania Brewing Company's Penn Weizen

German cuisine, seafood, fish, and brick cheeses

45-50 F

American Sour

American sour beer packs a wild punch from certain bacteria that are introduced during the fermentation process.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies

Samuel Adams American Kriek, Weyerbacher Brewing Company's Riserva, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales' La Roja

Fruit and strong cheese

45-50 F

Belgian Fruit Lambic

Belgian fruit lambics are brewed with fruit to make an intense sweet and sour flavor.
ABV: 5.0-8.9%
IBU: 15-21

Upland Brewing Company's Raspberry Lambic, Dogfish Head Brewery's Festina Lente

Fruit, salad, chocolate, and soft cheese

45-50 F

Flanders Red Ale

Flanders red ale evokes a malty, fruity flavor underneath a strong sour taste brought on by Lactobacillus bacteria during fermentation.
ABV: 4.8-6.6%
IBU: 5-18

New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie, The Lost Abbey's Red Poppy Ale

Meat, blue cheese, and cheddar cheese

45-50 F

Belgian Gueuze

Gueuzes are aged beers that give off a very strong sour flavor.
ABV: 6.2-8.1%
IBU: 9-23

Brouwerij Boon's Boon Gueuze, The Bruery's Rueuze

Strong cheeses

50-55 F

American Black Ale

American black ales are dark in color and feature a malty, roasted flavor with medium to high hop bitterness. This style is sometimes called a black IPA.
ABV: 6.0-7.5%
IBU: 50-75

Lagunitas’ NightTime, Founders’ Dark Penance, Victory’s Yakima Glory

Aged cheeses, seafood, and chocolate

50-55 F

Barrel-Aged Beer

A barrel-aged beer is any type of beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel. Sometimes these barrels have been used to hold bourbon, wine, or other spirits, adding to the flavor of the beer.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies

Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel), Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout, Narwhal Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)

Varies

50-55 F

Chocolate Beer

Chocolate or cocoa can be added to any style (lager or ale) to form a delicious chocolate beer.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 15-40

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, Shenandoah Chocolate Donut Beer, Boneyard Beer Company Backbone Chocolate Espresso Stout

Varies

50-55 F

Coffee Beer

Coffee beer is typically a porter or stout with added coffee flavor. This flavor can be achieved by steeping coffee beans in water or in the beer mixture.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 15-45

Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout, Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout, Stone Brewing Company’s Coffee Milk Stout

Meaty stew, hard cheeses

50-55 F

Fruit and Vegetable Beer

Any type of beer can be infused with fruit and vegetable flavors, so flavors will vary greatly.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 5-50

Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA, Modern Times Beer’s Fruitlands Sour Cherry Gose, Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Salad, brie cheese

50-55 F

Gluten Free Beer

Gluten free beer is brewed with fermentable sugars and grains that do not contain gluten. These beers vary in color, flavor, and alcohol content.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies

Wicked Weed Brewing’s Gluten FREEk, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company’s Omission IPA, Lakefront Brewery’s New Grist Gluten-Free Pilsner

Varies

Varies

Herb and Spice Beer

Herb and spice beer is any lager or ale that has added flavors from roots, herbs, or other spices. Pumpkin spice and holiday spice beers are examples of this style.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: 5-40

Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch, Rogue Ales’ Juniper Pale Ale, Small Town Brewery’s Not Your Father’s Root Beer

Varies

45-55 F

Honey Beer

Honey beers are ales or lagers that are brewed with honey to add sweetness and unique flavor.
ABV: 2.5-12.0%
IBU: Varies

Boulder Beer’s A Honey of a Saison, Samuel Adams Honey Queen, Burial Beer Company’s The Keeper’s Veil Honey Saison

Salad, light creamy cheeses

50-55 F

Pumpkin Beer

Pumpkin beer is brewed with fresh pumpkin and common fall spices. These beers are increasingly popular, and can be made with lagers, ales, and sour beers.
ABV: 2.3-5.0%
IBU: 5-70

Elysian Brewing Company’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

Poultry, soft creamy cheeses

50-55 F

Rye Beer

Rye beer often features malty, roasted flavors, with lower hop bitterness. Rye beers can be made as ales or as lagers, and will either take on a sweet or spicy flavor.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies

Founders Red’s Rye IPA, Great Lakes’ Rye of the Tiger IPA, The Bruery’s Sour in the Rye

Spicy meat, creamy cheese

45-55 F

Session Beer

Any style of beer can be brewed as a session beer, as sessions are simply less strong, more drinkable beers that are perfect for summertime consumption.
ABV: 3.5-5.0%
IBU: 10-35

New Belgium Brewing’s Slow Ride Session IPA, Samuel Adams Rebel Rider Session IPA, Victory Brewing Company’s Swing Session Saison

Varies

Varies

Smoke Beer

Smoke beer is any beer that is brewed with malt that has been kilned over an open fire. The smoke adds a noticeable, but not overpowering flavor, which is inspired by traditional German rauchbier.
ABV: Varies
IBU: Varies

Ithaca Beer Company's Gorges Smoked Porter, Goose Island Beer Company’s Prairie Smoke, Denver Beer Company’s Smoked Lager

Roasted vegetables, hard cheese

50-55 F