Learn about different beer styles and what to pair them with
You might think a beer is just a beer—but then you go to order one, and there are so many different types. What’s the difference between a lager, a pilsner, a stout, and … a Kölsch? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’re here with 25 of the most popular types of beer, including tips on what to pair each beer with, the right glassware for each style, a glossary of beer terms , and tips on how to find and enjoy new beer .
Most Common Types of Beer
- American lager
- Pilsner
- Mexican lager
- Pale ale
- IPA
- Wheat beer
- Amber ale
- Porter
- Stout
- Sour
Steps
Section 1 of 7:
Lagers
-
1American lager American lagers are a pale golden color with a frothy white head. They usually have a mild, crisp flavor, light body, and lots of carbonation. Most American lagers aren’t especially malty or hoppy, and they’re meant to be highly drinkable. American lagers are often brewed with grains like rice or corn in addition to the malted barley—these are called “adjunct lagers.” [1] X Research source
- Season: Anytime, but especially summer—think backyard cookouts and hanging out at the beach
- Pair with: Burgers, pizza, tacos, barbecue, spicy food
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner or pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–5% [2] X Research source
- Popular examples: Budweiser, Bud Lite, Miller High Life, Miller Lite, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Yuengling
-
2Pilsner Pilsners are usually a pale straw color with a white head, although they can be as dark as an amber color. They’re bitter and hoppy, but not overwhelmingly so. They usually have a slightly sweet, malty finish. [3] X Research source
- Season: Pilsners are a great summertime beer.
- Pair with: Seafood, chicken, sharp cheeses, breads, cookies
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5%
- Popular examples: Pilsner Urquell, Lagunitas Pils, Live Oak Pils, Victory Prima Pils, Stella Artois (although some categorize this as a pale lager)
- Variations: German-style pilsners are lighter and more bitter, while Czech (or Bohemian) pilsners tend to be darker and less bitter. [4] X Research source Imperial pilsners are sweeter and maltier, with a stronger flavor and higher ABV (around 7.5%).
Advertisement -
3Mexican lager Mexican lagers are similar to American lagers, but flaked maize is added to the mash. This creates an ultra-crisp, clear lager that’s neither bitter nor sweet. Mexican lagers are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their refreshing drinkability. [5] X Research source
- Season: Year-round, especially summer
- Pair with: Fajitas, barbecue, burgers
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner or pint glass [6] X Research source
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–5%
- Popular examples: Corona Extra, Dos Equis, Tecate, Modelo Especial, Pacifico Clara
-
4Vienna lager Vienna lagers are usually deep amber to copper-colored with a pale head. These medium-bodied beers are malty and toasty, with subtle hints of caramel. They may have some bitterness from the hops, but it’s usually fairly mild. [7] X Research source
- Season: These are great for cooler weather, like spring or fall
- Pair with: Strong and smoky flavors, like grilled steak or sharp cheeses. Can also be a nice balance with a sweet, fruity dessert
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5–5.5% [8] X Research source
- Popular examples: Negra Modelo, Yuengling Amber, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Dos Equis Amber, Sierra Nevada Vienna
-
5Bock A traditional bock is a rich, dark brown lager with a creamy, off-white head. It has a medium body with a strong malt flavor and aroma. These beers can be slightly sweet and are not typically bitter, although they may have a light hoppiness. [9] X Research source
- Season: Cooler weather like early spring, late fall, and winter
- Pair with: Red meat, smoky flavors, jerk chicken, burgers, rich cheeses, and dark chocolate
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Tulip glass [10] X Research source
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5.5–7.5%
- Popular examples: Shiner Bock, Tiger Bock, Rogue Dead Guy, Von Trapp Bock Bier, Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, Troegs Troegenator
- Variation: A doppelbock is a stronger version of a bock (“doppel” means double). Doppelbocks are darker in color, with a richer malt flavor and hints of chocolate. Serve in a glass mug. Weizenbock is a wheat version of the doppelbock.
-
6Helles/Maibock A helles bock can be anywhere from light amber to deep gold, with a medium-beige head of foam. It’s malty, like a traditional bock, but may also be slightly hoppy. Maibocks may also be slightly peppery. [11] X Research source
- Season: Year-round
- Pair with: Steamed seafood, dishes with bright or herbal seasonings, mild cheeses, and shortbreads
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Flute glass or chalice
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 6.5–7% [12] X Research source
- Popular examples: Killarney Brewing Devil’s Helles Lager, Weihenstephaner Original, Von Trapp Helles, Augustiner Helles
-
7Amber lager Amber lagers are a golden to reddish beer with white to off-white foam. They’re a clean, relatively mild beer, with a smooth mouthfeel and a light toasted malt or caramel flavor and little bitterness. They may have subtle spiced, herbal, or floral notes, and can sometimes be slightly sweet. [13] X Research source
- Season: Mild weather
- Pair with: Burgers, grilled food, pizza, fish
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–6%
- Popular examples: Abita Amber Lager, Dos Equis Amber, Yuengling Lager
-
8Dark lager Dark lagers can be anywhere from dark amber to a deep chestnut brown with a beige or light brown head. These beers are fairly crisp, especially considering how dark they are. Some are moderately sweet, and they may have notes of fruit, molasses, cocoa, or coffee. [14] X Research source
- Season: Cooler weather
- Pair with: Spaghetti, fajitas, goulash, pizza
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5–5.5% [15] X Research source
- Popular examples: Heineken Dark Lager, Shiner Bock, Saint Pauli Girl Dark, Dixie Blackened Voodoo
-
9Oktoberfest/Märzen Märzens (or Oktoberfest beers) are a deep bronze or copper beer with an off-white head. These bready, toasty beers are a type of amber, but they’re often given their own category. Märzens originated as a beer that was brewed in March, then served at Oktoberfest. [16] X Research source
- Season: Fall
- Pair with: Pretzels, sausage, and mustard
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Beer mug (or stein)
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5.5–6.5% [17] X Research source
- Popular examples: Samuel Adams OctoberFest, Prost Marzen, Bell’s Oktoberfest, Shiner Marzen-Style Oktoberfest
-
10Dunkel A dunkel can range from a light amber to dark brown with a thick, off-white head. It’s a rich, smooth wheat beer with a medium mouthfeel and a malty flavor. It usually has strong notes of banana and cloves, but it may also have hints of dark chocolate, nuts, and caramel. It’s not usually a bitter or hoppy beer. [18] X Research source
- Season: Fall or winter
- Pair with: Spicy food, sausage, spiced bread pudding, buffalo wings
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Pilsner glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5–5.5% [19] X Research source
- Popular examples: Modelo Negra, Samuel Adams Dunkel Lager, Hofbrau Dunkel, Prost Brewing Dunkel, Von Trapp Dunkel
Advertisement
Section 2 of 7:
Ales
-
1Cream ale Cream ales date back to before the American Prohibition period. These pale beers are brewed with corn or rice, and they’re slightly more bitter than lagers. They tend to be crisp (not creamy like you might expect) with subtle bready or crackery flavors. [20] X Research source
-
2Pale ale Pale ales range from a rich golden color to light brown. They’re malty and hoppy and usually moderately bitter—although not quite as bitter as an IPA. They may also be floral or citrusy. [23] X Research source
- Season: Year-round
- Pair with: Burgers, pizza, buffalo wings, sausage
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass [24] X Research source
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–5.5%
- Popular examples: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 420 Extra Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Lagunitas New DogTown, Half Acre Daisy Cutter
- Variations: English ales are a common type of pale ale that tends to be balanced and slightly hoppy.
-
3India pale ale (IPA) India pale ales—or IPAs as they’re better known—are usually orange-ish or amber in color. This is a bitter, hoppy beer. The tasting notes are heavily influenced by the types of hops used—the finished product might be floral, citrusy, piney, or herbal. [25] X Research source
- Season: Year-round
- Pair with: Fried food, jambalaya, spicy sausage
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Tulip glass—sometimes footed instead of stemmed and called an IPA glass [26] X Research source
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 5%–7%
- Popular examples: New Belgium Voodoo Ranger, Goose Island IPA, Bell’s Two Hearted
- Variations: There are a wide range of IPA styles. For instance, traditional IPAs tend to be more piney, bitter, and carbonated, while hazy/East Coast IPAs are fruitier and less bitter with a softer mouthfeel. Imperial (or double) IPAs have a more intense flavor and a higher ABV—usually above 7.5%.
-
4Wheat beer Wheat beers are, as the name suggests, brewed with wheat. They tend to have a cloudy appearance and range from a golden straw color to light amber. They’re usually light and fruity, with hints of citrus and banana. [27] X Research source
- Season: Year-round, especially warmer weather
- Pair with: Tacos, salads, grilled vegetables, steak
- Serving temperature: 40–45 °F (4–7 °C)
- Glassware: Weizen glass or Pilsner glass [28] X Research source
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 3%–5.5%
- Popular examples: Blue Moon, Bell’s Oberon
- Variations: American wheat beers are lighter in color with a hint of citrus, Belgian witbiers feature notes of coriander and orange, and German wheat beers have notes of banana and clover.
-
5Amber ale Ambers can be either ales or lagers, but amber ales are a little more common in the U.S. Like amber lagers, amber ales are a rich reddish or amber color. They primarily have a toasty, malty flavor, but the hoppiness can vary a lot from one brewery to another, and some ambers may have hints of citrus or pine. [29] X Research source
- Season: Cool or mild weather
- Pair with: Grilled vegetables, burgers, sausages
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–6%
- Popular examples: Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Bell’s Amber Ale, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale, Rogue American Amber Ale
-
6Brown ale Brown ales are usually a caramel or walnut brown color. They’re malt-forward, with a medium mouthfeel and notes of caramel, toasted nuts, and unsweetened chocolate. Some breweries opt to add a noticeable hoppiness for balance. [30] X Research source
- Season: Cool weather
- Pair with: Grilled meats, sharp cheese, spicy pasta
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–6%
- Popular examples: Samuel Adams Brown Ale, Bell’s Best Brown, Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan, Newcastle Brown Ale
-
7Saison Saisons are a farmhouse-style ale that can be anywhere from light bronze to deep amber. They’re robust beers that tend to have a balance of malty and hoppy flavors, plus fruity, citrusy notes. Some saisons may be slightly sour. [31] X Research source
- Season: Mild weather
- Pair with: Earthy cheeses, seafood, Pad Thai, roast chicken
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Tulip glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 3.5–9.5%
- Popular examples: Saison Dupont, Belgian Saint-Feuillien Saison, Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison, Stillwater Cellar Door, Goose Island Pepe Nero
-
8Porter Porters are a rich, dark brown color with a creamy beige or tan head. They’re usually a mixture of bitter and sweet with notes of caramel, coffee, or toasted malts. Porters were the predecessors to stouts, which are slightly heavier. [32] X Research source
- Season: Winter
- Pair with: Barbecue ribs, pulled pork, chocolate desserts
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–6%
- Popular examples: Founders Porter, Bell’s Porter, Deschutes Black Butte Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter
- Variations: Imperial porters are a balanced mixture of sweetness and hoppiness, and usually have a higher ABV. English brown porters are less sweet, and robust porters are especially toasty and bitter.
-
9Stout Stouts are the darkest and thickest of beers. They have a rich mouthfeel and almost feel like you’re drinking dessert. They can range from bitter to sweet (but usually balance both), with flavors of chocolate, coffee, caramel, and toffee. People usually think of these as high-alcohol beers, but the most popular stout (Guinness) is only 4.2% ABV. [33] X Research source
- Season: Winter
- Pair with: Brisket, seafoods, chocolate cake
- Serving temperature: 45–55 °F (7–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 3.5–10%
- Popular examples: Guinness Draught
- Variations: Imperial stouts are strong and rich, with a higher-than-average ABV. Oatmeal stouts have oats added during brewing, and milk stouts include lactose.
-
10Belgian ale (Trappist) Belgians (or trappists) are a category in their own right. It contains a variety of beer types, including Belgian witbier (wheat beers), pale ales, and Bière de Garde. Belgians tend to be malty, and they often have hints of fruit and spices.
- Season: Year-round
- Pair with: Varies
- Serving temperature: Varies
- Glassware: Varies
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): Varies
- Popular examples: Chimay Red Trappist, La Chouffe, Leffe Blonde, Duvel Belgian
- Variations: Belgians can include dubbels, (doubles), trippels, and quadruples, which are stronger in flavor with a higher ABV.
Advertisement
Section 3 of 7:
Specialty Beers
-
1Sour Sour beers are tart and usually fruity. They’re growing in popularity, especially with people who don’t like a “traditional” beer flavor. There’s no single type of sour, so there’s not really a standard color, mouthfeel, or bitterness. But they’re all mouth-puckering—if you like sour candies, this might be the pick for you. [34] X Research source
- Season: Year-round
- Pair with: Club sandwiches, seafood, spicy sausage
- Serving temperature: Varies
- Glassware: Tulip
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): Varies
- Popular examples: Sierra Nevada Wild Little Thing, Dogfish Head Seaquench Ale, Brooklyn Brewery’s Bel Air, Brasserie Cantillon Gueuze
- Variations: Goses are a popular German style of sour that have a slight saltiness. Belgian lambics are another popular option, featuring cherry and raspberry flavors.
-
2Barleywine Barleywines are an amber to copper beer with an off-white to tan head. They feature strong malt and hop flavors and can be fairly bitter. This high-ABV beer is usually rich and full-bodied with a thick, velvety mouthfeel. [35] X Research source
- Season: Cool weather
- Pair with: Grilled steak, brisket, strong cheese, rich desserts
- Serving temperature: 50–60 °F (10–16 °C)
- Glassware: Snifter
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 8–12%
- Popular examples: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Firestone Walker Maltose Falcons Brownywine, Goose Island King Henry
-
3Honey beer Honey beers have honey added at some point during the brewing process. Typically, these beers will have a slight sweetness, but ideally they won’t be cloying. Honey beers can be ales or lagers, and they can be a traditional beer or a more experimental brew. That makes it hard to pin down a standard for honey beer, but they should all have a somewhat honey-forward flavor. [36] X Research source
- Season: Varies
- Pair with: Light desserts, bruschetta, mild cheese
- Serving temperature: 50–55 °F (10–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint or tulip glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): Varies
- Popular examples: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, Leinenkugel Honey Weiss, Rogue Honey Kölsch
-
4California Common The California Common is an amber or copper beer that has its roots in the Gold Rush era. It’s brewed with lager yeast but at ale temperatures, making it a hybrid. This is a crisp, malty beer with notes of caramel and toasted bread, but some versions are fairly hoppy as well. [37] X Research source
- Season: Anytime, especially summer
- Pair with: Seafood, burgers, grilled steaks, mild sausage
- Serving temperature: 50–55 °F (10–13 °C)
- Glassware: Pint glass
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.5–5.5%
- Popular examples: Anchor Brewing Steam, Bauhaus Wagon Party, Southern Tier 2x Steam, Steamworks Steam Engine Lager
-
5Kölsch A Kölsch is a hybrid beer that uses ale-style yeast but is fermented at cooler temperatures like a lager. These beers are light and refreshing, with a subtly fruity flavor. True Kölsches come from Cologne, Germany, but Kölsch-style beers have become popular additions at breweries worldwide. [38] X Research source
- Season: Anytime, especially summer
- Pair with: Mild sausage, grilled fish, fruit salad
- Serving temperature: 45–50 °F (7–10 °C)
- Glassware: Stange
- Average ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.4–5.2%
- Popular examples: Von Trapp Kölsch Style, Mother Earth Brewing Endless River, Reissdorf Kölsch, Sierra Nevada Kölsch
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/american-beer-style-guide-history-steam-beer-ipa-adjunct-lager-imperial-porter
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/advice-how-tos/food-love/types-of-lagers
- ↑ https://www.gopuff.com/blog/food-drink/types-of-beer
- ↑ https://thefullpint.com/editorial/what-is-a-mexican-style-lager/
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/advice-how-tos/food-love/types-of-lagers
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/beer-styles/5b-traditional-bock/
- ↑ http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/beer-styles/5a-maibockhelles-bock/
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/2/2B/international-amber-lager/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/2/2C/international-dark-lager/
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/6/6A/marzen/
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/beer-styles/15b-dunkelweizen/
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/american-beer-style-guide-history-steam-beer-ipa-adjunct-lager-imperial-porter
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://scottjanish.com/average-abv-across-all-beer-styles/
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/american-beer-style-guide-history-steam-beer-ipa-adjunct-lager-imperial-porter
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://food52.com/drinks/beer/26311-types-of-beer-guide
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://food52.com/drinks/beer/26311-types-of-beer-guide
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/american-beer-style-guide-history-steam-beer-ipa-adjunct-lager-imperial-porter
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/american-beer-style-guide-history-steam-beer-ipa-adjunct-lager-imperial-porter
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/25/25B/saison/
- ↑ https://food52.com/drinks/beer/26311-types-of-beer-guide
- ↑ https://food52.com/drinks/beer/26311-types-of-beer-guide
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/28/28D/straight-sour-beer/
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/22/22C/american-barleywine/
- ↑ https://www.craftbeer.com/styles/honey-beer
- ↑ https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/19/19B/california-common/
- ↑ https://www.gopuff.com/blog/food-drink/types-of-beer
- ↑ https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/beer-ibus-fact-fiction-misconceptions
- ↑ https://legacy.bjcp.org/course/Class3Lesson1BodyandMouthfeel.php
- ↑ https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/U6QcLmncMP/
- ↑ https://www.craftbeer.com/styles/session-beer
- ↑ https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/beer/what-are-nitro-beers/
- ↑ https://americanhopmuseum.org/what-are-hops ?
- ↑ https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/news/3-reasons-why-malt-important-brewing
- ↑ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware/
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15 times.
Advertisement