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The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Beer Styles

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When you walk into a craft brewery and glance at the menu board, it can feel a little intimidating. Saison? Kölsch? Milk Stout? What do all these terms mean, and what should you order? Don’t worry—this beginner’s guide will help you make sense of the wide world of beer styles, so you can sip smarter.


Ales vs. Lagers: The Two Beer Families

At the most basic level, beer comes in two families: ales and lagers. The difference lies in the yeast used and the fermentation process:

  • Ales are brewed with top-fermenting yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which works at warmer temperatures (around 60–75°F). This produces fruity esters and complex flavors. Ales include styles like IPA, stout, porter, pale ale, and saison.

  • Lagers are brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus), which works at cooler temperatures (around 45–55°F). The fermentation is slower, producing cleaner, crisper flavors. Lagers include pilsner, Helles, bock, and Dunkel.


Core Beer Styles to Know

Here are some key styles you’ll encounter:

  • IPAs (India Pale Ale): Brewed with lots of hops, often bursting with citrus, pine, or tropical flavors. There are multiple substyles (West Coast, New England, session IPA, etc.).

  • Stouts & Porters: Dark beers made with roasted malts. Flavors include coffee, chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit.

  • Saison: A farmhouse ale with dry, peppery, and fruity notes. Brewed with expressive yeast strains and sometimes spiced.

  • Pilsner: A crisp, clean lager showcasing malt and subtle hops. Hard to brew perfectly.

  • Sour Ales: Tart beers fermented with wild yeast or bacteria. Includes Berliner Weisse, Gose, Lambic, and American sours.


Why It Matters

The magic of beer lies in its ingredients: malt, hops, yeast, and water. Different malts bring sweetness and color, hops add bitterness and aroma, yeast creates flavor complexity, and water chemistry ties it all together.



The best way to learn beer styles? Drink them! Use your Craft & Brew Passport to explore NJ breweries and try a flight across different styles. Ask questions. Taste widely. Before long, you’ll be the friend ordering a saison with confidence while explaining what makes it unique.

 
 
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