A No-Stress Guide to Craft Beer Styles

Colorado is one of the best beer states in the whole country. Denver hosts the Great American Beer Festival every year, and it seems like a new brewery pops up in another mountain town every few months. That’s awesome. It also means our beer cooler has a lot going on. Hazy, West Coast, sour, saison, stout, pilsner. If you’ve ever stood in front of those doors trying to figure out what any of it means, this one’s for you.

Almost every beer falls into one of two big families: ales and lagers. The difference comes down to the yeast. Ales are made with yeast that likes warmer temperatures, and they tend to be fruitier and fuller in flavor. IPAs, stouts and wheat beers are all ales. Lagers are made with yeast that works cold and slow, so they usually come out cleaner, crisper and super refreshing. Pilsners and those light Mexican-style beers are lagers. Neither one is better than the other. It really just depends on your mood.

If you want something crisp and easy, start with a pilsner. It’s light, clean and has a nice little bitter bite that makes it perfect after a long day outside. A Mexican-style lager is even lighter and practically begs for a lime wedge. Wheat beers are another great pick. They’re hazy and smooth, sometimes with a hint of banana or citrus, and they’re a favorite for people who swear they don’t like beer.

Then there are the hoppy beers, which are a huge deal right now. Hops are little green flowers that give beer its bitterness and a lot of its aroma. A pale ale is a nice middle ground with some hop flavor but nothing too wild. A classic West Coast IPA is clear, piney and more bitter, and it’s the style a lot of beer drinkers grew up on. Hazy IPAs, sometimes called New England IPAs, are cloudy and juicy and taste like mango, orange and pineapple. They’re way softer and less bitter than most people expect. Double IPAs crank everything up, including the alcohol, so sip those slowly, especially up here at altitude!

Don’t let dark beers scare you off. Dark doesn’t always mean heavy. Amber and brown ales are malty and a little nutty, with flavors like caramel and toast. Porters are smooth and chocolatey. Stouts are roasty and taste a lot like coffee or dark chocolate. Some are light and creamy, while others are big and boozy. Stouts aged in old bourbon barrels are a winter favorite around here, and they’re amazing next to a fire.

If you like something a little different, try the funky side of the cooler. Sour beers are tart and tangy and are often brewed with fruit like raspberries, cherries or passion fruit. If you love sour candy or kombucha, you’ll probably love these. Saisons are dry, peppery and a little fruity, and they’re really great with food. Belgian beers are known for fruity, spicy flavors that come from their special yeast, and some of them pack a lot more alcohol than you’d guess.

When you’re reading a can, the number to pay the most attention to is the ABV, which tells you how much alcohol is in it. Most beers are pretty moderate, but some of the big IPAs and stouts are a lot stronger and will catch up with you fast. It’s also worth checking the date on the can, especially for IPAs. Hoppy beer tastes best when it’s fresh, so the newer the better.

The best way to find out what you like is to try a bunch of different styles side by side. Grab a few single cans of different types, share them with some friends and see what jumps out at you. You’ll figure out pretty quickly what you want to buy again.

Come check out our cooler and tell us what you normally drink. We’ll help you find a new favorite, whether it’s brewed right here in Colorado or halfway across the world.