A Guide to Beer Styles

With so many beer styles available today, it can be difficult to know where to start. This guide breaks down the major families of beer and explains the key characteristics that set each style apart.

Pale lager

Pale lager is the most widely consumed beer style globally. It is light in colour, crisp in taste and typically low in bitterness compared to many ale styles. Its popularity comes partly from its refreshing, easy drinking character, which makes it a common choice in warm climates.

Pilsner

Pilsner is a specific style of pale lager that originated in the Czech lands. It is known for a more pronounced hop bitterness and aroma compared to standard pale lagers, along with a clean, dry finish. Many commercial lagers around the world are loosely based on the pilsner style.

Pale ale and India Pale Ale (IPA)

Pale ale is an ale style that showcases hop character more prominently than many lagers, often with citrus, floral or resinous aromas depending on the hop varieties used. India Pale Ale, commonly known as IPA, takes this further with higher hop quantities and often a higher alcohol content. Within the IPA category there are many sub-styles, including hazy or New England style IPAs, which tend to be softer and juicier, and West Coast style IPAs, which are typically more bitter and clear in appearance.

Wheat beer

Wheat beers are brewed using a significant proportion of wheat alongside barley malt. This typically produces a lighter body with a slightly tangy or fruity character. Many wheat beer styles have a hazy appearance due to proteins from the wheat, and they are often served with a slice of citrus, though this is a matter of personal preference rather than tradition in every style.

Stout and porter

Stouts and porters are dark ales made using roasted malts, which give them flavours reminiscent of coffee, chocolate or caramel. Porters are generally considered the lighter bodied of the two, though the distinction between the styles has become less rigid over time. Stouts can range from dry and bitter to sweet and creamy, depending on the specific ingredients and brewing method used.

Amber and red ales

Amber and red ales sit between pale ales and darker styles in both colour and flavour. They typically have a balanced malt sweetness with moderate hop bitterness, making them approachable for drinkers who want more flavour than a pale lager without the intensity of a stout.

Saison and farmhouse ales

Originally brewed on farms, saison and other farmhouse ale styles are known for their spicy, fruity and sometimes tart character, produced largely through the specific strains of yeast used during fermentation. These styles can vary significantly from one brewery to another, making them an interesting category to explore for drinkers looking for something less predictable.

Sour beer

Sour beers are intentionally fermented with wild yeast or bacteria, such as lactobacillus, to produce a tart or acidic flavour profile. These beers can range from lightly tart to intensely sour, and are often brewed with fruit to add complexity and balance.

Choosing a style to try

There is no single correct way to explore beer styles. A good starting point is to consider whether you generally prefer lighter, crisper drinks or richer, more intense flavours, and to use that as a guide when trying something new. Many breweries, including independent ones in South Africa, offer tasting flights or smaller pours, which can be a practical way to sample several styles before committing to a full serving.