BASIC BEER GUIDE
TYPES OF BEER
TYPES OF BEER
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ALES
Ales are sweet, full-bodied and vary in color depending on the grains used during brewing. Many ales contain hops, which add a bitter flavor to counteract sweetness. |
LAGERS
Lagers have a crisper taste due to their fermentation progress. They are fermented for longer at lower temperatures, mellowing the beer and creating a smoother taste. |
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PALE ALE
There are varying styles of pale ales. They all share hop flavor and aroma with low to medium maltiness. There is also a good deal of fruity esters. Among the types of pale ales are the English, the IPA, and the American. PORTER The Porter is a good beer for those who want a full flavored dark beer without the bitterness from the roasted barley that a Stout now possesses. STOUT Stouts are brewed with dark roasted malts giving the beer is distinct black color. Most people associate stout with dry Irish stouts like Guinness, but many other forms have long been brewed. BARLEY WINE Barley Wine is a very intense and complex beverage with alcohol content equal to most wines. It has hearty, sweet malt flavor which is offset by a strong and bitter flavoring from the hops for balance. |
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AMERICAN LAGER
This is basically the main style of beer in America. Pale lager is gassy and watery with a delicate sweetness. Made to be served cold. PILSNER Pilsners are malty sweet and well hopped. Caramel flavors are often noticed accompanied by medium to high bitterness. Pilsners have a good amount of carbonation and are clean and crisp. BOCK Bock is a hearty beer with high alcohol content. It has malt flavor with just enough hop bitterness to tame the sweetness. Bock beer is a well lagered; it's matured for a long period of time during the 2nd fermentation. DUNKEL Dunkel is commonly known as German dark beer. The color ranges from amber to dark reddish brown. It is aromatic and has smooth flavors similar to coffee. |
BASIC SPIRITS GUIDE
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BRANDY
Brandy derives it's name from Dutch brandewijn meaning "burned wine" and is a liquor distilled from wine or other fermented fruit juices. This spirit is aged in wooden casks (usually oak) which colors it, mellows the palate, and adds additional aromas and flavors. GIN herbaceous / dry / sophisticated Distilled from grains or botanical. All gins are flavored with juniper berry but otherwise can vary in style, taste and complexity. London or 'dry' gin is the most regulated. RUM sweet / spiced / uncomplicated Distilled from sugarcane juice and from its by products such as molasses.It is lightly sweet; can be clear, dark, aged, spiced, flavored and/or oaked. VODKA elegant / pure / classy Distilled from numerous sources but primarily grain or potatoes. Traditionally distilled to be as pure and transparent as possible, though flavored vodkas are also popular. |
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COGNAC
Cognac is a variety of distilled brandy named after the town of Cognac in France. It is must be made of 90% white grapes (ugni blanc, folle blanche, and/or colombard). The wine produced from these grapes is high in acid and low in alcohol and gives Cognac its attractive flavor. MOONSHINE Moonshine is illegally distilled homemade whisky, usually with a high alcohol content. It's typically made with corn mash as the main ingredient. It got its name because it was distilled at night "by the light of the moon" and to avoid discovery. TEQUILA edgy / floral / wild Distilled from at least 51% blue agave; the higher the better the quality. The flavor ranges from herbaceous and floral to sharp, woody and/or smoky. WHISKEY bold / smoky / intense Distilled from barley, rye, wheat and/or corn, sometimes malted. It is generally aged in oak casks from which whiskey derives the bulk of its flavor and color; can be smoky or earthy. |
BASIC WINE GUIDE
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