The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Perfect Beer

With thousands of beers to choose from, it can be challenging to decide which one to drink. From light beers to stouts, there's a wide variety of options to suit different preferences. For instance, if you're looking for a light beer, you might opt for Estrella Inedit Damm, whereas if you want something darker and richer, you could try a stout like Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. To simplify the process of choosing a beer, you can take a quiz that recommends a beer based on your flavour preferences.

What are the best beers to drink in summer?

When the sun is shining, there's nothing better than a crisp, refreshing beer. But which beers are best for summer?

According to Karissa Norrington, brewing manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, good summer beers are typically "low-ABV, crisp and balanced". Karissa also notes that the flavour should be able to "stand up to, but not overwhelm, the foods you pair them with". Tara Hankinson, co-founder of Talea Beer Co., agrees that summer beers should be light and fruity, but also predicts that we'll be seeing more beer hybrids, such as cider or tea with hops.

So, Which Beers Should You Try This Summer?

If you're looking for a light and refreshing beer to sip on a hot day, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best beers to drink this summer:

• Oberon Ale by Bell's Brewery: This American wheat beer is a popular choice for Michiganders and beer lovers across the country. With a hint of spice and a citrusy flavour, it's the perfect beer to welcome summer after a long, cold winter.
• Kona Big Wave Golden Ale: Brewed with Citra and Galaxy hops, this beer has a fruity and juicy taste while remaining light and easy to drink—perfect for sipping on the beach.
• Allagash White: This award-winning Belgian-style wheat beer is brewed in Portland, Maine. It has a slightly cloudy appearance and offers a perfect balance of citrus and spice.
• Prima Pils by Victory Brewing Company: This top-rated German Pilsner is crisp and distinct, brewed with German hops that combine notes of floral and spice with citrus and lemon.
• Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen: This beer is a true 50-50 blend of unfiltered wheat beer and carbonated grapefruit juice, commonly known as a "radler". It's low in alcohol and super refreshing, making it the perfect choice for a summer brunch.
• Bell's Light Hearted Ale: This low-calorie, low-ABV session IPA is aromatic and easy to drink, with aromas of citrus and pine. It's the perfect crushable beer for a hot summer day.
• Five Boroughs Gridlock Hazy IPA: This New England IPA offers a sweeter, juicier flavour with notes of fresh orange zest and tropical kiwi and lime. It's the perfect choice for long summer nights.
• Samuel Adams Porch Rocker: A blend of Helles lager and lemons, this tangy, refreshing drink is low in ABV and perfect for summer.
• Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale Session Sour Beer: A mix of Gose, Kölsch, and Berliner Weiss beers, with a touch of lime juice and sea salt. It's crisp, tart, and not too sweet—like a margarita without the tequila.
• Green Torch by Half Acre Beer Company: This American lager is light, refreshing, and slightly zippy. It's the perfect crushable beer for summer sessions.

So, whether you're looking for a light and crisp lager or a fruity and refreshing sour, there's a summer beer out there for everyone. Cheers!

What are the best low-calorie beers?

If you're looking for a beer that won't pile on the calories, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best low-calorie beers on the market:

Lagers

Lagers are the most popular type of beer and are known for their crisp, light, and clean taste. Here are some excellent low-calorie options:

• Budweiser Select (2.4% ABV): 55 calories
• Molson Ultra (3% ABV): 70 calories
• Amstel Light (4% ABV): 95 calories
• Miller Light (4.2% ABV): 96 calories
• Heineken Light (4.2% ABV): 97 calories
• Corona Light (3.7% ABV): 99 calories
• Coors Light (4.2% ABV): 102 calories
• Bud Light (4.2% ABV): 103 calories

Ales

Ales tend to have a fruitier taste and a stronger, bitter flavor. If you're an ale lover, check out these low-calorie options:

• Le Petit Prince (2.9% ABV): 75 calories
• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty (4% ABV): 95 calories
• Lagunitas DayTime (4% ABV): 98 calories
• Lakefront Eazy Teazy (3.4% ABV): 99 calories
• Southern Tier Swipe Light (4% ABV): 110 calories
• Boston Beer 26.2 Brew (4% ABV): 120 calories

Stouts

Stouts are a type of ale that uses roasted barley to create a rich, dark color. While they're typically higher in calories, there are some low-calorie options to choose from:

• Guinness Extra (5.6% ABV): 126 calories
• Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (5.2% ABV): 150 calories
• Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (5% ABV): 190 calories

Low-calorie Gluten-free Beers

For those following a gluten-free diet, there are also some excellent low-calorie options:

• Glutenberg Blonde (4.5% ABV): 160 calories
• Green’s IPA (6% ABV): 160 calories
• Holidaily Favorite Blonde (5% ABV): 161 calories
• Coors Peak (4.7% ABV): 170 calories

So, there you have it! Whether you're a lager, ale, or stout kind of person, there are plenty of low-calorie options to suit your taste. Remember, even though these beers are low in calories, some of them are still relatively high in alcohol content, so always drink in moderation.

What are the best beers to drink in winter?

As the cold weather sets in, it's time to swap those light and refreshing summer beers for something a little heavier and more indulgent. Winter beers are characterised by their dark and complex profiles, often featuring malty richness, fuller bodies, and flavours of roastiness. Here are some of the best beers to drink during the colder months:

Stouts

Stouts are a classic winter beer. These dark, bitter, and roasty-flavoured beers will leave you with a warm and creamy fullness—perfect for hibernation. Stouts have a signature black colour and taste like coffee, licorice, and chocolate. With a range of varieties available, including Irish stout, sweet stout, oatmeal stout, tropical stout, foreign extra stout, American stout, and imperial stout, there's a stout for every palate.

Porters

Porters are another easy-drinking, dark-coloured beer that is perfect for winter. Originating from London, England, porters come in both American and English variants. American porters tend to have a complex malty character with a dry finish and medium to high hop bitterness, while English porters are maltier, with more roasted, toffee, nutty, and caramel characteristics. Baltic porters are similar to English porters but stronger and with layers of various malt and fruit flavours. With an alcohol volume ranging from 4.5% to 6.5% or more, porters pack a punch without being overwhelming.

Red Ales

Red ales are unique and fall into their own category, distinct from brown, dark, or pale ales. They get their distinctive colour and flavour from kilned malts and roasted barley, which also contribute to their roasted, toffee-like notes. With a medium body and a crisp, low-hop bitterness, red ales are an excellent choice for colder weather as they are rich in flavour yet remain easy to sip. Red ales typically have an ABV between 4% and 5%.

Brown Ales

Brown ales date back to 17th-century England and are making a comeback in the modern craft beer scene. They are robust, smooth, buttery, and warming, making them ideal for cold winter nights. While brown ales may have fallen out of fashion for a while, they are now being rediscovered and celebrated for their nuanced and rich flavours.

Black Lagers

Despite their dark appearance, black lagers, or Schwarzbiers, are surprisingly light-bodied with a clean and crisp finish. This unique beer style originated in Germany and is perfect for those who want a lager's crispness with a hint of roastiness to make it more suited for the winter season.

Scotch Ales

Scotch ales, or Scottish ales, include a variety of styles such as light, heavy, export, and wee-heavy. They are characterised by their rich maltiness, darker colours, and fuller bodies. With little to no hop presence due to the climate and soil in Scotland not being ideal for hop growth, Scotch ales have a very elongated finish. Scotch wee-heavies are the most common variety and can have an ABV of up to 10%, making them a great choice for keeping warm during winter.

What are the best beers to pair with food?

Beer is an incredibly versatile drink, and with so many different types available, it's a great beverage to pair with food. From light lagers to dark stouts, there's a beer to complement any dish.

When it comes to food and beer pairings, there are a few guidelines to consider. Firstly, think about contrast. For example, oysters have a strong, briny flavour that can stand up to the rich texture and chocolatey notes of a stout. Another example is pairing a dry, bitter stout with oysters, which can help to cut through the sweetness of the shellfish.

Secondly, complementing flavours is a simple way to create a delicious pairing. Rich foods go well with heavy and flavourful beers like stouts or porters. Light salads and fish can be paired with light beers, and wheat beers are a great choice for desserts like fruit tarts.

Beer can also be used as a palate cleanser, especially with dishes that have bold or intense flavours. For instance, a light beer can help wash down the heat of spicy food. Similarly, fatty foods like French fries can help balance out the bitterness of an IPA.

When pairing beer with food, it's important to avoid overpowering flavours. Medium and dark beers, for example, have rich and powerful flavours that can overwhelm certain dishes. For instance, pairing salmon with a pint of Guinness would result in the flavour of the beer completely covering the taste of the fish.

• Light lagers: spicy food, burgers, salads
• Wheat beers: spicy food, fruity desserts, burgers
• India pale ales (IPAs): steak, barbecue, Mexican food
• Amber ales: pizza, fried food, smoked pork
• Dark lagers: pizza, burgers, hearty stews
• Brown ales: sausage, sushi, fish
• Porters: seafood, coffee-flavoured desserts, game meats
• Stouts: chocolate desserts, shellfish, Mexican food

So, the next time you're planning a meal, consider incorporating some beer pairings to enhance your dining experience!

What are the best beers for beer tasting?

Beer tasting is a fun way to discover new brews and expand your horizons. From mainstream lagers to cult-status IPAs and innovative craft stouts, there's a whole world of beer to explore. So, what are the best beers for a beer tasting? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Variety is Key

When planning a beer tasting, it's essential to offer a variety of styles to keep things interesting. Include a mix of light and dark beers, as well as different types such as lagers, ales, IPAs, stouts, and wheat beers. This will allow your guests to compare and contrast, discovering new flavours and favourites along the way.

Classic Beers

Include some classic, well-known beers that your guests will likely be familiar with. For example, Budweiser, Coors Light, and Miller High Life are all recognisable and widely available. These beers can provide a baseline for comparison and spark conversations about personal preferences.

Craft Beers

Craft beers are a great way to showcase the art of brewing and the unique flavours that independent breweries have to offer. For instance, Peace Tree Blonde Fatale, a Belgian-style blonde ale from Iowa, or Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai, a popular India Pale Ale from the United States. These beers often have unique flavours and stories behind them, adding an extra layer of interest to your tasting.

Regional Specialities

Why not take your guests on a journey by featuring beers from different regions? For instance, you could include a German wheat beer like Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, a Belgian blonde ale like Leffe Blonde, or a Japanese brew like Hitachino Nest White Ale. Exploring beers from different parts of the world adds a cultural element to your tasting.

Seasonal Beers

Consider the time of year for your beer tasting and include some seasonal offerings. For summer, go for lighter, refreshing beers like Mexican lagers or fruit-forward options such as Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen. In the winter, warmer, darker beers like stouts or porters will be more appealing.

Personal Preference

Finally, don't forget to include some of your own personal favourites! Beer tasting is subjective, and it's a great way to share your discoveries with others. Choose a few beers that you've been enjoying recently and introduce them to your guests.

Remember, when hosting a beer tasting, it's important to serve the beers at the correct temperature and to provide palate cleansers like water and plain crackers. Now you're ready to start planning your beer tasting and exploring the wonderful world of beer!

Frequently asked questions