A Beginner's Guide to Beer

India pale ale is a beer style within the broader category of pale ale that is distinguished by its higher alcohol content and strongly hoppy flavor profile. The style of pale ale which became known as India pale ale was widespread in England by 1815, and would grow in popularity, notably as an export beer shipped to India and elsewhere.

Sour beer is beer which has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. Traditional sour beer styles include Belgian lambics, gueuze and Flanders red ale, and German gose and Berliner Weisse.

Porter is a style of beer that was developed in London, England in the early 18th century. It was well-hopped and dark in appearance owing to the use of brown malt. The name originated from its popularity with street and river porters.

Stout is a dark, top-fermented beer with a number of variations, including dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout, and imperial stout. The first known use of the word stout for beer, in a document dated 1677 found in the Egerton Manuscripts, referred to its strength.

Wheat beer is a category of beer originating in Bavaria. It is typically a top-fermented ale, uses at least 30 percent wheat in the brewing process, and comes in a variety of styles. The most widely known wheat beer is hefeweizen, a refreshing style from Germany that's popular around the world.