American Beer Styles Flashcards
SRM, PB, ABV, FLAVORS
AMERICAN PALE ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 5-10 (Light gold to light amber)
P.B. 30-50 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 4.5-6.2% (Normal)
Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium body with moderate to high carbonation
Commercial example: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Shaker pint
AMERICAN PALE ALE: KEY FLAVORS
Moderate-high to high levels of grapefruit, pine & other American hop flavors, backed by light malt flavors of pie crust or graham cracker with little or no caramel flavor. Fruity esters from fermentation are generally low.
AMERICAN LAGER: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 2-4 (Straw to light gold)
P.B. 8-18 IBUs (Low)
ABV 4.2-5.3%
Mouthfeel is low to medium body with very high carbonation
Commercial example: Miller High Life, Budweiser, PBR
Shaker pint
AMERICAN LAGER: KEY FLAVORS
Lightly flavored and highly carbonated, with hints of grainy malt and occasionally low, yeast derived fruitiness.
AMERICAN LIGHT LAGER: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 2-3 (Straw)
P.B. 8-12 IBUs (Low)
ABV 2.8-4.2%
Mouthfeel is very light body with very high carbonation
Commercial example: Coors Light, Miller Lite
Shaker Pint
AMERICAN LIGHT LAGER: KEY FLAVORS
Lightly flavored with a high level of perceived carbonation. May exhibit very low grainy notes and/or subtle yeast-derived fruitiness
INTERNATIONAL PALE LAGER: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 2-6 (Straw to gold)
P.B. 18-25 IBUs (Moderate)
ABV 4.5-6% (Normal)
Mouthfeel is light to medium body with moderately high to high carbonation
Commercial example: Stella Artois, Heineken
Shaker pint
INTERNATIONAL PALE LAGER: KEY FLAVORS
Moderately low grainy malt and flavor or herbal hop notes. May feature low yeast-derived fruitiness.
How does International Pale Lager differ from American Pale Lager
Its quantitative parameters bear more resemblance to Helles or Pilsner with reduced bitterness. Can also be brewed as an all-malt (no adjunct) beer.
CREAM ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 2-5 (Straw to light gold)
P.B. 8-20 IBUs (Low)
ABV 4.2-5.6% (Lower to normal)
Mouthfeel is low to medium body with high carbonation
Commercial example: Genesee Cream Ale
Shaker pint
CREAM ALE: KEY FLAVORS
Sweet-corn malt flavor, often augmented by low levels of DMS (Dimethyl Sulfide), may feature low floral or herbal hop notes and/or fruity esters.
AMERICAN WHEAT BEER: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 3-6 (Straw to gold)
P.B. 15-30 IBUs (Moderate)
ABV 4-5.5% (Lower to normal)
Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium body with moderately-high to high carbonation. May sometimes exhibit a bit of creaminess.
Commercial example: Bells Oberon Ale
Shaker pint
AMERICAN WHEAT BEER: KEY FLAVORS
Soft, flour-like, wheat malt flavors layered with moderate levels of citrusy or fruity American hop flavor. Bitterness varies from low to pronounced.
AMERICAN BLONDE ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 3-6 (Straw to gold)
P.B. 15-28 IBUs (Moderate)
ABV 3.8-5.5% (Lower to normal)
Mouthfeel is light to medium body with moderate carbonation
Commercial example: Kona Big Wave Golden Ale
Shaker pint
AMERICAN BLONDE ALE: KEY FLAVORS
Bready malt flavors. Sessionable with enough hop character to keep it from being sweet or monochromatic. Light fruity fermentation flavors.
AMERICAN AMBER ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 10-17 (Light amber to dark amber)
P.B. 25-40 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 4.5-6.2% (Normal)
Mouthfeel is medium to medium-full body with moderate to high carbonation
Commercial example: Bell’s Amber Ale
Shaker pint.
AMERICAN AMBER ALE: KEY FLAVORS
Moderate grapefruit, pine & other American hop flavor, often with notable malt flavors of caramel and toffee but never roast, coffee, or chocolate notes. Fruity esters from fermentation are generally low.
CALIFORNIA COMMON: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 9-14 (Light amber to amber)
P.B. 30-45 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 4.5-5.5% (Normal)
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, moderate to moderately-high carbonation
Commercial example: Anchor Steam
Shaker pint
EXPLAIN CALIFORNIA COMMON
Style grew out of immigrant efforts to adapt lager brewing techniques to warm, New World conditions. In California, fermentations were conducted in coolships in an effort to keep the beer as cool as possible. Considered a hybrid style, featuring fermentation by lager yeast conducted at higher-than-normal temperatures. The modern style is defined by Anchor Steam and it shares many similarities with American Amber Ale.
AMERICAN IPA: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 6-14 (Gold to amber)
P.B. 40-70 IBUs (Assertive)
ABV 5.5-7.5% (Normal to elevated)
Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium body, moderate to moderately-high carbonation.
Commercial example: Lagunitas IPA
Shaker pint
AMERICAN IPA: KEY FLAVORS
Assertive bitterness paired with high levels of hop aroma and flavor, featuring American or New World varieties from New Zealand, Australia, etc. Some support from crackers or biscuit-like malts with very little, if any, caramel or darker malt flavors.
DOUBLE IPA: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 6-14 (Gold to amber)
P.B. 60-100 (Highly assertive)
ABV 7.5-10% (High)
Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium body, moderate to moderately-high carbonation, low alcohol warmth typical
Commercial example: Avery Maharaja
Tulip glass
DOUBLE IPA: KEY FLAVORS
Features intense to extreme levels of hop aroma, flavor & bitterness, predominantly from American or New World varieties. Subdued malt flavor shows water cracker or biscuity if perceptible.
BLACK IPA: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 25-40 (Brown to black)
P.B. 50-90 IBUs (Highly assertive)
ABV 5.5-9% (Normal to high)
Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium body, moderate carbonation
Commercial example: 21st Amendment Back in Black
Shaker pint
BLACK IPA: KEY FLAVORS
Medium to high American hop flavor with assertive hop bitterness. Mild roasty notes of chocolate and coffee but never burnt.
WHITE IPA: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 5-6 (Light gold to gold)
P.B. 40-70 IBUs (Assertive)
ABV 5.5-7% (Normal to elevated)
Mouthfeel is medium-light body with moderate to moderately-high carbonation
Commercial example: New Belgium Accumulation
Shaker pint
WHITE IPA: KEY FLAVORS
Moderate American or New World hop aroma backed by bready malt flavor, complemented by fruity esters of banana and stone fruit and/or notes of coriander from spice additions
HAZY IPA: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 3-7 (Straw to gold)
P.B. 25-60 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 6-9% (Elevated to high)
Mouthfeel is medium to medium-full body, moderate carbonation, may have low alcohol warmth
Commercial example: The Alchemist Heady Topper
Shaker pint or Tulip glass
HAZY IPA: KEY FLAVORS
Intense American hop aroma and ripe, tropical fruit or fruit juice-like flavors dominate this style. Bitterness is pronounced but subdued compared to other types of IPA.
SESSION IPA
Must be less than 5%
Hard to distinguish from American Pale Ale - BJCP does not try to define Session IPA as a distinct style.
BA guidelines say APAs are allowed to have caramel flavor to them (but are not required)
Session IPA SHOULD have more hop aroma, flavor & bitterness than atypical APA
AMERICAN PORTER: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 22-40 (Brown to black)
P.B. 25-50 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 4.8-6.5% (Normal to elevated)
Mouthfeel is medium to medium-full body with moderate carbonation
Commercial example: Founders porter
Shaker pint or Nonic pint
AMERICAN PORTER: KEY FLAVORS
Roasty with supporting notes of caramel, toffee, chocolate, and often a lightly burnt flavor, may feature US (resiny) or UK (herbal, floral) hop character but this is secondary to the malt flavor profile.
AMERICAN BROWN ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 18-35 (Dark amber to black)
P.B. 20-30 IBUs (Moderate)
ABV 4.3-6.2% (Normal)
Mouthfeel is medium to medium-full body, moderate to moderately-high carbonation
Commercial example: Smuttynose old Brown Dog Ale
Shaker pint
AMERICAN BROWN ALE: KEY FLAVORS
Malt flavors of caramel, butty, and toasty, occasionally with light chocolate, but should not include any coffee or burnt flavors. May feature American hop flavor.
AMERICAN STOUT: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 30-40 (Dark brown to black)
P.B. 35-75 IBUs (Assertive)
ABV 5-7% (Normal to elevated)
Mouthfeel is medium to full body, moderately-high to high carbonation, may feature low astringency.
Commercial example: Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
Shaker pint
AMERICAN STOUT: KEY FLAVORS
Coffee and chocolate roast with lightly burnt notes, backed by citrusy or resiny American hop flavor and assertive bitterness.
IMERIAL STOUT: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 30-40 (Dark brown to black)
P.B. 50-90 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 8-12% (High to very high)
Mouthfeel is full to very full body, low to moderate carbonation, some alcohol warmth often apparent
Commercial example: Samual Smith’s Imperial Stout
Snifter
IMERIAL STOUT: KEY FLAVORS
Intensely roasty with coffee and dark chocolate, with secondary notes of caramel and dark fruits such as prunes, raisins, and figs. American hop aroma and alcohol notes may add additional complexity
AMERICAN STRONG ALE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 7-18 (Gold to dark amber)
P.B. 50-100 IBUs (Assertive)
ABV 6.3-10% (Elevated to high)
Mouthfeel is medium to full body, moderately low to moderate carbonation, alcohol warmth often present
Commercial example: Stone Arrogant Bastard
Snifter or Tulip
AMERICAN BARLEYWINE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 9-18 (Light amber to dark amber)
P.B. 50-100 IBUs (Pronounced)
ABV 8-12% (High to very high)
Mouthfeel is full, chewy body, with low to moderate carbonation and significant yet smooth alcohol warmth
Commercial example: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale
Snifter
AMERICAN BARLEYWINE: KEY FLAVORS
Assertive hop flavor, often of American or New World varieties, though any variety may be used. Hop aromas are supported by rich caramel and toffee malt, moderate fruity esters, alcohol aromatics, and prominent bitterness
WHEATWINE: SRM, PB, ABV, Mouthfeel, Example & Glassware
SRM 6-14 (Gold to amber)
P.B. 30-60 IBUs (Moderate
ABV 8-12% (High to very high)
Mouthfeel is medium-full to full body, low to moderate carbonation, alcohol warmth often present.
Commercial example: Two Brothers Bare Tree Weiss Wine
Snifter
WHEATWINE: KEY FLAVORS
Intense bready wheat malt with supporting caramel & honey, moderate fruity esters & light hopping.
SRM RANGE: STRAW
2-3
SRM RANGE: LIGHT GOLD
4-5
SRM RANGE: GOLD
6
SRM RANGE: LIGHT AMBER
10
SRM RANGE: AMBER
14
SRM RANGE: DARK AMBER
17
SRM RANGE: DARK BROWN
25
SRM RANGE: BLACK
40
PB: LOW
8-16 IBUs
PB: MODERATE
15-25 IBUs
PB: PRONOUNCED
25-50 IBUs
PB: ASSERTIVE
40-60 IBUs