Ultimate AC Tasting Exam- Styles Flashcards
1
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Light Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 8 – 12 SRM: 2 – 3 ABV: 2.8 – 4.2%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: Coors briefly made a light lager in the early 1940s. Modern versions were first produced by Rheingold in 1967 to appeal to diet-conscious drinkers, but only became popular starting in 1973 after Miller Brewing acquired the recipe and marketed the beer heavily to sports fans with the “tastes great, less filling” campaign. Beers of this genre became the largest sellers in the United States in the 1990s.
- Tasting impressions: A highly carbonated, very light-bodied, nearly flavorless lager designed to be consumed very cold. Very refreshing and thirst-quenching.
- Characteristic ingredients: Two- or six-row barley with up to 40% rice or corn as adjuncts. Additional enzymes can further lighten the body and lower carbohydrates. Lager yeast. Negligible hops.
- Commercial examples: Bud Light, Coors Light, Grain Belt Premium Light American Lager, Michelob Light, Miller Lite, Old Milwaukee Light
2
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 8 – 18 SRM: 2 – 3.5 ABV: 4.2 – 5.3%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Evolved from Pre-Prohibition Lager (see Category 27) in the US after Prohibition and World War II. Surviving
breweries consolidated, expanded distribution, and heavily promoted a beer style that appealed to a broad range of the population. Became the dominant beer style for many decades, and spawned many international rivals who would develop similarly bland products for the mass market supported by heavy advertising. -
Tasting impressions: A very pale, highly-carbonated, lightbodied,
well-attenuated lager with a very neutral flavor profile and low bitterness. Served very cold, it can be a very refreshing and thirst-quenching drink. - Characteristic ingredients: Two- or six-row barley with up to 40% rice or corn as adjuncts. Lager yeast. Light use of hops.
- Commercial examples: Budweiser, Coors Original, Grain Belt Premium American Lager, Miller High Life, Old Style, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Special Export
3
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Cream Ale
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 8 – 20 SRM: 2 – 5 ABV: 4.2 – 5.6%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: A sparkling or present-use ale from the second half of the 1800s that survived prohibition. An ale brewed to
compete with lagers brewed in Canada and the US Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest states. - Tasting impressions: A clean, well-attenuated, highly carbonated, flavorful American “lawnmower” beer. Easily drinkable, smooth, and refreshing, with more character than typical American lagers, yet still subtle and restrained.
- Characteristic ingredients: American six-row malt, or a combination of six-row and North American two-row. Up to 20% maize in the mash, and up to 20% sugar in the boil. Any variety of hops, often rustic American or Continental. Clean ale yeast, or a mix of ale and lager beer.
- Commercial examples: Genesee Cream Ale, Liebotschaner Cream Ale, Kiwanda Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale, Little Kings Cream Ale, Sleeman Cream Ale, Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale
4
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Wheat Beer
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 15 – 30 SRM: 3 – 6 ABV: 4.0 – 5.5%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: An American craft beer adaptation of the Weissbier style using a cleaner yeast and more hops, first produced by
Anchor in 1984 and later widely popularized by Widmer. - Tasting impressions: A pale, refreshing grainy, doughy, or bready wheat beer with a clean fermentation profile and a variable hop character and bitterness. Its lighter body and higher carbonation contribute to its easy-drinking nature.
- Characteristic ingredients: Clean American ale or lager yeast. German Weissbier yeast is inappropriate. Wheat malt (often 30–50%, lower than is typical in Weissbier). American, German, or New World hops.
- Commercial examples: Bell’s Oberon, Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer, GoodLife Sweet As! Pacific Ale, Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Widmer Hefeweizen
5
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
International Pale Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 18 – 25 SRM: 2 – 6 ABV: 4.5 – 6.0%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: In the United States, developed as a premium version of the standard American lager, with a similar history.
Outside the US, developed either as an imitation of Americanstyle lagers, or as a more accessible (and often drier and less bitter) version of a Pilsner-type beer. Often heavily marketed and exported by large industrial or multi-national breweries. - Tasting impressions: A highly-attenuated pale lager without strong flavors, typically well-balanced and highly carbonated. Served cold, it is refreshing and thirst-quenching.
- Characteristic ingredients: Two- or six-row barley. May use rice, corn, or sugar as adjuncts, but are generally all malt.
- Commercial examples: Asahi Super Dry, Birra Moretti, Corona Extra, Devils Backbone Gold Leaf Lager, Full Sail Session Premium Lager, Heineken, Red Stripe, Singha
6
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
International Amber Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 8 – 25 SRM: 6 – 14 ABV: 4.5 – 6.0%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: Varies by country, but generally represents either an adaptation of the mass-market International Pale Lager, or an evolution of indigenous styles into more generic products.
- Tasting impressions: A smooth, easily-drinkable, malty amber lager with a flavorful caramel or toast character. Usually fairly well-attenuated, often with an adjunct quality and restrained bitterness.
- Characteristic ingredients: Two-row or six-row base malt. Color malts such as Victory, amber, or roast. May be all malt or use adjuncts. Sugars or coloring agents possible. Caramel malt. European or American hops.
- Commercial examples: Abita Amber Lager, Brooklyn Lager, Capital Wisconsin Amber Lager, Dos Equis Amber, Grain Belt NordEast, Yuengling Lager
7
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
International Dark Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 8 – 20 SRM: 14 – 30 ABV: 4.2 – 6.0%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Darker versions of International Pale Lagers often created by the same large, industrial breweries and meant to
appeal to a broad audience. Often either a colored or sweetened adaptation of the standard pale industrial lager, or a more broadly accessible (and inexpensive) version of more traditional dark lagers. - Tasting impressions: A darker, richer, and somewhat sweeter version of international pale lager with a little more body and flavor, but equally restrained in bitterness. The low bitterness leaves the malt as the primary flavor element, and the low hop levels provide very little in the way of balance.
- Characteristic ingredients: Two- or six-row barley with corn, rice, or sugars adjuncts. Light use of caramel and darker roasted malts. Commercial versions may use coloring agents.
- Commercial examples: Baltika #4 Original, Dixie Blackened Voodoo, Heineken Dark Lager, Saint Pauli Girl Special Dark, San Miguel Dark, Shiner Bock
8
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Czech Pale Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 20 – 35 SRM: 3 – 6 ABV: 3.0 – 4.1%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Josef Groll initially brewed two types of pale beer in 1842–3, a výčepní and a ležák, with the smaller beer having
twice the production; Evan Rail speculates that these were probably 10 °P and 12 °P beers, but that the výčepní could have been weaker. This is the most consumed type of beer in the Czech Republic at present. - Tasting impressions: A lighter-bodied, rich, refreshing, hoppy, bitter pale Czech lager having the familiar flavors of the stronger Czech Premium Pale Lager (Pilsner-type) beer but in a lower alcohol, lighter-bodied, and slightly less intense format.
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Characteristic ingredients: Soft water with low sulfate and
carbonate content. Traditional Czech hops. Czech Pilsner malt. Czech lager yeast. Low ion water provides a distinctively soft, rounded hop profile despite high hopping rates. - Commercial examples: Bernard světlé pivo 10, Březňák světlé výčepní pivo, Notch Session Pils, Primátor Antonín světlé výčepní, Radegast Rázna 10, Únětické pivo 10°
9
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Czech Premium Pale Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 30 – 45 SRM: 3.5 – 6 ABV: 4.2 – 5.8%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Commonly associated with Pilsner Urquell, which was first brewed in 1842 after construction of a new brewhouse by burghers dissatisfied with the standard of beer brewed in
Plzeň. Bavarian brewer Josef Groll is credited with first brewing the beer, although there may have been earlier pale lagers in Bohemia. Just as important as the lager yeast was the use of English malting techniques. - Tasting impressions: A refreshing pale Czech lager with considerable malt and hop character and a long finish. The malt flavors are complex for a Pilsner-type beer. The bitterness is strong and clean but lacks harshness, which gives a wellbalanced, rounded flavor impression that enhances drinkability.
- Characteristic ingredients: Traditional Czech hops. Czech malt. Czech lager yeast. Water low in sulfate and carbonate provides a distinctively soft, rounded hop profile despite high hopping rates. The bitterness level of some larger commercial examples has dropped in recent years, although not as much as in many contemporary German examples.
- Commercial examples: Bernard světlé ležák 12°, Budvar 33 světlý ležák, Pilsner Urquell, Pivovar Jihlava Ježek 11%, Primátor Premium lager, Radegast Ryze hořká 12, Únětická pivo 12°
10
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Czech Amber Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 20 – 35 SRM: 10 – 16 ABV: 4.4 – 5.8%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: A Vienna-style lager which has continued to be brewed in the Czech Republic. A resurgence of small breweries opening in the Czech Republic has increased the number of examples of this style.
- Tasting impressions: A malty amber Czech lager with a hop character that can vary from low to quite significant. The malt flavors also can vary, leading to different interpretations and balances ranging from drier, bready, and slightly biscuity to sweeter and somewhat caramel-like.
- Characteristic ingredients: Pilsner and caramel malts, but Vienna and Munich malts may also be used. Low mineral content water. Traditional Czech hops. Czech lager yeast.
- Commercial examples: Bernard Jantarový ležák 12°, Gambrinus Polotmavá 12°, Kozel Semi-Dark, Lobkowicz Démon 13, Primátor 13 polotmavé, Strakonický Dudák Klostermann polotmavý ležák
11
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Czech Dark Lager
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 18 – 34 SRM: 17 – 35 ABV: 4.4 – 5.8%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: The U Fleků brewery has been operating in Prague since 1499, and produces the best-known version. Many small, new breweries are brewing this style.
- Tasting impressions: A rich, dark, malty Czech lager with a roast character that can vary from almost absent to quite prominent. Malty balance and an interesting and complex flavor profile, with variable levels of hopping that provides a range of possible interpretations.
- Characteristic ingredients: Pilsner and dark caramel malts with the addition of debittered roasted malts are most common, but additions of Vienna or Munich malt are also appropriate. Low mineral content water. Traditional Czech hops. Czech lager yeast.
- Commercial examples: Bernard černý ležák 12°, Budvar tmavý ležák, Herold lmavé silné pivo 13°, Kozel Dark , Krušovice černé, Primátor dark lager, U Fleků Flekovský tmavý ležák 13°
12
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Munich Helles
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 16 – 22 SRM: 3 – 5 ABV: 4.7 – 5.4%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: Created in Munich in 1894 to compete with pale Pilsner-type beers, often first credited to Spaten. More popular in Southern Germany.
- Tasting impressions: A gold-colored German lager with a smooth, malty flavor and a soft, dry finish. Subtle spicy, floral, or herbal hops and restrained bitterness help keep the balance malty but not sweet, which helps make this beer a refreshing, everyday drink.
- Characteristic ingredients: Continental Pilsner malt. Traditional German hops. Clean German lager yeast.
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Commercial examples: Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, Hacker-
Pschorr Münchner Gold, Löwenbraü Original, Paulaner
Münchner Lager, Schönramer Hell, Spaten Münchner Hell,
Weihenstephaner Original Heles
13
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Festbier
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 18 – 25 SRM: 4 – 6 ABV: 5.8 – 6.3%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Since 1990, the majority of beer served at Oktoberfest in Munich has been this style. Export beer
specifically made for the United States is still mainly of the traditional amber style, as are US-produced interpretations. Paulaner first created the golden version in the mid-1970s because they thought the traditional Oktoberfest was too filling. So they developed a lighter, more drinkable but still malty version that they wanted to be “more poundable” (according to the head brewer at Paulaner). But the actual type of beer served at Oktoberfest is set by a Munich city committee. - Tasting impressions: A smooth, clean, pale German lager with a moderately strong malty flavor and a light hop character. Deftly balances strength and drinkability, with a palate impression and finish that encourages drinking. Showcases elegant German malt flavors without becoming too heavy or filling.
- Characteristic ingredients: Majority Pils malt, but with some Vienna or Munich malt to increase maltiness. Differences in commercial examples are mostly due to different maltsters and yeast, not major grist differences.
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Commercial examples: Augustiner Oktoberfest, Hacker-
Pschorr Superior Festbier, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier,
Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier, Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier,
Weihenstephaner Festbier
14
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Helles Bock
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 23 – 35 SRM: 6 – 9 ABV: 6.3 – 7.4%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: A fairly recent development in comparison to the other members of the bock family. The serving of Maibock is a seasonal offering associated with springtime and the month of May, and may include a wider color and hopping range than is seen in exported products.
- Tasting impressions: A relatively pale, strong, malty German lager with a nicely attenuated finish that enhances drinkability. The hop character is generally more apparent and the malt character less deeply rich than in other Bocks.
- Characteristic ingredients: A mix of Pils, Vienna, and Munich malts. No adjuncts. Light use of pale crystal type malts possible. Traditional German hops. Clean lager yeast. Decoction mash is traditional, but boiling is less than in Dunkles Bock to restrain color development. Soft water.
- Commercial examples: Altenmünster Maibock, Ayinger Maibock, Chuckanut Maibock, Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock, Hofbräu Maibock, Mahr’s Heller Bock
15
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
German Leichtbier
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 15 – 28 SRM: 1.5 – 4 ABV: 2.4 – 3.6%
- MaHoYO characteristics
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History/ country of origin: Traditional versions existed as drinks for physical laborers in factories or fields, but modern versions are more based on popular American products in the same class and targeted towards health or fitness conscious consumers.
Increasingly supplanted in the current market by non-alcoholic beers and radlers. - Tasting impressions: A pale, highly-attenuated, light-bodied German lager with lower alcohol and calories than standard strength beers. Moderately bitter with noticeable malt and hop flavors, the beer is still interesting to drink.
- Characteristic ingredients: Continental Pils malt. German lager yeast. Traditional German hops.
- Commercial examples: Autenrieder Schlossbräu Leicht, Greif Bräu Leicht, Hohenthanner Tannen Hell Leicht, Müllerbrau Heimer Leicht, Schönramer Surtaler Schankbier, Waldhaus Sommer Bier
16
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
Kölsch
A
- BJCP stats: IBUs: 18 – 30 SRM: 3.5 – 5 ABV: 4.4 – 5.2%
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin: Köln has a top-fermenting brewing tradition since the Middle Ages, but the beer now known as Kölsch was developed in the late 1800s as an alternative to pale lagers. Bottom fermentation was actually prohibited in Cologne. Kölsch is an appellation protected by the Kölsch Konvention (1986), and is restricted to breweries in and around Köln. The Konvention simply defines the beer as a “light, highly attenuated, hop-accentuated, clear, top-fermenting Vollbier.”
- Tasting impressions: A subtle, brilliantly clear, pale beer with a delicate balance of malt, fruit, and hop character, moderate bitterness, and a well-attenuated but soft finish. Freshness makes a huge difference with this beer, as the delicate character can fade quickly with age.
- Characteristic ingredients: Traditional German hops. German Pils, Pale, or Vienna malt. Attenuative, clean German ale yeast. Occasional small use of wheat malt. Current commercial practice is to ferment around 15 °C, cold condition near freezing for up to a month, and serve fresh.
- Commercial examples: Früh Kölsch, Gaffel Kölsch, Mühlen Kölsch, Päffgen Kolsch, Reissdorf Kölsch, Sion Kölsch, Sünner Kölsch
17
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
18
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
19
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
20
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
21
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
22
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
23
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
24
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
25
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
26
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
27
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
28
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
29
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
30
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
31
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
32
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
33
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
34
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
35
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
36
Q
Oral Exam- Beer Style:
American Lager
A
- BJCP stats:
- MaHoYO characteristics
- History/ country of origin:
- Tasting impressions:
- Characteristic ingredients:
- Commercial examples:
