Beer 101: Lagers, ales & everything else.

All beer is either a lager or an ale — the difference is the yeast and the temperature it ferments at. Lagers ferment cold and slow. Ales ferment warm and fast.

Lagers

Clean, crisp, refreshing. Think Kingfisher, Heineken, most Indian beers. Great with spicy food because they cool your mouth without fighting the flavours.

Ales

IPA

India Pale Ale. Bitter, hoppy, aromatic. Grapefruit, pine, tropical notes.

Wheat Beer

Cloudy, soft, orange-y. Hoegaarden, Bira White. Brunch's best friend.

Stout

Dark, roasty, coffee and chocolate notes. Guinness is the classic.

ABV & IBU

ABV is alcohol strength (usually 4-8%). IBU is bitterness — a Kingfisher is around 10, a serious IPA can hit 70.