Blonde Ale

DESCRIPTION:
One of the most approachable styles, a golden or blonde ale is an easy-drinking beer that is visually appealing and has no particularly dominating malt or hop characteristics. Rounded and smooth, it is an American classic known for its simplicity. Sometimes referred to as "golden ale." These beers can have honey, spices and fruit added, and may be fermented with lager or ale yeast.

COLOR:
Straw to Light Amber

CLARITY:
Brilliant to Slight Haze

PAIRS WITH:

• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Pepper Jack
• Sugar Cookies

Brown Ale

DESCRIPTION:
Roasted malt, caramel-like and chocolate-like characters should be of medium intensity in both flavor and aroma. American-style brown ales have evident low to medium hop flavor and aroma and medium to high hop bitterness. The history of this style dates back to U.S. homebrewers who were inspired by English-style brown ales and porters. It sits in flavor between those British styles and is more bitter than both.

COLOR:
Deep Copper to Very Dark Brown

CLARITY:
Clear

PAIRS WITH:

• Grilled Meats and Vegetables
• Aged Gouda
• Pear Fritters

Lager

DESCRIPTION:
American lager has little in the way of hop and malt character. A straw to gold, very clean and crisp, highly carbonated lager.

COLOR:
Straw to Gold

CLARITY:
Brilliant to Clear

PAIRS WITH:

• Pho
• Smear Ripened Cheese
• Kettle Corn

Pilsner

DESCRIPTION:
A classic German-style pilsener is straw to pale in color. A malty residual sweetness can be perceived in aroma and flavor. Perception of hop bitterness is medium to high. Noble-type hop aroma and flavor are moderate and quite obvious. Distinctly different from Bohemian-style pilsener, this style is lighter in color and body and has a lower perceived hop bitterness.

COLOR:
Straw to Pale

CLARITY:
Brilliant

PAIRS WITH:

• Shellfish, Chicken, Salads
• White Cheddar
• Shortbread Cookies

IPA

DESCRIPTION:
Characterized by floral, fruity, citrus-like, piney or resinous American-variety hop character, this style is all about hop flavor, aroma and bitterness. This has been the most-entered category at the Great American Beer Festival for more than a decade, and is the top-selling craft beer style in supermarkets and liquor stores across the U.S.

COLOR:
Gold to Copper, Red/Brown

CLARITY:
Clear to Slight Haze

PAIRS WITH:

• Spicy Tuna Roll
• Blue Cheeses
• Persimmon Rice Pudding

Porter

DESCRIPTION:
Brown porters have no roasted barley or strong burnt/black malt character. Low to medium malt sweetness, caramel and chocolate is acceptable. Hop bitterness is medium. Softer, sweeter and more caramel-like than a robust porter, with less alcohol and body. Porters are the precursor style to stouts.

COLOR:
Dark Brown (may have red tint) to Very Dark

CLARITY:
Opague

PAIRS WITH:

• Roasted or Grilled Meats
• Gruyere
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Stout

DESCRIPTION:
A coffee- and chocolate-forward ale, but with a hop aroma and flavor, often from a citrus-forward variety. American stouts are bold, with a distinctive dry-roasted bitterness in the finish. Fruity esters should be low, but head retention high. The addition of oatmeal is acceptable in this style and lends to the body and head retention.

COLOR:
Black

CLARITY:
Clear to Opague

PAIRS WITH:

• Grilled Lamb
• Sharp Cheddar
• Coffee Cake