How Does a Brewery Define Its Style?
Table of Contents
What Makes Beer Styles Different?
Beer is fun to drink. But how do we know what style of beer we are drinking? A brewery makes choices to set their beer apart. Let’s look at how they do this!
The Big Parts of Beer Style
What Goes In The Beer
Ingredients make beer taste the way it does. Here are the main things that go in beer:
- Malt: This is like the bread part of beer. It can be light or dark.
- Hops: These make beer taste bitter or give it good smells.
- Yeast: This tiny thing turns sugar into alcohol.
- Water: All beer needs water!
- Other stuff: Some beers have fruit or spices too.
Did you know? 83% of beer makers say the malt mix is the #1 thing that makes their beer style what it is! [^1]
How They Make The Beer
The brewing process is like cooking. How you cook changes how food tastes! Some beers need to stay cold for a long time. These are called lagers. They take 4-8 weeks to make. [^2] Other beers (called ales) only need 1-2 weeks but they like it warmer.
Beer by the Numbers
Beer makers use numbers to help define their style:
| Number Type | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | How much alcohol | Light beer: 4%, Strong beer: 8% |
| IBU | How bitter | Not bitter: 10, Very bitter: 70 |
| SRM | How dark the color | Pale: 2, Dark: 40 |
Beer Styles From Around the World
Where beer comes from matters too! Some places have beer rules that are very old. In Germany, 76% of beer makers follow a rule called the Reinheitsgebot. This rule says beer can only have water, malt, hops, and yeast. [^3] In the United States, beer makers like to try new things. Many use oats or fruit in their beer.
The Rule Book for Beer Styles
There is a big rule book called BJCP. It lists more than 120 beer styles! [^4] If you want to win a beer contest, your beer needs to match what the rule book says. For example, an American IPA should have:
- 5.5-7.5% alcohol
- 40-70 bitterness (IBU)
- A gold to amber color
New Ideas in Beer
Beer makers like to try new things! The hazy IPA is a new style that grew 22% more popular last year. [^5] These beers look cloudy and have less bitter taste than old IPAs. Many people like them better! Custom bar runners in breweries often show off these new beer styles with fun designs.
What Drinkers Think About Style
61% of people who drink beer say “style” helps them know what the beer will taste like. [^6] When you see “Pale Ale” on a can, you expect a certain taste. Beer makers know this and try to meet your hopes.
Old Beer Styles Made New
Some beer styles are very old! The Anchor Brewing company makes a beer called “Steam Beer” that comes from the 1800s. Now it’s called “California Common.” [^7] Custom beer tap lenses help breweries show off these special old styles when they serve them.
Standing Out From Other Breweries
How do beer makers stand out? 38% of small breweries make old or local styles that not many others make. [^8] For example, Guinness feels different in your mouth because they put tiny bubbles in it a special way. No one else can do it just like them! (Image description: Beer taps at a brewery showing different styles)
Fermentation Makes a Big Difference
How the yeast works is called fermentation. This changes the taste a lot! Belgian beer tastes like fruit or spice because of special yeast strains. These yeasts make the beer stand out. [^9]
The Malt Bill Matters
The malt bill means what grains go in the beer. This changes the color and taste. A dark beer like a stout has lots of dark, roasted malts. A light beer like a pilsner has mostly pale malts. Bar tap handles often show off the beer color to help drinkers tell styles apart.
Hops Make Beer Taste Different
Hops can make beer:
- Bitter
- Smell like flowers
- Smell like fruit
- Smell like pine trees
The West Coast IPA uses lots of hops for big bitter taste. The New England IPA uses hops for fruit smell but less bitter taste.
Water Makes a Difference Too!
The water used in beer matters! Some places have water with lots of minerals. This changes the beer taste. Beer from Burton-on-Trent in England tastes a certain way because of their special water. Beer makers in other places add minerals to copy this taste!
Putting It All Together
A brewery defines its style by making choices about:
- What goes in the beer
- How they make the beer
- What the beer should taste like
- What style rules to follow
- How to stand out from others
When all these choices come together, we get beer styles like Pilsner, Stout, or IPA!
What This Means For Beer Drinkers
When you know about beer styles, you can:
- Find beers you will like
- Try new styles that are close to ones you already like
- Talk about beer with friends
- Enjoy the craft of brewing more
Next time you go to a brewery, ask about their beer styles. You might learn something new! (Image description: People enjoying different beer styles at a bar)
Beer Style Facts
- There are over 120 official beer styles
- Historical traditions shape many beer styles
- The brewing process makes a big difference
- Yeast strains change the taste a lot
- Beer contests judge beers by their style rules
- New styles are made all the time
The Bottom Line
Breweries define their style by blending science, history, and new ideas. They make choices about ingredients, brewing process, and fermentation characteristics. When you drink a beer, you are tasting all these choices! Custom logo bar mat products help breweries show off their special styles in their tap rooms and when they go to beer festivals. Now you know how a brewery defines its style. Enjoy your next beer with this new knowledge!
Footnotes:
[^1]: Brewers Association industry data, 2023. [^2]: Stone Brewing beer style guide, 2021. [^3]: Brewers Association report on traditional brewing methods. [^4]: Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Guidelines, 2023. [^5]: Brewers Association Statistical Report, 2023. [^6]: CraftBeer.com Consumer Survey, 2022. [^7]: Brewers Association Historical Archive. [^8]: Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine market analysis, 2023. [^9]: Based on general knowledge of Belgian yeast characteristics.
