Beer is one of the world’s oldest and most popular alcoholic beverages. It’s enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, and there are hundreds of different styles of beer available. Each style of beer has its unique characteristics, such as color, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common styles of beer.

1. Ale

Ales are brewed with a warm fermentation process, and they typically have a fruity and complex flavor profile. They range from light and crisp to dark and full-bodied. Common types of ales include pale ales, brown ales, porters, and stouts.

2. Lager

Lagers are brewed with a cold fermentation process, which produces a cleaner and crisper flavor profile. They’re typically lighter in color and body than ales, with a milder flavor. Common types of lagers include pilsners, bocks, and Vienna lagers.

3. Belgian

Belgian beers are known for their distinctive yeast strains, which give them a fruity and spicy flavor profile. They’re often brewed with a combination of spices, herbs, and fruits, which gives them a unique and complex flavor. Common types of Belgian beers include Dubbels, Tripels, and Saisons.

4. Wheat

Wheat beers are brewed with a high proportion of wheat in the grain bill, which gives them a light and refreshing flavor profile. They often have a cloudy appearance and a distinctively smooth mouthfeel. Common types of wheat beers include Hefeweizens, Witbiers, and Berliner Weisse.

5. IPA

IPA stands for India Pale Ale, and it’s one of the most popular styles of beer in the world. IPAs are known for their hoppy and bitter flavor profile, which is achieved by using a high amount of hops in the brewing process. They come in a variety of strengths and styles, including American IPAs, English IPAs, and New England IPAs.

6. Sour

Sour beers are brewed with wild yeast strains or bacteria, which give them a tart and acidic flavor profile. They often have a fruity or funky aroma and are typically light-bodied. Common types of sour beers include Goses, Lambics, and Berliner Weisse.

7. Stout

Stouts are a type of ale that are known for their dark color and full-bodied flavor profile. They’re often brewed with roasted malts, which give them a rich and chocolatey taste. Common types of stouts include Irish Stouts, Milk Stouts, and Imperial Stouts.

8. Porter

Porters are a type of ale that are similar to stouts but typically lighter in color and body. They have a roasty flavor profile and often have notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. Common types of porters include American Porters, English Porters, and Baltic Porters.

9. Brown Ale

Brown ales are a type of ale that are known for their malty and nutty flavor profile. They’re typically light to medium-bodied and have a low hop bitterness. Common types of brown ales include English Brown Ales, American Brown Ales, and Belgian Dubbels.

10. Fruit

Fruit beers are brewed with real fruit, which gives them a fruity and sweet flavor profile. They come in a variety of styles, from light and refreshing to dark and full-bodied. Common types of fruit beers include Raspberry Wheat, Cherry Lambic, and Apricot Blonde.

11. Smoked

Smoked beers are brewed with malt that has been smoked over wood or peat fires, which gives them a distinct smoky flavor profile. They often have a full-bodied mouthfeel and a malty sweetness. Common types of smoked beers include Rauchbiers, Smoked Port