Style
Expectations
Exploring the Complexity of Beer Diversity
Why Do We Classify Beer By Style???
Styles: Serve as a
designation to tell us…
 “What it is”
“What to expect”
Helps us organize the many
types of beers.
Style Description Sources
 GABF styles list (30 pages)
 Brewer’s Association Styles List (40
pages)
 Beer Advocate Website:
www.beeradvocate.com
 Wholesaler Cicerone Study Guide located
on the G: Drive under Education/Training
Pilsner Glass
Showcases color, clarity and
carbonation. Promotes
head retention. Enhances
volatiles.
Beer Styles: Pilsner, Light Lager,
Schwarzbier
Pilsner
Czech Pilsner
German Pilsner
German Pilsner
 Origin: Germany’s interpretation of the original pilsner
from Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.
 Aroma & Flavor: It is generally paler, lighter in body
and less malty than its Bohemian cousin. Aroma is spicy,
piney, herbal Hallertau hops and taste is crisp, smooth
malt and leans towards hoppy.
 Color: Straw to light gold, very clear, creamy white head
(2-5° SRM)
 Bitterness: Medium (25-45 IBU)
 ABV: Normal (4.4 – 5.2%)
 Examples: Bitburger, Warsteiner, Trumer Pils, Left Hand
Polestar Pilsner, Victory Prima Pils, Becks
Bohemian/Czech Pilsner
 Origin: Developed in Pilsen (Plzen) in 1842, they were trying to
copy the pale ales from England.
 Aroma & Flavor: It is darker and more malty (some
breadiness) than the German Pilsner. The nose is a nice caramel
bouquet juxtaposed with a fresh, spicy Saaz-hop aroma. In the
taste: sweet malt, hints of Carmel – hop bitterness. Dense
white head. Small amount of diacetyl is acceptable.
 Color: Pale to gold, very clear, creamy white head (3.5-6° SRM)
 Bitterness: Medium (35-45 IBU)
 ABV: Normal (4.2 – 5.4%)
 Examples: Pilsner Urquell (meaning original source), Chechvar
(Budvar in Europe), Lagunitas Pils, New Belgium Blue Paddle
Pilsner Urquell
 Bright shimmering golden hue, decent white lacing on top.
 Spicy hops with a canned Mandarin orange citric aroma to
them, big waft of grassy grain in the nose as well.
 Just as smooth as it is crisp. Strong hop bitterness, sweet
grassy malted barley brushes across the palate with dry
biscuity notes. Spiciness from the hops is pronounced with
a light and dry finish that holds a long road of flavor.
 ABV 4.4%
New Belgium Blue Paddle
 Climb on in and grab a paddle. Our first foray into
lagered beers, Blue Paddle Pilsener-Lager, is a Czech
style pilsener with a refreshing crispness from noble
hops and a rich, malty finish. ‘Blue Paddle’ refers to the
implement our warehouse manager’s Grandma once
used to lovingly paddle his a** when she caught him
stealing sips of her beer. With more body than a
traditional Belgian pils, Blue Paddle is reflective of
Europe’s finest pilseners.
 IBU 33
 ABV 4.8%
Weizen Glass
 Designed to take on volume and head,
while locking in aroma.
 Beer Styles: German Wheat Beers,
American Ales, Witbier
American Wheat Ale
 Origin: Like the German wheat beers but made with
standard ale yeast – SO NO BANANNA OR CLOVE! Can have
up to 50% malted wheat which bolsters the body (creamy)
and crispness of the beer.
 Aroma & Flavor: Crisp from the wheat, also flour and
bread notes. Tends to be a little hoppier than the German
wheats. Esters present in soft fruitiness or tartness.
 Color: Cloudy, straw to gold (3-6° SRM)
 Bitterness: Low to Medium (15-30 IBU)
 ABV: Low to slightly elevated (4-5.5 %)
 Examples: Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat, Widmer
Hefeweizen, Samuel Adams Hefeweizen, Sam Adams
Summer Ale, New Belgium Sunshine, Schlafly Hefeweizen,
Breckenridge Agave Wheat, Goose Island 312
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
 Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer is a lively, refreshing
ale with a natural citrusy flavor and distinctive cloudy
appearance. This easy drinking American-style wheat
beer has become our most popular offering, and the
best-selling craft beer in the Midwest.
 A slightly cloudy, light-bodied, straw colored beer with a
sweet, bready malt flavor, low hop bitterness and a hint
of citrus.
 IBU 14
 ABV 4.4%
Witbier
 Origin: A true medieval beer dating back to the 11th century in
northern Europe. Wit or white or weisse describe the beer’s pale
color. They usually contain un-malted wheat (up to 50%) and
sometimes raw oats as well as other spices – chiefly coriander and
orange peel– a holdover from the gruit days and the spice trade that
the area was known for although these beers also used hops – one
of the first to do so. The style had basically died by the 1950’s and
was resurrected in the late 1970’s in Hoegaarden by Pierre Celis.
 Aroma & Flavor: The nose has a nice spicy yeast character with
subtle notes of orange and coriander while the taste is dry soft
creaminess. The finish is dry, crisp, tart.
 Color: Hazy, pale straw or orange (2-4 °SRM)
 Bitterness: Low to medium (10-20 IBU)
 ABV: Normal (4.5-5.5 %)
 Examples: Hoegaarden, Blue Moon, Shock Top, Unibroue Blanche
de Chambly, Samuel Adams White Ale, New Belgium Mothership Wit
Blue Moon
 Pale cloudy orange with a creamy tiny bubbled
lace
 Soft lemony fermented wheat smell, hint of
coriander with a powdery yeast undertone in the
aroma.
 Moderate body, smooth and creamy with a light
malt crispness which mostly comes from the
wheat. Big burst of sweetness at first from the
malt and coriander, hops are distant and let the
spices be dominant throughout. Hints of orange
peel and light pepper corns. Crisp wheat is very
refreshing and seems to linger for ever and
evolves into an increasingly crisp and semi dry
finish.
 ABV 5.4%
Pint Glass
 Easy to drink out of. It can be used
with any type of beer, including ale,
lager, and low alcohol beers.
Beer Styles: Amber,
Porter, Brown, Pale Ale,
IPA
American Brown Ale
 Origin: American version of the classic English Brown
Ale. In true American fashion, it is hoppier and maltier
and browner!
 Aroma & Flavor: Rich, toasty, caramel and chocolate
maltiness with low to medium Northwest hop balance.
 Color: Clear, dark amber to dark brown. (18-35° SRM)
 Bitterness: Medium to high (20-40 IBU)
 ABV: Normal to slightly elevated (4.3-6.2 %)
 Examples: Great River Farmer Brown, Bell’s Best
Brown, Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale, Big Sky Moose Drool
Big Sky Moose Drool
 That first taste, the best part of a beer after a long day. We
want to make that better than ever. So we made Moose
Drool. The name sounds a little iffy, but it's really the best
Brown Ale you'll ever taste. That's why Moose Drool is far
and away the best-selling beer brewed in Montana.

It's chocolate brown in color with a creamy texture. A
malty beer with just enough hop presence to keep it from
being too sweet. The aroma mostly comes from the malt
with a hint of spice added by the hops. Moose Drool is
brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black
malts; and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and WILLAMETTE HOPS.
 IBU 26
 ABV 5.1%
American India Pale Ale
(IPA)
 Origin: The American take on this classic English pale
ale. Assertive Northwest hops are showcased.
 Aroma & Flavor: Resinous, bold citrus (grapefruit)
dominate both the nose and flavor.
 Color: Clear and can be coudy, gold to amber / copper
(6-15° SRM)
 Bitterness: High (40-70 IBU)
 ABV: Elevated (5.5 – 7.5%)
 Examples: Samuel Adams Latitude 48, New Belgium
Ranger IPA, BLVD Single Wide IPA, Bell’s Two-Hearted
Ale, Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Founder’s Centennial IPA,
Anchor Liberty Ale, Avery IPA, Lucky Bucket IPA
Lucky Bucket IPA
 Lucky Bucket's Original American IPA
begins with a nice malt bill that lets the
brew stand up to the mountain of hops
added later. The end result is a big, wellbalanced West Coast-style IPA with terrific
hop flavor and aroma. Lucky Bucket IPA
weighs in at
 IBU 65
 ABV 6.3%
Ranger IPA
 New Belgium’s foray into the true American
India Pale Ales ~ bring out the hops! This clear
amber beauty bursts at the starting gates with
an abundance of hops: Cascade (CITRUS!),
Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead
off the beer, with Cascade (more citrus!) added
again for an intense dry hop flavor. It’s those
3LBs that may through a slight sheen and
maybe even a couple itty bits of particulate to
Ranger’s gaze but only you will see this in the
booth, never in the globe. With pale and dark
caramel malts that harmonize with the hop
flavor from start to finish. Ranger is a
sessionable splendor for all you hop
heads. Remember IPA’s are intentionally
unbalanced, deliciously bitter...
 70 IBU and 6.5% ABV.
Tulip Glass
Captures and enhances
volatiles, while it induces and
supports large foamy heads.
Beer Styles: Belgian Ales,
Imperial Stout, Double IPA
Belgian Dubbel
 Origin: The single and double are the beers that can be
traced to medieval times. Single for everyday use and
double – the stronger – for Sundays and other religious
holidays.
 Aroma & Flavor: Spicy, fruity yeast character with a
strong, creamy malt backbone - dark fruit, raisins or prunes
and soft hop aromas. Also hints of banana and clove
 Color: Usually clear, amber to copper red (10-17°SRM)
 Bitterness: Low to medium (15-25 IBU)
 ABV: Elevated to high (6-7.6%)
 Examples: Ommegang Abbey Ale, Chimay Premiere (RED),
New Belgium Abbey, BLVD Nommo
New Belgium Abbey
 This beer has a complex sweet,
chocolate, roast, chewy maltiness that
combines with intense isoamyl acetate
esters (candy banana aroma adds to the
sweet perception) along with phenolic
notes (clovey, herbal) to create a fullbodied, full warming character Traditional
Belgian Dubbel ale. It is no wonder why
it is such an award winner
 ABV 7%
Belgian Tripel
 Triple/Tripel:
 Origin: Credited to the Trappist Westmalle monesatry in the
1930’s, it was probably a response to the popularity of pale
beers in the mid 20th century.
 Aroma & Flavor: Fermentation produces peppery, fruit,
honey flavors combined with a soft malt base and a modest
hop character. Medium body with higher alcohol that is
generally not perceived.
 Color: Clear, yellow to deep gold (4.5 - 7°SRM)
 Bitterness: Medium (20-40 IBU)
 ABV: High (7.5-9.5%)
 Examples: New Belgium Trippel, Westmalle Tripel, St.
Bernardus Tripel, Chimay Cinq Cents, Samuel Adams New
World Triple
New Belgium Trippel
 This Traditional Belgian-Style Triple is the
definition of phenolic (clove-like, spicy,
warm herbal, Bazooka Joe bubble gum)
along with its banana aroma (IsoAmyl
Acetate ester) produced by the Belgian
yeast strain. With Noble Saaz hop flavor,
evident alcohol warmth, creamy mouthfeel
and full body, this Belgian Tripple is a
bittersweet, spicy and complex beer.
 Process is a split fermentation- 1/2 lager
yeast and 1/2 belgian yeast is blended
then bottle conditioned.
 ABV 7.8%
Belgian Quadrupel
(Quad)
 Origin: The category encompasses anything that is
strong, malty and of a darker color. Historic connections
are a stretch. Most of these beers have a more modern
provenance.
 Aroma & Flavor: Big caramel malt, dark fruit, spicy
yeast – hops are there, but only to balance.
 Color: Clear to hazy, amber to coppery-brown (1222°SRM)
 Bitterness: Medium 20-35 IBU
 ABV: High (8-11%)
 Examples: Goose Island Pere Jacques, Dogfish Head
Raison d’Extra, Lost Abbey Judgment Day, Russian River
Salvation, Boulevard 6th Glass
Boulevard
th
6
Glass
 ”Do you know what dwells in a glass?” asks Ole, in Hans
Christian Andersen's The Watchman of the Tower. Better
known for stories such as The Little Mermaid, Andersen
wrote this short, cautionary tale for a somewhat older
audience. Our quadrupel ale, also meant for the mature
connoisseur, is a deep and mysterious libation, dark
auburn and full-bodied, its sweetness deceptive. As Ole
describes the glasses in turn, their contents become
more ominous until, in the sixth glass...
 IBU 22
 ABV 10.5%
Imperial/Double IPA
 Origin: Whacking out the regular IPA with extreme hop
bitterness and flavor. The term imperial has come to be
defined by American craft brewers as anything brewed
stronger or bigger. The origin of the term relates to the
Imperial Stouts of England and the relationship to the
Russian Imperial court and the English Crown. .
 Aroma & Flavor: Assertive hops up front balanced with
a big creamy malt backbone. Bitter finish.
 Color: Clear but can have a haze, golden amber to
medium reddish copper; sometimes an orange tint (815° SRM)
 Bitterness: Very high (60-120 IBU)
 ABV: High (7.5-10 %)
 Examples: Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA, Stone
Ruination IPA, Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, Peace
Tree Hop Sutra
Peace Tree Hop Sutra
 Pours hearty enough to create an amazing head
but not hard enough to draw the yeast into the
glass. Slight chill haze to the reddish amber color.
Ruby red grapefruit, ripe mangoes, and gritty
pinesap resin in the nose tell the story of a very
hoppy beer. Smoothness in the medium body. The
maltiness provides a thick foundation for the hops
to come down hard on--sip after sip, the taste
buds get hammered with a uniform bitterness and
an explosively complex flavor. Alcohol knocks hard
with a clean estery fruitiness. Finishes bitter with
some alcohol on the breath.
 ABV 9.0%
Imperial Stout
 Origin: The strongest stout, born from the relationship
between the monarchies of Russia (the court of
 Catherine the Great in the late 18th century) and England;
it is brewed to a higher gravity and hopped accordingly.
 Aroma & Flavor: Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty,
burnt, bittersweet, molasses and tobacco. Noticeable
 alcohol presence.
 Color: Very dark reddish brown to black (30-40+ °SRM)
 Bitterness: High (50-90 IBU)
 ABV: High (8-12%)
 Examples: North Coast Old Rasputin, Deschutes The
Abyss, Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, Three Floyd’s Dark
Lord, Peace Tree Imperial Stout
Peace Tree Imperial Stout
 Very dark pour. Black as night in the glass. One
finger darker mocha color head with awesome
retention and decent lacing.
Roasted malts. Milk chocolate. A little coffee.
Chocolate upfront. Kind of an off roasted malt taste
in the middle with a hint of coffee bitterness, some
floral hop notes, and a slight Belgian yeast flavor.
Finishes with more chocolate and a light alcohol
burn. Might work with some age but is a bit off now.
Full body. Very creamy. High carbonation.
 ABV 10%
Thank You
Enjoy!