the Union

Beer Varieties

There are lots of different varieties of beer for you to select from depending on your personal tastes.

Probably the most popular type of be is the lager beer. Lager, which in German translates "to store", is usually served at a cool temperature rather than room temperature. Lager beer is made by aging the beer in large kegs and giving it the yeast an opportunity to settle. As a result, the beer is crisp, with a delicate flavor. Lager takes more time than most beers to make, because of the aging process.

Another popular type of fermented beer is bock beer. This beer gets its name from German beer town of Einbeck. Book beer tends to be a bit heavier than lager beer. Its dark color is due in part to the malts used in the brewing process.

Ales are a type of beer that have particular characteristics that are common to all ales: all ales have a fruitiness to them, a certain amount of acidity, and a slightly pleasant bitter aftertaste. Ales take less time to brew than lagers and the aging time is slightly less as well. Ales are served at a warmer temperature than lagers, generally at room temperature.

Stout and porter types of beer are different from lagers and ales. These beers can be sweet or dry and flavored with oats, roasted malt barley, or certain types of sugars. Porter and stouts are known for their deep coloring and depth of taste, making them perfect for meals that are made of meat or fish. Combining a meal of oysters and stout beer has long been known as one of the finest meals in Europe.

Occasionally, a beer will be referred to as "dry" beer. This means the amount of sugar left in the beer after the fermentation process. Dry beers are typically fermented over a longer period of time than other varieties of beers so that most of the sugar within the beer has turned into alcohol. In the end, this fermentation process produces a beer that is crisp and clear with little aftertaste.

There are different variations of beer all over the world, especially with the popularity of the micro brewery that is popping up all over the place. Micro breweries are a great way for you to sample the local beers when you are traveling and to get a good taste for what the culture is like in a particular country or city.

By: Bob Kandl

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