How to Talk Like a Beer Snob
Beer is a big community. You have casual beer drinkers, bar goers, home brewers, enthusiasts, and everything in between. But what if you’re just a beginner? What if you don’t know a lot about beer? Entering the beer community can feel intimidating when you don’t know as much as your new peers. One step you can take towards feeling more brew bravery is to improve your lingo. Here are a few vocabulary words and some basic descriptions.
Hops: One of the main ingredients in beer. Hops give beer lots of aroma and flavor. They’re also known for making beer “bitter.” You can tell how bitter a beer is by looking at its International Bitterness Unit (IBU). Hops are why more bitter beers (like IPAs) are often described as “hoppy.” They can be British, American, or European.
Malt: Another main ingredient in beer. Malts are made from barley or wheat (which is why beer is not friendly to those with gluten intolerance). Malt flavors you have probably heard about include sweet, caramel, chocolate, roasted coffee, biscuit, and wheat. Check out Omission Beer for a unique gluten-free experience. Omission is still brewed with malt (meaning it still tastes like other beer), but the gluten protein is broken down with a special enzyme.
Yeast: The final main beer ingredient. The yeast fermentation process is what makes beer alcoholic. For the most part, there are two types of yeast: top fermenting/ale and bottom fermenting/lager. Ale yeasts rise to the top during fermentation, lager yeasts to the bottom. Makes sense. And now you can tell the difference between a lager and an ale.
Body: This is how the beer feels in your mouth. A beer’s body is usually described as light (more watery), medium, or full/heavy. As a general rule, light lagers/pilsners are light; IPAs and Pale Ales are medium; and porters and bocks will be more full.
Finish: How the beer tastes after swallowing. Does it leave a fruity aftertaste? Can you taste it at all after swallowing? You get the idea.
If you’re interested in gaining a far more extensive vocabulary, check out this list. There won’t be a quiz, we promise.