Ale & Beer Styles
Everything that makes a beer an ale – the families, the styles, the brands worth knowing.
What Is a Pale Ale? Styles, Flavor and How It Differs from IPA
Pale ale is the gateway craft beer – balanced, approachable and endlessly varied. Here is what defines the style and how it splits into American, Engl
Pale Ale vs IPA: What’s the Difference?
They look the same on the menu, but an IPA pushes hops and strength further than a pale ale. Here is exactly where the line sits – and where it blurs.
Christmas Ale: Spiced Winter Beers and How to Choose One
Honey, cinnamon, ginger and warmth – the Christmas ale is the holidays distilled into a glass. Here is the style and the best bottles to seek out.
Golden Ale: A Refreshing British Classic, Explained
Born as Britain’s answer to cold lager, the golden ale is bright, crisp and sessionable. Here is what defines the style and where it came from.
Pumpkin Ale: The Definitive Guide to Fall’s Favorite Beer
Cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of real pumpkin – and a lot of nostalgia. Here is the complete guide to America’s favorite seasonal beer.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: The Beer That Started American Craft
If one beer launched American craft, it was this one. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale put Cascade hops on the map – here is why it still matters.
Belgian Ale: The World’s Most Characterful Beers
Spicy, fruity, sometimes funky – Belgian ales are the most expressive beers on earth, and it all comes from the yeast. Here is your map.
Brown Ale: Nutty, Toasty and Underrated
Nutty, toasty and comforting, the brown ale is one of beer’s most underrated styles. Here is the family explained, from English to American.
Blonde Ale: The Easy-Drinking Gateway Craft Beer
Crisp, gentle and golden, the blonde ale is craft beer’s friendliest handshake – the style that converts lager drinkers. Here is everything that defin
Amber Ale: The Malty Middle Ground of Craft Beer
Caramel, toast and a copper glow – amber ale is the malty middle ground that balances hop-forward pales and roasty browns. Here is the full style guid
Red Ale: Irish Reds, American Reds and Everything Between
A ruby glow, a caramel backbone – red ale splits cleanly into easy-drinking Irish reds and punchy American reds. Here is how to tell them apart.
Cream Ale: The Smooth American Hybrid
No cream, no lactose – just a smooth, easy American classic that blurs the ale-lager line. Here is what a cream ale really is.
India Pale Ale (IPA): The Complete Guide to Craft Beer’s Defining Style
No style defines modern craft beer like the IPA. From its colonial-era origins to today’s hazy, juicy New England variants, here is the complete IPA p
Lager vs Ale: What Is the Actual Difference?
People assume lagers are light and ales are dark and strong. The truth is simpler and more interesting: it all comes down to the yeast and the tempera
What Is an Ale? The Complete Guide to the World’s Oldest Beer Family
Ale is not a single beer but an entire family – defined by the yeast and the warm temperature it ferments at. Here is the definitive primer on what an