America is the home of some of the most diverse and the largest beer culture in the world. Yes, you read that right, these guys are even more abundant in craft beer than Germany. With more than 5000 breweries, some of which make dozens of beers every beer, USA breweries have generated, defined and advanced the craft beer movement. If you're into American craft beer and feel like tasting its flavours, here's what you need to know.
What's Craft Beer
Source: blog.saucey.com
The Brewers Association defines American craft brewers as small, independent and traditional; small refers to brewing less than 6 million barrels per year (the federal limit for the small breweries excise tax exemption). Independent means that less than 25% of the brewery is owned by a non-craft brewer. Traditional suggests that there is a focus on beers made entirely or mostly from malt, and not diluted with adjuncts such as corn or rice.
American IPA (West Coast)
This beer has an ABV of 5.5 - 7.5%, IBU, 40 - 70 and gold to light amber colour. The west coast IPA became popular among brewers in thePacific Northwest and California in the late ’90s who tested using an even bigger amount of different hops in their brews. This is the beer style that brought to light the capacity of hops to hit you in the face with their citrusy, fruity and piney flavours and aromas.
The American IPA (East Coast)
This American craft beer has an ABV of 6 - 9%, IBU of 25-60 and hazy and opaque colour. What makes the American IPA from the East Coast different from the West Coast counterpart, is the fact that West Coast brewers use almost flavourless yeasts to focus on hop aromas and flavour, while East Coast brewers use complicated East Coast yeast strains. These yeasts biotransform large amounts of hops to make and boost stone fruit, melon and citrus notes with a softer bitterness than the West Coast IPA.
Black IPA, White IPA, Belgian IPA, Imperial Red Ale
Source: insider.com
The black IPA (Cascadian dark ale, American black ale or Indian black ale), is quite popular. Some criticize these beers are nothing but an extra-hoppy porter that goes with the IPA name. Some black IPAs are actually pretty similar to standard American IPAs with a bit of dark roasted malt. These beers are dry and hoppy, with a touch of toasted, or burnt flavours.
White IPAs have less resemblance to anything else known as "IPA"; they're often just the American-hopped versions of the Belgian witbier style, made with wheat and spices. Imperial or double red ales usually don't take the "IPA" name but are tightly related in flavour and ingredients to IPA or Double IPA. This beer has a strong hop presence (just like IPA) but with a more dark malt flavour. It's caramelly, toffee-like, or toasty and there may be a presence of fruity flavours from yeast.
American Lagers
While traditional pilsners are bright lagers made from barley malt, water, yeast, and a notable dose of hops, most American adjunct lager cuts hop flavour and replace it with a bit of the barley with sugars derived from corn and rice. The final product is light in the body, low in bitterness, and gentle in alcohol.
When it comes to an American craft lager, there are many options and styles such as schwarzbiers, Märzens, bocks, and dunkels. Some are balanced pale lagers in the 6 to 6.5% ABV range, while others are very malty or hoppy that can rise above 9 or 10% ABV. There's no established tradition behind these beers, so brewers are free to be wild with creativity.
Cream Ale
Source: brewer-world.com
The cream ale has a longer history than most modern American beer styles. It was devised by pre-Prohibition American ale brewers and marketed as a competition drink to the market of dominating pale lagers. Cream ales are a bit common with the adjunct lagers that you can find today.
This ale is similarly brewed with corn or rice adjuncts, making it easy for drinking. It has a touch of bitterness and fruity character compared to its mass-produced brethren. Even though the name suggests one thing, this beer tends to be light and crisp, and there's no dense creaminess. Cream ales have a doughy malt character and a bit of an additional touch of cooked corn-like flavour.
Blonde Ale and American Hefeweizen
If you're an easy beer drinker, then the American blonde ale or American pale wheat ale is your choice. Both are pale in colour with a drainy or beady maltiness, with a hint of sweetness. These beers have some bitterness for balance, but they don't have a hop-forward flavour. American 'hefeweizens,' such as pale wheat ales are unlike the traditional hefeweizens of Bavaria. American blonde ales and pale wheat beers served as a gateway to more intensely flavorful brews. Beers labelled as "blonde" or "American wheat" are bright and hoppy or sour and fruity and easy for drinking.
American Amber or American Red Ale
These two USA beers are related to the pale ale and are often recognised as independent styles, although they overlap in recipe and flavour. You can call them twins, but they aren't the same. American amber and red ales have a toasty, caramelly and lightly roasted malt flavour with a citrusy, floral American hop profile. These beers often seem a bit sweeter and fuller in the body than their pale counterparts; they're also a bit darker in colour.
