The Brewmaster’s Choice: A Savvy Guide to Beer Styles

A gentle breeze sweeps through the air as the sun dips low over the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi. Perched on an outdoor terrace, you firmly hold a glass of ice-cold beer, condensation beads gleaming in the warm glow.

The atmosphere buzzes with the clink of glasses and the melody of laughter, creating an irresistible vibe. Naturally, friends flock to the city, drawn by the magnetic pull of a blossoming beer experience and appreciation for alcohol in Abu Dhabi.

Join the adventure by exploring the variety that defines the burgeoning beer culture in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this article, you’ll learn all about the different beer styles you may enjoy soon in Abu Dhabi.

The Big 2: Ales and Lagers

All beers fall within two main categories: ales and lagers.

Contrary to popular belief, ales aren’t always darker and stronger than lagers. The crucial difference lies in the yeast used and fermentation temperature.

Ales, which use Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, ferment warmer (68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit), offering a quicker turnaround of about 10 days. They often boast spicy, fruity flavors.

Conversely, lagers are crafted using Saccharomyces pastorianus yeast. They undergo a colder fermentation (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit), resulting in a more straightforward taste. They can take weeks or even months to reach perfection, offering a crisp, clean, and refreshing profile.

Armed with this foundational knowledge, you’re ready to delve deeper into the specifics of ales and lagers.

Ales

Diverse and flavorful, ales encompass various styles. From hoppy IPAs to smooth cream ales, here are some of the types of ale beer available in the market today:

1.     Pale Ale

Pale ales, an excellent entry point for beginners in the world of beer in Abu Dhabi, are more complex than you would imagine. Contrary to the name, not all pale ales are pale. What distinguishes them is their moderate hoppiness, creating an interesting and approachable drinking experience.

Here are some pale ale styles you should try:

• American Pale Ale
• American Amber Ale
• Blonde Ale
• English-Style Pale Ale (ESB)
• English-Style Bitter

2.     Wheat Beer

Perfect for beer novices, wheat beers dispel preconceptions with their refreshing and diverse flavors. They offer a pleasant transition from grape to grain with a composition of 30 to 60 percent wheat.

Some wheat beer styles experts recommend you explore:

• Belgian-Style Witbier
• Berliner-Style Weisse
• American-Style Wheat Wine Ale
• American Wheat
• German-Style Dunkelweizen
• German-Style Hefeweizen

3.     India Pale Ale (IPA)

Known for its hop-forward nature, IPA is the reigning champion in craft beer. Hops impart aromas and flavors like citrus, spice, and tropical fruits.

India Pale Ale (IPA) comes in diverse subcategories, each with its unique twist:

• Black IPA: Combining the hop-forward nature of IPAs with dark roast malts, Black IPA offers a rich, dark color and a blend of hoppy bitterness and roasty taste.
• Juicy, Hazy Imperial, and Double IPA: This hop-heavy trio presents a flavorful adventure, often featuring fruity, tropical, and juicy characteristics. Expect a haze, minerality, and a delightful play of sweetness when you try these IPA varieties.
• New England IPA: Known for its hazy appearance and tropical fruitiness, New England IPAs offer a departure from traditional bitterness, embracing a softer, fruity, and sometimes sweet profile.

4.     Cream Ale

Easy-drinking and crisp, cream ales are highly carbonated with low bitterness, making them ideal for craft beer newcomers.

5.     Wild and Sour Ales

This diverse category features beers fermented with more than yeast, incorporating wild elements like Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and pediococcus.

Wild and sour ales can come in three varieties:

• Gose: This German-style wild ale is brewed with lactic acid-producing bacteria and salt, offering a sweet, sour, and salty taste. It is a refreshing choice for summer.
• Gueuze: This beer style from Belgium combines new and aged lambics to create a complex and effervescent blend with fruity esters and bacteria.
• Lambic: Another Belgian-style wild beer, Lambic is spontaneously fermented, resulting in a sour beer with fruity esters and a distinctive bacterial character.

6.     Stouts

These dark ales boast rich, robust flavors from roasted barley, offering notes of chocolate or coffee. Some are aged in Bourbon barrels for a deeper and boozier character.

Popular stout styles include:

• American Imperial Stout: This is a bold and higher-alcohol variant with an intense taste.
• American Stout: This dark ale offers roasted malt flavors, showcasing a balance of bitterness.
• English-Style Oatmeal Stout: Smooth and creamy, this stout features the addition of oats for a silky texture.
• English-Style Sweet Stout (Milk Stout): Brewed with lactose, this style imparts sweetness and a fuller mouthfeel.
• Irish-Style Dry Stout: Guinness, a dry Irish stout, is iconic, known for its nitro pour with cascading carbonation and a softer mouthfeel.

7.     Kölsch

Kölsch stands as an outlier in the beer world, being an ale fermented at lager temperatures.

Originating from Cologne, Germany, this clear, golden style boasts a crisp yet fruity flavor. Its drinkability is exceptional, thanks to its light color and malt character.

Perfect for a prolonged drinking session, Kölsch undergoes fermentation with ale yeast, with some brewers employing lager yeast in the bottling process. This offers a unique experience which is a refreshing deviation from conventional beer styles.

Lagers

Lagers are the cool and crisp counterparts of ales. Here are the different kinds:

1.     Pilsner

Pilsners, with roots tracing back to 1842 in Pilsen, Czech Republic, boast a spicy, floral, and mildly malty flavor. Renowned for their refreshing bitterness, they’re perfect for a clean finish on a hot day.

Explore styles like American Lager, Bohemian-Style Pilsener, European-Style Export, and German-Style Helles for a diverse Pilsner experience.

2.     Mexican Lagers

Brewed with flaked corn or maize, Mexican Lagers epitomize light and easy drinking. Often served with lime, they transport you to a beachy haven, making every sip a laid-back escape.

3.     Helles

Helles, which is German for “pale in color,” has a golden hue, fuller body, and a hint of sweetness. It is crisp and clean, with a hint of spice and light bitterness. It boasts a well-balanced choice for those seeking harmony and drinkability.

4.     Oktoberfest

German Oktoberfest beers embody festive celebrations with their light, golden hue and a clean, bready taste. Meanwhile, American versions, which are more amber in color and come with more bitterness and hops, provide a unique twist on this traditional style.

A Toast to Abu Dhabi’s Flourishing Beer Tapestry

From the warmth of ales to the crispness of lagers, the city’s beer culture beckons exploration. Embrace the diversity, savor unique flavors, and join the burgeoning beer scene. With friends, laughter, and the clink of glasses, enjoy Abu Dhabi’s beer adventure with glee.