Wednesday’s Helping: Types of Beer

Several bubbly varieties

There’s nothing more satisfying or as refreshing than drinking an ice-cold beer during the game with a bunch of nibblers or party snacks. Again, humans have consumed beer since the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. Whether you like dark brews or lighter ones, here’s a short primer on this intoxicating libation:

Ale - tastes fruity and sweet. These beers are normally fermented between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The procedure uses top fermenting yeast that floats on the surface for the first few days of the fermentation process before gradually settling on the bottom.

Lager - possesses a mild sweetness. This type of beer is usually fermented between 46 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The process uses yeast that settles at the bottom, but does not float to the top during the early days of the fermentation cycle.

Pilsner – actually a kind of lager that originated in Bohemia of the modern Czech Republic. Pilsners tend to be light-colored to golden-yellow appearance with a slight earthy flavor.

Stout – aka Porter – tend to be darker compared to other types of beer and originated in the British Isles during the early 1700s. Stouts are known for their strength in flavor.