Beer Glossary

Have you ever been down the pub and overheard your local beer buffs talking about the body and head of a beer? Fear not, they’re not doctors. They’re talking about components of a beer. There is a lot (and we mean a LOT) of beer lingo used in the brewing world. 

But if you’re trying to keep up with the beer aficionados, here’s a Beavertown glossary of beer terminology to help you sound smarter next time you’re down your local. 

ABV

No, it doesn’t stand for Absolute Beer Victory (that feeling of cracking open a fresh can after a long day at work). ABV means Alcohol by Volume. It describes the amount of alcohol in your favourite beer. And is displayed as a percentage like 4.5% right on the can. 

Ale

A type of beer brewed with warm fermentation. It’s the perfect balance of hoppy and bitter and malty. Some are light in colour and taste and some are darker and toastier. There are lots of sub-types of ales like IPAs and APAs.

Balance

The perfect mix of flavours. If a beer has good balance it’s got the perfect mix of hoppyness, bitterness, and sweetness. The flavour that makes you go “ahh!” after every sip. 

Barley

A common ingredient used for malt (an essential ingredient in beer making). There are lots of different types of malt but barley is traditional in the UK.

Bitterness

All beer has a certain bitterness to it. That’s thanks to our friends, the hops. Different types of beers have different levels of bitterness. For example, ales are usually more bitter than lagers. Bitterness is measured in IBUs – International Bitterness Units.

Body

The body of a beer describes how it feels in your mouth. Like the fullness and viscosity or how it feels full on your tongue. Different types of beers have different bodies (hey, just like humans!) and how thick or smooth it feels will depend on the type of beer you’re drinking. 

Cask

A cask, AKA a barrel or keg, is a container used in beer making. Beer gets put into a metal cask before being given a second fermentation. This is what creates the fizziness and gets rid of the sugars from the malt as the yeast digests it.

Craft Beer

What is craft beer? Craft beer is the best type of beer. It’s made in small batches by independent companies. And crafted by expert brewers who focus on creating great flavour. 

Crisp/Crispy

If your mates take a sip of beer and go “ahhh crispy!” they’re not talking about Cocoa Pops. A crisp beer is one that is dry, hoppy, and bitter but also light-bodied. It’s refreshing AF. 

Draught Beer

You know when you go to the pub and they have all the taps along the bar with the different beers in? Those are draught beers. Served straight from the cask to your glass. Lots of beer buffs think draught beer tastes better. But only you can decide that. 

Hazy

A hazy beer has a cloudy look to it and has a creamy mouthfeel (that’s the fancy word for how something feels in your mouth). It’s made with oats instead of barley as the malt which gives it that cloudy look and a thicker, fuller body. They’re also known as New England IPAs (or an NEIPA for short).

Head

The foamy, frothy, white layer on the top of your pint. Too much head and all you’ll get is a mouthful of foam. Not enough head and you don’t get all the good beer-y aromas as you sip. It’s a fine balance. 

Hops

We’re a big fan of hops around here. Hops are important for giving a beer its juicy, fruity, pine, or earthy notes. And they give beer its bitterness. 

IBU

Stands for International Bitterness Units. We chatted about this back in the section about bitterness.

Imperial

Imperial beers are also called “double” or “strong” beers. And are basically any beer brewed with an extra dose of grains and hops to produce a higher ABV . 

IPA

If your dad tells you IPAs aren’t cool, don’t listen to him! It stands for India Pale Ale and has some fun history we won’t go into right now (but check out our blog all about IPAs). These beers tend to be really hoppy with juicy fruit and tropical notes. And they’re definitely our favourite types of beer (don’t tell the others). 

Juicy

You know what we just said about IPAs being juicy? When a beer is described as juicy it will have strong fruit juice flavours and aromas – usually citrus, tropical, or stone fruit. Yum!

Keg

A keg is just another word for a cask. There are different sizes of kegs. And each size holds a different number of beers. How many beers? That’s for us to know and for you to read all about. 

Lager

Beers are usually split into 2 main types: ale and lager. There are some differences between ale and lager. Where ale is fermented at warmer temps, lagers are fermented at much cooler temps and just like ales, there are lots of different types of lagers. 

Malt

One of the 4 main ingredients in beer. All beer begins with malt. Traditionally, it’s barley, but oats and rice can be used too. The malt is roasted which adds colour and a roasted kind of flavour to a beer. 

Malty

A malty beer will have a tasty roasted flavour and subtle sweetness. Think caramel, toffee, nuts, and bread notes. The colour might be somewhere from an amber to mahogany and will have a really smooth taste. 

Milk Stout

A milk stout is a type of dark beer. They contain lactose, a sugar found in milk (hence the name). It’s known for being quite sweet. And it has a really full-bodied mouthfeel. Sign us up!

Pale Ale

A pale ale is a type of ale. They’re not called pale ale because they look pale in colour. They’re actually brewed with pale malt (malt that’s not been roasted too dark). So the flavour has less of that roasted taste. 

Pilsner

A type of lager that comes from Czechia… and Bavaria…. Both places claim to have invented it. Either way, this is a dry, aromatic and hoppy type of beer that is super refreshing and tasty. 

Porter

Porters are kinda like stouts. Well, they’re more like the older sibling of a stout. They’re dark and complex with a really unique flavour. 

Session Beer

Ever really fancied a drink down the pub with your mates but don’t want the heavy alcohol? Session beers, like Neck Oil session IPA are your friends. They’re brewed to be balanced in flavour and  lighter on the booze. And specifically designed for the grand old British tradition of afternoon sessions down the pub (enjoyed responsibly of course). 

Sour Beer

No, this beer hasn’t gone bad. It’s a lip-puckering brew with distinct sour or tart notes. That’s it, that’s the story. Cheers!

Stout

A dark beer that has the reputation for either having a toucan as a mascot or being for old people. Well we say no to the stereotype! Stout is smooth with a deep caramelised coffee flavour and creamy mouthfeel we just can’t get enough of. 

Tannins

Tannins exist in a bunch of different foods and drinks. You’ve probably heard people talking about the tannins in wine but they’re in beer too. They come from malt husks and add flavour, colour, and mouthfeel to your favourite beers. 

Yeast

Just like bread, yeast is used to ferment your beer. They break down the sugars from the malt and turn them into alcohol. Even our alcohol-free beers use yeast – it’s a clever strain that fully ferments without producing alcohol! Cool huh?