It wouldn’t be surprising to say that beers encompass a wide range of flavors. Factors such as ingredients, age, and storage process influence its taste. In simple terms, beer can be categorized as bitter, sweet, or sour. And trust me, there is no single taste description that encompasses them all.
If you happen to be a beer lover, you probably understand what I mean because beers have a unique and special taste. On the other hand, if you’re trying it for the first time, I understand that you might be eager to know how it tastes. While there is no direct answer, we have gathered some facts and listed the primary flavors of beers. So let’s get started!
Crisp or Clean
If you’re like me and love beers, you know that this drink can be crisp or clean. When a beer is described as crisp or clean, it is likely to be refreshing. Crisp beers have a subtle impact on the taste buds and leave a drying, finishing sensation in the mouth.
Malty
People often use the term “malty” when discussing beers. But what exactly do malty beers taste like? When a beer is malty, it tends to have a sweet flavor. Brewmasters add malt to beer to give it an alcoholic content.
In addition, since malt contributes sugar during the brewing process, it adds layers of sweetness to the beer. Furthermore, malty beers may contain hints of dark fruit, toffee, nuts, toast, and caramel.
Dark or Roast
Have you ever wondered how beers acquire a dark or roast taste? Beers with flavors reminiscent of cocoa and coffee are known for having a dark or roast flavor profile. Additionally, these beers have a dark appearance and provide a rich mouthfeel.
Hoppy
Hoppy beers have a strong malt foundation. However, the most prominent characteristic is the hop flavor. With a generous amount of hops added during the brewing process, these beers possess a pronounced bitterness and a fragrant aroma.
Typically, hoppy beers offer herbal deep-bittering undertones with hop flavors reminiscent of hay, earth, grass, and wood.
Fruity
Fruity beers have gained popularity due to their spicy taste and bold fruit flavors. As the name suggests, fruity beers showcase a variety of fruit flavors, including melon, citrus, and berry.
Oftentimes, brewers incorporate fruit puree and actual fruit into the beer to enhance the fruity undertones. The brighter fruit notes may encompass flavors such as lemon, tart apple, pear, peach, apricot, banana, and lime.
Smoke
If a beer’s flavor profile is described as smoky, it means that the malt used in the brewing process has been exposed to wood fires. These are the beers that have been aged in oak barrels. Unlike dark or roast beers, smoke beers exhibit a more natural woody taste.
Sour, Tart, or Funky
This category of beers offers a wide array of flavors, including funky, rustic, farmhouse, leather, grass, hay, wine-like, and earthy notes.
We can expect that sour, tart, and funky beers have undergone aging in wooden barrels. While it may sound counterintuitive, these beers possess an acidic flavor that may cause a slight puckering sensation on the lips.
