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Writer's pictureDeb Carr

Popular Beer Styles In Australia


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It's not exactly a big secret that Australians enjoy a good beer or three (or more) after a long hot or cold day! Some say beer runs in the blood Down Under, people have a fascination with the wonderful brew and raise a toast with it whenever they get chance!


Of course, Australia isn't alone in this, plenty of other perfectly lovely counties like Germany, Holland, and even Japan are dedicated to the beer making (and drinking) arts, but as in most things, Australians have their own unique way of doing things, so grab your Stubby Holder and slide a cold one in, because it's time to find out more about what styles of beer Aussies love best!


"Beer Style" is the term used to differentiate and categorise beers by attributes like ingredients, flavour, colour, strength, recipe, production method, history and origin. In the most basic terms, beer styles generally fall into one of two main categories, Ales or Lagers. The primary differences between the two are the yeast and the fermentation temperature.


Yeast - There are basically two types of yeast used in beer making, a "top-fermenting" type in which the yeast ferments at the top of the fermentation vessel, and a "bottom-fermenting" type that sinks to the fermentation vessel's bottom. Ales are brewed using the top-fermenting variety yeast that produces chemicals called esters that have an effect on the flavour of the beer. Lagers are brewed with bottom -fermenting yeasts that usually don't have much of an effect on the flavour.


Temperature - The yeasts in Ales ferment best when warmer, usually around room temperature and up to around 24-26 degrees Celsius so they tend to mature and ferment faster than lagers do. Lagers ferment at cooler temperatures around 7-15 degrees Celsius. 


The two main categories of beer are also divided up into styles. The following are some of the beer styles that Australians love best!


Pale Ale - Originating in England, pale ales are a very popular hoppy style that ranges from golden to light copper in colour. The style is characterised by the hops used to produce its bitterness, flavour, and aroma. Pale ales have low to medium maltiness and a medium body.


India Pale Ale (IPA) - This is a very hoppy, stronger version of pale ale, that was brewed to last the long sea voyage from Britain to India back in the 1800s. The character of India pale ales is an intense hop bitterness and a high alcohol content. IPAs are a crisp, dry ale that ranges from pale gold to deep copper in colour, and have a medium maltiness and body.


Bitter - This is a simple draught pale ale originating in Britain, and is the most popular style of ale produced there, as well as being very popular in Australia. Bitter is copper coloured and quite hoppy.


Extra Special Bitter (ESB) - The English style extra special bitter, or ESB, features medium to strong hop qualities in its aroma, flavour, and bitterness. The rich flavour comes from residual malt sweetness. ESB is golden to copper coloured and more full bodied than other bitters.


Dunkel Weizen - This German dark wheat style beer is marked by a distinctively sweet maltiness and a somewhat chocolate like character derived from roasted malt. The colour ranges from copper brown to dark brown. It contains no hop flavour or aroma.


Amber - Ambers are, like their name suggests, a reddish brown or copper-coloured beer that is quite malty in taste and aroma. It originated in Britain. The level of hop taste and aroma varies according to the brewer's preference.

Of course, this is just a sampling of the many delectable beer styles Australians enjoy, just enough to send you off to the pub to whet your whistle!

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