Ales vs. Lagers
One of the first distinctions to make when we look at beer is the difference between ales and lagers.Within each, there are numerous styles, and most of what the average drinker will recognize will fall into one of these two categories.
Several brewing techniques will traditionally categorize a beer as either an ale or a lager, but the main difference is the use of either Ale Yeast or Lager Yeast, respectively.
Ales typically ferment at warmer temperatures, and flavors tend to be more forward, robust, and funky.
Lagers ferment cooler and are often characterized as being crisp, clean, and balanced.
Ales
Withing the Ale category, you will find some of the world's most loved craft beers and some less familiar favorites.
Stouts and Porters
On the darker end, you have beers such as stouts and porter. These are beers typically brewed with darkly roasted malts that tend to be full-bodied with malt-forward flavors. These often have a higher alcohol content, but you will learn that few things about these styles are objective as you start looking at them.
A good example of a porter is the fantastic Fat Nerd Vanilla Porter from Yulli's Brews, which is backed by a lovely chocolate & roasted malt character.
The Catchment Brewing, is offering Cow Tipper a creamy smooth stout to enjoy during winter.
Browns, Ambers, and Reds
These beers are lighter in color than stouts but still carry a leading malt presence. More often than stouts and porters, you will also find these beers will some noticeable bitterness, depending on the style. Flavors of toffee, biscuit, and caramel are common, and these beers can find a good balance between the darker, malt-heavy beers and more hop-forward brews.
Sour Beers
Sour beers are brewed with bacteria and wild yeast, which gives way to a funky, acidic beer. Sours like the Berliner Wiess are tart and often mixed with fruit, will the Gose is brewed with salt for a distinctive flavor.
Among all the sours available from our brewers, Smokey Sour from Frexi has been inspired from a mexican mezcal cocktail.
Wheat Beers
Wheat Beers have a full body and medium color. Beers like the Hefeweizen and Belgian Witbier are brewed with a distinctive yeast that has flavors of banana and clove.
The Witbier is commonly brewed with spices and orange zest.
Pale Ales/IPAs
When it comes to bitter beers, color is subjective, but the defining quality is the hop-forward bitterness. Pale Ales and Bitters are lighter in color, low-ABV beers with a strong hop flavor and aroma.
However, Imperial Pale Ales(IPAs) range from golden to black and have a much higher alcohol percentage. IPAs are also known for their hefty hop profile.
You could find a huge range among our brewers as they are one of the most common types brewed.
Lagers
Lager is both an umbrella style and a style in itself, and lager beers are the most commonly consumed beers worldwide.
American Lagers/Light Lagers
These are very light, easy-drinking beers that have a low ABV. These are often brewed with rice for a more mild malt flavor, and they also have moderate to low bitterness.
Pilsner
One of the most common beer styles in the world is the Pilsner. It comes in several varieties but is primarily characterized by a golden color and a very even balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness.
Bocks and Other Lagers
There are several other lagers that all range in color, body, and ABV.
For example, the German Doppelbock is a strong, sometimes dark lager with low bitterness and dark fruit flavors. While the Mai Bock is a light-bodied lager with malt sweetness and moderate to low bitterness. Malt Liquor also falls into the Lager category and is known for being a high-ABV light-bodied beer with moderate-to-low hop presence and an overall mild flavor.
Shop by Style
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
Tasting notesStrate & Amarillo hops impart subtle notes that, if in a wine, might be expressed as barnyard. Finishes dry and crisp.11 Days Pale AleView BeerAustralian Pale AleSold By Jervis Bay Brewing Co8 pack$51.0016 pack$84.004 pack$26.00 -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Delicate
Tasting notesEasy drinking full strength ale made with familiar Australian hops.Cubby Haus Australian AleView BeerAustralian Pale AleSold By Cubby Haus Brewing Pty Ltd12 pack$70.0024 pack$105.00 -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Clean
Tasting notesA clean crisp finish makes this fruity hop forward beer an ideal thirst quencher. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Heavy / Thick
Tasting notesOrganic Cacao nibs were gently roasted to bring out a rich toasty chocolate note before adding to the beer.
Single Origin coffee beans from the Yarra Valley were used to extract a cold brew concentrate using a slow drip method. Real Vanilla paste and Maple were then combined with the beer towards the end of fermentation to lend rich and robust aromatics to the stout.
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Sharp
- Clean
Tasting notesNorman Australian Ale is an approachable session beer made from all local ingredients. With a light malt base that makes way for an abundance of hop character -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
- Light
Tasting notesEasy drinking, light and fruity. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Sharp
Tasting notesA super sessionable pale with melon and orange flavours that is the perfect companion for any summer day -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Clean
Tasting notesTropical hop flavours, low bitterness. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Smooth / Velvety
- Soft
Tasting notesUnique bouquet of fruit and floral aromas - passion fruit, white grape and stone fruit. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Delicate
Tasting notesSmooth, fruity, and floral.Slapshot Pale AleView BeerAustralian Pale AleSold By Urban Alley Brewery8 pack$37.0024 pack$92.004 pack$19.00 -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
- Light
Tasting notesCitrus notes as well as a touch of pineapple with a neutral, clean yeast character to finish. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Smooth / Velvety
- Delicate
- Light
Tasting notesPineapple, lychee and honeydew melon shining through from the hop, with a delicate biscuit malty finish.