Craft Beer for Beginners: A Guide to the Types and Styles of Craft Beer to Help You Choose the Right One for You

Heading to your local grocery store to grab some beer has become increasingly complicated. With the popularity of craft beer, you now have more options than ever. But choosing a beer you’ll love doesn’t have to induce panic. A little knowledge goes a long way. Here’s a guide to the different types of craft beer to help you choose the right one for you. 

What’s So Exciting About Craft Beer?

So many things! If you’re used to drinking beer produced by major breweries, it’s time to give craft beer a try. These brews are made by small local and independent brewers who work hard to create unique, rich flavors that are tough to achieve through traditional methods. 

Craft beer is known for its distinct taste. And there are many varieties, meaning there is probably something to suit just about anyone’s preferences. 

Different Styles of Craft Beer — A Beginner’s Guide

There are over 100 craft beer styles to choose from. While this isn’t a definitive list, these are the primary types of craft beers you’ll commonly find at your local grocers and corner bar. 

American IPA

This is a moderately strong brew with around 7.5% alcohol content. It begins with a fruity and citrusy flavor and has a dry finish. This type of craft beer is one of the most popular and pairs well with food like burgers and salsa. 

American Pale Ale

If you want something less potent and less bitter, the American Pale Ale is a great option. It is known for its floral hoppiness and lower alcohol content (around 6.2%). It also goes well with just about any type of food. 

India Pale Ale

India Pale Ale is a favorite craft brew of many due to its high hop content. This gives the brew hints of pine with a floral yet bitter flavor. 

Cream Ale

The cream ale has a slightly hoppy flavor with hints of sweetness. But it’s a lighter beer than many of the others and has a lower alcohol content (around 5.6%). The “cream” in the name is used to describe its texture, not denote the inclusion of any dairy products. 

Double IPA

If you want a more robust IPA, you may wish to try a Double IPA. True to its name, it has double everything — more fruitiness, maltiness, hoppiness, and alcohol content (about 10%). This beer pairs excellently with barbecue. 

Lagers

Lagers are one of the most common craft beer styles. These are typically lighter in flavor and color, with a lower alcohol content (between 4-5%). These craft beers are made from a malt that is kilned at lower temperatures, providing a crisp taste without as much carbonation as other beers. 

Wheats

Wheat beers are a type of ale. They are labeled as such because they are brewed almost entirely from wheat. These brews are generally light, citrusy, hazy, and easy to drink. 

Pilsners

Pilsners are pale lagers that are known for being extra “crisp.” These are well-balanced beers crafted from a light-colored local malt and bottom-fermenting yeast. 

Porters

Porters are darker beers that are brewed from malted barley. Some of these brews can have a bit of sweetness in their flavor, but watch out for the high alcohol content. 

Stouts

Stouts are another very dark ale that came along when brewers began messing around with recipes for porters. Unlike porters, stouts are made using unmalted, roasted barley, so they are more full-bodied. Some have underlying coffee notes. 

Sours

Sour beers have become increasingly popular. They are characteristically tart, which comes from the use of wild yeast strains. Many of today’s craft beer sours have fruits added for extra flavor notes. 

Find the Perfect Craft Beer at Nick’s of Calvert

Now that you know a bit more about the different types of craft beer, you’re probably anxious to give some of these a try. We can help! Whether you want something local or seasonal, sour or hoppy, or anything in between, we can answer your questions and help you find the perfect complement to your next meal, barbecue, or event. We also have a growler filling station!

Nick’s of Calvert has one of the area’s largest selections of beer, wine, and spirits, all at some of the lowest prices. And, if you aren’t sure what you want or need help finding a particular label, just ask! Give us a call today at (410) 414-7105 or come by our location in Prince Frederick. 

Fourth of July Celebration – Choosing the Right Beer

While planning a Fourth of July cookout can feel like a big commitment, your holiday should be stress-free and enjoyable. At Nick’s of Clinton, we do what we can to make prepping your menu and planning your cookout as straightforward as possible. With fully stocked shelves and a large selection of wine, beer, and liquor, we have everything you need for the perfect day. And if you don’t feel like cooking or baking, don’t worry—we have you covered with pre-made foods and desserts, too. Visit our store today or give us a call at (301) 843-4825 today. 

Fourth of July Celebration – Choosing the Right Beer

 For beer lovers, there’s no better time to crack one open than the 4th of July. It’s hot, it’s a holiday which means you have the day off work, and the menu options are t-a-s-t-y. Whether you have a favorite beer type that you know will make it onto the menu on the Fourth or prefer to mix things up based on food pairings and mood, we have some great beer recommendations this holiday season. And at Nick’s of Calvert, you can get all of the beer (and other shopping list items!) you need all in one location. Here are some of our favorite beer recommendations based on your Fourth of July food pairings— 

Indian Pale Ale

 Over the past decade, IPAs have gone from a little-known brew type to one of the most popular beers on the market. Whether you love standard IPAs, double IPAs, or hazy IPAs, these hoppy beers pair perfectly with 4th of July ribs, brisket, or any spicy foods you might prepare (think: stuffed jalapenos or a spicy salsa). IPAs are great on a hot day and pack a lot of flavor. 

 Light Lagers

Light lagers are among the lightest, palest types of ale on the market and are just about as different from an IPA as you can get—they’re rarely hopper or bitter at all. Because they are so light, they are great with just about any type of food, whether something fresh (that delicious green salad you’re planning for the holiday), traditional (hot dogs, anyone?!), and even spicy options. While fish isn’t a traditional Fourth of July menu item, light lagers do pair well with seafood. 

 Blonde Ale

 If you’re in doubt about what type of beer to drink or purchase for your Fourth of July celebration, choose a blonde ale! These beers are smooth, light in color, and are light-to-moderate on alcohol content. Blonde ales pair with just about any food, so they’re great when you’re not sure what everyone will enjoy. 

 American Wheat Ale

 Popularized by craft breweries, American wheat ales are a crowd favorite. Well-known for their maltiness, these beers can range in bitterness and are usually medium-bodied. Menu items on the Fourth of July that may pair well with an American wheat ale include that cheese platter you’re planning, fruit, light salads, chicken, and strawberry shortcake. 

 Dubbel

 A Dubbel, often called a Belgian Dubbel, is a complex, flavorful, and highly alcohol beer. The deep color of the Dubbel is unique in that it comes from caramelized or candied sugar, not malt. These beers are sweet rather than bitter and offer a mouthful of flavor. They pair great with pork and sausages (consider upgrading from the traditional hotdogs this Fourth!), as well as potatoes and barbeque food in general. 

 Porters

 Porters are a style of darker beer that isn’t to be confused with stouts. Typically, porters contain notes of chocolate, grains, and toffee. Because of this, they are often characterized as heavier beers and aren’t recommended for light drinking. More popular in the wintertime, porters are often paired with chilis, stews, meats, and braised dishes. However, if you’re a lover of a porter, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy one on the 4th!

Stouts

 Stouts are similar to porters in that they are dark and often have notes of chocolate or dark fruits, like cherries, but unique in that they’re highly roasted, bitter, and hoppy. They can easily overpower a lot of dishes, and for this reason are often consumed for dessert alongside dark chocolate truffles or espresso cake. However, they can stand up to other strong flavors, such as those found in aged cheddar, barbeque, and smoked meats.

 Find the Best Beer at Nick’s of Calvert

 If you’re still not sure which type of beer makes the most sense for your Fourth of July festivities this year, we recommend purchasing a few different options and letting your guests choose. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even recommend specific pairings for your guests or host a beer tasting table. 

 At Nick’s of Calvert, we have all of the ingredients for a perfect Fourth of July celebration. Check out our store for the freshest vegetables, the highest quality meats and cheeses, and the best prepared foods and sides. We have a large selection of beer, wine, and liquor to complement whatever dishes you’re serving. Plus, our friendly staff will go above and beyond to make sure you can find whatever it is you’re looking for.

 To learn more about great beer pairings and the selections we carry, visit Nick’s of Calvert on Costley Way or call (410) 414-7105 today. 

Pairing the Right Craft Beer With Your Grilled Burger

When you own a BBQ grill, it seems like it’s always grilling season. Sure, there’s plenty of items you can put on the grill, but few things compare to a traditional, juicy burger. Whether you’re enjoying a no-frills, simple recipe, or one of those fancy super burgers, it’s going to taste much better if you have the right craft beer to enjoy alongside it.

Burgers and beer are nothing new. But how you match up the two can make or break your outdoor meal. In fact, some beer can get lost in the flavor of your extravagant burger, while others will overwhelm the meat. But beer is an excellent complement to food because of its ability to enhance and interact with so many different flavors.

Before you even consider the right craft beer, make sure you start with a quality cut of meat. Our butchers will help you select the best cut of meat for your burger/beer combo. Also, understanding that the makeup and chemistry of beer make it an ideal pairing, here is a look at what style of craft beer pairs well with different types of burgers.

Cheesy Burgers

Who doesn’t love cheese on their burger? Most of us do, and that’s good news because cheese is the perfect complement to beer. When you create a cheeseburger, it’s tough to go wrong with any craft beer you choose, but here are few ideas.

Sam Adams Boston Lager is an excellent option as an easy-drinking beer that has notes of caramel. Another is True Respite Ultimate Dreamy Team, which is a hazy IPA .

Spicy Burgers

If you love a spicy burger, consider pairing it with the right craft beer. You can accentuate the heat in your meal with a good IPA. Alternatively, if you wish to cool some of that heat, choose a pilsner or Helles-style lager.

If you’re looking for a good IPA to try out, there are probably a thousand choices. One popular one is Crooked Crab I Fought the Claw IPA, which is a bit hoppy with some citrus and other lively notes. For a pilsner and Helles-style lager, check out Aslin Brewing Company’s Much Ado.

Sweet Burgers

There are some interesting burger combinations you can make, some of which combine savory and sweet elements. For example, some burgers have caramelized onions, and we’ve even seen burgers with donuts substituted for buns.

So, how do you choose the right craft beer to go with one of these creations? In short, you need something light to balance out the heaviness of all that sugar. Porters will give you the balance you need nicely. One craft beer you can try is Stone Smoked Porter, which has an interesting Vanilla Bean flavor.

Savory Burgers

When your burger is topped with something savory like bacon, mushrooms, avocado, egg, or even pasta, you’ll want to choose your craft beer wisely. Your burger is already packing a lot of flavors, so you could opt for a simple lager such as House Beer.

On the other hand, amber beers, Porters, and nutty brown ales also complement savory foods. A few options include Rogue American Amber Ale and AleSmith Nut Brown Ale.

Classic Burgers

Let’s assume you want to grill a class beef burger. Start off with some high-quality ground beef or chuck, add your lettuce, tomato, onions, and condiments, and you’re ready for some refreshments.

There are several approaches to pairing a craft beer with your classic burger. You can pair it with an American Pilsner that is light and will allow your burger’s flavor to shine. You can also pair it with an India Pale Ale or American Pale Ale that matches your burger’s flavor intensity.

Meatless Burgers

How you pair a meatless burger is going to depend on the base for the burger, which can range from nutty grains to black beans to earthy mushrooms. Something that goes with most meatless burgers is a wheat-based ale, such as a Belgian White Ale or an American Wheat Ale. Another option that could work is a Saison craft beer like the one from 2SP Brewing Co.

Now that you have this list, it’s time to begin planning your next BBQ. No matter what craft beer and type of burger you choose, Nick’s of Calvert can help you put together the perfect combination.

Not only is our full-service meat counter the centerpiece of our store, but we also offer one of the largest varieties of beer, wine, and spirits in Southern Maryland. If you can find the craft beer you’re looking for, let us know, and we’d be happy to special order it for you. Stop by our store today.

The History of Craft Beer

If you are a beer drinker, then you are a fan of one of the most ancient beverages produced by humans. Indeed, the earliest barley beer that has been chemically confirmed is thought to have been produced by humans in 5000-4001 BC; artifacts and other evidence suggest that in some parts of the world, such as China, beer may have been produced even earlier!

Modern beer is an important part of the culture in many different parts of the world, including in the United States. And while beer has been part of American history since the country was founded, the history of modern craft beer is much more recent. At Nick’s of Calvert, we are proud to be a distributor of many craft and local beers and if there is something you are looking to try, we can help you find it. And if you have already found a great craft beer at our store, here is a brief overview of the history of craft beer to peruse as you enjoy the smooth taste of your favorite brew.

What Is Craft Beer?

Craft beer is defined as a specialty beer produced in limited quantities and a craft brewery is defined as having annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. The strength and beauty of a craft beer and a craft brewery is innovation. Brewing beer in small quantities allows for testing and sampling of many different ingredients creating an endless number of tastes. Focused on taste and driven by consumer demand, the craft beer industry has changed the makeup of the beer market.

The History of Craft Beer

In the beer industry, as with almost every other industry, a duopoly once dominated the market. An article in The Atlantic shared that as recently as 2012 two beer companies–Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors–controlled nearly 90 percent of beer production in our country.

But, over the last decade and a half something interesting has happened: the number of breweries has grown by a factor of six (between 2008-2016), and the number of brewery workers has grown by more than 120 percent. These small, often independently owned, breweries have nabbed a significant portion of the market and have created competition for the beer industry giants. These numbers are the result of what has been called the “craft beer revolution”.

So How Did The Craft Beer Revolution All Start?

The craft beer movement began in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, in the 1960s-70s. As explained by an article in  First We Feast, the craft beer movement (and success) can be illustrated in five phases:

  • 1965: Fritz Maytag focuses on flavor. Whether or not the craft beer movement would be what it is today without Fritz Maytag, the great-grandson of a home appliances tycoon who purchased a 51 percent stake in Anchor Steam (Fritz’s favorite beer), is debatable. With the goal of selling more beer, Maytag set out to improve the quality of his beer and enhance its flavor, leading to new flavors and styles that were a first-of-their-kind (including the Liberty Ale, the country’s first modern IPA).
  • 1979: Homebrewing is legalized. Wanting to replicate Maytag and create beers that were unique and full of flavor, homebrewer-hopefuls were successful in lobbying for legislation that legalized homebrewing. Signed by Jimmy Carter, HR 1337, made way for the homebrewing movement. According to some sources, up to 90 percent of craft brewers began as homebrewers.
  • 1997: Boom and bust. The homebrewing legislative win paved the way for microbreweries to start opening in droves. In fact, between 1985 and 1997, new breweries opened at a rate of at least 20 percent per year; some years saw up to 100 percent growth! Unfortunately, this led to a number of get-rich-quick schemes, a declinein overall beer sales, and the closure of numerous breweries.
  • 1990s: Creativity drives collectors. While there was a beer bust, the beers and breweries that survived had an impact. The 1990s were a time when breweries were not just putting their own spin on old-world styles but were completely reinventing beer. To do this, many breweries went to extremes with flavors, adding everything from apricots to algae, resulting in a cohort of what we now call “beer geeks” – those who not only loved beer, but also collected it.
  • 2010-present: Big brands adapt. As more consumers started demanding “American” beer that was full of flavor and disassociated from big industry, the biggest beer companies in America realized it was time to adapt. Today, sales of the four historically most popular beers (Coors Light, Bud Light, Budweiser, and Miller Lite) are shrinking, and Americans are now paying more for craft beers.

 Find Craft Beer at Nick’s of Calvert

If you are looking for a craft beer, we can help. Whether you want something hoppy or sour, local or seasonal, or anything in between, we can answer your questions and help you find the perfect complement to your meal, picnic, game-day activities, and more. We also have a growler filling station! Check out Nick’s of Calvert today for all your craft beer, wine, and spirits needs. Visit us today or call us at (410) 414-7105.