Trying to classify beer is a difficult task, a little like classifying soccer players into groups of forwards, strikers, wingers, midfielders, defenders etc...
And let’s not forget that at the heart of matters there are two basic schools of thought which distinguish between top and bottom fermentation.
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| Top fermentation |
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Ale |
Mild Ale, Bitter, Brown Ale, Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Strong Ale, Old Ale, Birra d’abbazia, Abdijbier, Trappiste, Bière de Garde, Barley Wine, Kölsch |
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Stout |
Imperial Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Steambeer |
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Porter |
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Weizen |
Weissbier, Bière Blanche, Witbier, Dunkelweizen, Faro, Lambic, Gueze, Kriek, Weizenbock |
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| Bottom fermentation |
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Lager |
Kellerbier, Strong Lager, Münchner, Dunkel,
Rauchbier, Schwarzbier |
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Pils, Pilsner, Pilsener, Light Pils |
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Bock |
Doppelbock, Maibock, Eisbock, Ice Beer |
