A Simplified List of Beer Vocabulary for New Beer Enthusiasts

Odds are, every time you ask the bartender for his recommendation, he responds back with, “Well, what kind of beer do you like?” And chances are, when it comes to your beer, you know what you like, yet, you’re not really sure how to describe it.

You might say something like, “I’m not big on IPAs, they’re a little too hoppy,” but that’s about it. And you might not even know exactly what they mean by “hoppy,” you just know you don’t like.

And, as craft breweries continue to be on the rise, using the right terminology to describe what you do and don’t like in your beer, couldn’t be more important.

Here are the top words you need to know when talking about your beer.

Balanced: When neither the malty sweetness nor hoppy bitterness over powers each other. There is an equal presence of both.

Crisp: Very carbonated

Diacetyl: Thick buttery or butterscotchy flavor produced during fermentation

Estery: Fruity aromas that are brought on from the fermentation process. It is very common in Belgian ales.

Floral: Full of flowery fragrances. It doesn’t mean that your beer was made with flowers. Just means it is similar.

Fruity: Full of flavors that taste similar to fruit.

Hoppy: Bitter, herbal, and earthy. It can have some citrus tones as well.

Malty: sweet, caramel-like and is often in low-alcohol content

Roasty, toasty and a little bit boasty: Okay, it’s just roasty or toasty, but it means malty and grainy flavors.

If you’d like to become a bigger pro, CraftBeer.com has an incredible Beer Style site where you can filter through flavors and aromas to see what type of beer to order on your next visit to the brewery.