If you are a beer enthusiast, you would know that beers are generally classified into styles. Different styles of beer have a defined range of ABV (alcohol by volume) and color. Other beer-defining factors include special ingredients that are put in while brewing the beer.
That said, brewing beer is a science and an art. Some brewers love to go the traditional styles of brewing, whereas, others throw the definitions out of the window. In such cases, knowing the beer styles shall go a long way in creating a perfect Kelowna craft beer. Beer styles are used in beer judging where craft beers are put to the test.
How do distinguish between beer styles?
You may very well know that an IPA tastes different from a stout, but what causes the difference? We will find out here.
We can discover the difference between the two beers with the help of the recipe. The types of grains, hops, and yeast chosen, the amount, and even the chemistry of water have an impact on the flavor, color, and ABV of beer. Not to mention if we add fruits, coffee, or spices to the beer, the notes will be further different. Every single beer, even one within the same style, can be different from each other due to the composition of the original ingredients.
You can think of beer styles like the genres of music. For instance, ‘Rock’ music is created using a typical set of instruments, and while it was birthed decades ago, it has only evolved with time. Every musician who picks up a guitar to produce notes of rock music has his spin on the genre. Even though he would combine elements of other genres using the same instruments, the music produced will be different. The same theory applies to Kelowna craft beer too.
We have the four classic ingredients of beer – water, grain, hops, and yeast. They can be considered like a four-piece band that can play any request you think of, and brewers are aficionados creating a different note with each new beer.
Who decides these styles of Kelowna craft beer?
We have the Brewers Organization which takes care of everything, craft beer. They are responsible for keeping our definitions of beer styles up-to-date. They even note the introduction of new beer styles in the market.
But in the end, we should consider brewing beer as an art and every artist has his spin on the same thing being done over these years. The guidelines remain just guidelines and brewers will keep innovating our favorite beverage and the tastes and styles are going to evolve as we age.
It is time to embrace what we have in front of our eyes and appreciate the tasteful knowledge of the brewers. If you want to try Kelowna's best beer, reach out to us.
Charles Meier is the author of this website and has written articles for a long time. To learn more about Kelowna Craft Beer and Kelowna Best Beer please visit the website.