BEER STYLES & TASTES

ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR A LAGER OR AN ALE?

Start your journey by discovering the two main categories of beer.

LAGERS

Often compared to white wines
Generally lighter, with a clean, crisp finish and very thirst quenching
Milder, with a smooth refreshing taste
Best served cold (2°C - 7°C)
Serve in tall, narrow glasses to concentrate aromas at top
Serve with lighter tasting foods

ALES

Often compared to red wines
Generally fruitier aromas and robust malty flavours
Full bodied with a pleasant hoppy finish
Best served warmer (7°C - 14°C)
Serve in open mouthed glasses to better appreciate the aromas
Serve with fuller flavoured foods

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF BEER TASTES

The world of beer tastes is vast. From Flavoured & Refreshing beers to Bold & Full Flavoured beers and so many tastes in between, there’s truly a brew out there for everyone. We’ve developed a simple taste categorization system to help you discover, taste and enjoy all that beer has to offer. Click on a taste below to find out more.

FLAVOURED & REFRESHING

STYLE:

Flavoured Lagers, Flavoured Light Lagers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Lighter body, slightly tangy, mild to medium sweetness, dry finish.

COLOUR:

Straw to gold

Example Brands:

Rickard's Radler Grapefruit , Mad Jack

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The light body of a flavoured and refreshing beer complements the flavours of subtle, soft cheese.

Food
Fresh Salads

LIGHTER & REFRESHING

STYLE:

Light Lagers, Light Ales, Some Lagers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Lighter body, low malt sweetness, low bitterness, dry finish.

COLOUR:

Straw to gold

Example Brands:

Molson Canadian 67, Coors Light, Sol

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
Lighter & refreshing beers complement the flavour intensity of a creamy or mild cheese.

Food
Seafood dishes

BRIGHT & BALANCED

STYLE:

Domestic Lagers, Imported Lagers, Some Pilsners

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Light to medium body, balanced hop bitterness and malt sweetness, crisp finish.

COLOUR:

Gold to Copper

Example Brands:

Coors Banquet, Dos Equis Lager, Molson Canadian, Heineken

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The medium hop bitterness and malt aroma complement the higher flavour intensity of robust flavoured cheese.

Food
Chicken dishes

CRISP & HOPPY

STYLE:

Some Pilsners, Some Pales Ales, India Pale Ales

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Light to medium body, pronounced hop bitterness.

COLOUR:

Gold to Amber

Example Brands:

Molson Export, Creemore Springs Lot 9, John H.R. Molson & Bros 1908, Granville Island Brewing Infamous IPA

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
Crisp & hoppy beers cut the heat of spicy or sharp cheese.

Food
Spicy dishes

FRUITY & SMOOTH

STYLE:

Wheat/WIT, Weizen, Lambic, Fruit Beers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Medium body and sweetness, fruit and spice notes, smooth finish.

COLOUR:

Blonde to Amber, often hazy

Example Brands:

Belgian Moon, Granville Island Brewing Hey Day Hefeweizen

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
These beers go perfect with cheese with a rind bloom and inner creaminess.

Food
Pork dishes

ROBUST & MALTY

STYLE:

Ales, Dark Lagers, Bocks

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Medium body, caramel and roasted malt flavours with hoppy/bitter undertones.

COLOUR:

Amber to Dark Brown

Example Brands:

Rickard's Red, Granville Island Brewing English Bay Pale Ale, Newcastle Brown Ale

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The toasted and smoked character of roasted malt in these beers pairs well with smoked cheese.

Food
Beef dishes

BOLD & FULL FLAVOURED

STYLE:

Stouts, Porters, Strong Ales

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Full body, roasted malt flavours including chocolate and coffee, dry to moderate sweetness.

COLOUR:

Dark Brown to Black

Example Brands:

Murphy's Irish Stout, Granville Island Brewing Lions Winter Ale

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The bitterness of bold and full flavoured beers cleanses the palate of strong, robust cheese flavours.

Food
Smokey dishes

BEER STYLES & TASTES

ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR A LAGER OR AN ALE?

Start your journey by discovering the two main categories of beer.

LAGERS

Often compared to white wines
Generally lighter, with a clean, crisp finish and very thirst quenching
Milder, with a smooth refreshing taste
Best served cold (2°C - 7°C)
Serve in tall, narrow glasses to concentrate aromas at top
Serve with lighter tasting foods

ALES

Often compared to red wines
Generally fruitier aromas and robust malty flavours
Full bodied with a pleasant hoppy finish
Best served warmer (7°C - 14°C)
Serve in open mouthed glasses to better appreciate the aromas
Serve with fuller flavoured foods

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF BEER TASTES

FLAVOURED & REFRESHING

BOLD & FULL FLAVOURED

STYLE:

Flavoured Lagers, Flavoured Light Lagers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Lighter body, slightly tangy, mild to medium sweetness, dry finish.

COLOUR:

Straw to gold

Example Brands:

Rickard's Radler Grapefruit , Mad Jack

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The light body of a flavoured and refreshing beer complements the flavours of subtle, soft cheese.

Food
Fresh Salads

STYLE:

Light Lagers, Light Ales, Some Lagers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Lighter body, low malt sweetness, low bitterness, dry finish.

COLOUR:

Straw to gold

Example Brands:

Molson Canadian 67, Coors Light, Sol

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
Lighter & refreshing beers complement the flavour intensity of a creamy or mild cheese.

Food
Seafood dishes

STYLE:

Domestic Lagers, Imported Lagers, Some Pilsners

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Light to medium body, balanced hop bitterness and malt sweetness, crisp finish.

COLOUR:

Gold to Copper

Example Brands:

Coors Banquet, Dos Equis Lager, Molson Canadian, Heineken

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The medium hop bitterness and malt aroma complement the higher flavour intensity of robust flavoured cheese.

Food
Chicken dishes

STYLE:

Some Pilsners, Some Pales Ales, India Pale Ales

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Light to medium body, pronounced hop bitterness.

COLOUR:

Gold to Amber

Example Brands:

Molson Export, Creemore Springs Lot 9, John H.R. Molson & Bros 1908, Granville Island Brewing Infamous IPA

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
Crisp & hoppy beers cut the heat of spicy or sharp cheese.

Food
Spicy dishes

STYLE:

Wheat/WIT, Weizen, Lambic, Fruit Beers

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Medium body and sweetness, fruit and spice notes, smooth finish.

COLOUR:

Blonde to Amber, often hazy

Example Brands:

Belgian Moon, Granville Island Brewing Hey Day Hefeweizen

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
These beers go perfect with cheese with a rind bloom and inner creaminess.

Food
Pork dishes

STYLE:

Ales, Dark Lagers, Bocks

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Medium body, caramel and roasted malt flavours with hoppy/bitter undertones.

COLOUR:

Amber to Dark Brown

Example Brands:

Rickard's Red, Granville Island Brewing English Bay Pale Ale, Newcastle Brown Ale

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The toasted and smoked character of roasted malt in these beers pairs well with smoked cheese.

Food
Beef dishes

STYLE:

Stouts, Porters, Strong Ales

TASTE EXPERIENCE:

Full body, roasted malt flavours including chocolate and coffee, dry to moderate sweetness.

COLOUR:

Dark Brown to Black

Example Brands:

Murphy's Irish Stout, Granville Island Brewing Lions Winter Ale

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS:

Cheese
The bitterness of bold and full flavoured beers cleanses the palate of strong, robust cheese flavours.

Food
Smokey dishes

GET THE BASICS WITH BEER 101

BEER STYLES & TASTES

ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR A LAGER OR AN ALE?

LAGERS

ALES

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF BEER TASTES

BEER STYLES & TASTES

ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR A LAGER OR AN ALE?

LAGERS

ALES

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF BEER TASTES

GET THE BASICS WITH BEER 101

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