Beer Differences Around the World

How many times have you drank a beer and waited for your brain to interpret its flavour and gustation, so you can make a call on its merits or lack there of.  That’s what you do when you sample a new beer; you rate it against other beers.  There are virtually infinite amounts of beer brands and types around the globe today, all waiting to be analysed and discussed by impartial beer-drinkers.  So let’s discuss how some may differ.

Stout

Stout has a very unique flavour and texture, so much so that it requires an "acquired taste" to fully appreciate it.  That is, you need to spend a couple of nights drinking it, but ultimately wondering what all the fuss is about, before you understand; its taste will appear caustic and bitter, almost egregious at first, but you must persevere against your better judgement, so this latent penchant on your palate can be realised.  It may take more than two nights – it may never happen for you – but if you do savour it, you’ll wonder how you ever disliked it.  It’s very heavy however, so you might feel like you have eaten a meal after drinking a pint.

The most famous stout in the world is Guinness, which originates in Ireland.  It exudes Irishness, and its distinctive look – black, with a white, creamy head – is instantly recognisable.  Its ingredients include malted barley - which promotes its black appearance – hops, yeast and water.  Guinness would typically use twice as much hops as other beers.  Other brands include Murphys and Beamish, which are also brewed in Ireland.

Lager

Lager differs from stout in that it is livelier and fizzier.  It tends to have a golden-brown, almost autumnal, glow to it.  If you visit mainland Europe, you will notice different brands of lager in almost every pub you enter, none of which have the fiscal power of Guinness or the popular American brands to generate an international marketing campaign, save maybe Carlsberg (Denmark) and Heineken (Netherlands). However, their parochial support doesn’t in any way compromise their flavour or punch. 

Lagers such as Zyweic (Poland), Budweiser Budwar (Czech Republic) and Saku Originaal (Estonia) are so glabrous on your throat, you would scarcely feel them going down the hatch.  They are instantly likeable, if you have a fondness for lager in general.  Some bars tend to leave a terribly high head on the pints, so a fresh pint from the counter looks as if it’s half head – half liquid.  This doesn’t happen in bars in the UK or Ireland.

Bitter

In the UK, you will happen upon beers which are classified as “Bitter”.  These are a compromise between stout and lager, whereby they tend to have a creamy head, but also a fizzy affection.  They typically show a dirty brown color, and their strength can vary depending on the brand you are drinking.  Popular brands of bitter in the UK include John Smiths, Boddingtons or Tetleys, and like Guinness, they take some getting used to.