What to know about craft beer

Craft beer has been growing steadily in popularity, and new local breweries are popping up all over the country. You can even buy kits to brew your own craft beer at home. But, what is craft beer, and how is it different from its cousin, domestic beer?

Domestic Beer

Domestic beer is mass produced by one of the major brewing companies like Coors, Budweiser, or Miller. Domestic beer, because it’s produced in such large quantities, is relatively inexpensive in comparison to craft beer. While many people enjoy drinking an ice cold domestic beer on a hot day, these beers are often made with lower quality ingredients and preservatives. Also, domestic beer often contains less alcohol by volume than craft beer.

Craft Beer

Craft beers, in comparison, are “crafted” in small batches in small local breweries. Brewers use high-quality ingredients to create many different styles and flavors of beer. Flavors range from bitter to sweet and everything in between and incorporate different combinations and varieties of hops, malt, yeast, and other grains to achieve a particular flavor. Sometimes, other ingredients like spices, fruits, nuts, or chocolate are added. With a wide selection of craft beer in Dahlonega, GA, you have plenty to choose from. Let’s take a closer look at some popular styles of craft beer.

Ales and Lagers

Beer is divided into two groups: ales and lagers. Within these two groups are many different variations. The main difference between ales and lagers is the fermentation process. Lagers need more time to ferment and prefer cooler fermentation temperatures. Ales ferment more quickly and prefer warmer temperatures. Generally speaking, lagers are light, easy-drinking beers with crisp flavors and high carbonation. Ales pack more of a flavor punch and can be bitter or sweet with fruit or chocolate notes.

Some popular lagers include:

• Pale Lagers: Pale lagers are light tasting, light-colored, slightly sweet tasting beers.

• Dark Lagers: Dark lagers use roasted malts to achieve a dark color, but they have a light flavor similar to pale lagers.

• Pilsners: A pilsner is a light-colored lager with a strong hoppy flavor.

Some popular ales include:

• India Pale Ale: India Pale Ales are hoppy and fruity with a bitter aftertaste.

• Brown Ale: Brown ales are sweet with a rich caramel brown color.

• Porter: Porters have a deep, dark brown color. They have a sweet flavor with hints of chocolate or coffee.

• Stout: Stouts are even darker and richer than porters. They have a strong coffee type of bitterness.

There are many more styles of craft ales and lagers to choose from.  Find your new favorite craft beer in Dahlonega GA. Cheers!

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Created on Dec 15th 2017 00:39. Viewed 454 times.

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