Beer 101

ALES VERSUS LAGERS: Ales are sweeter and more flavorful beers—like red wines—whereas lagers tend to be clean and crisp, more like white. Think of ales as great for rich, meaty dishes, and lagers as fish- and poultry-friendly. Of course, there are exceptions.

SAISON: A term for ales once brewed in Belgian farmhouses during the cold months. Saisons tend to be spicy, fruity and refreshing, light to moderate in alcohol (4 percent–8 percent), hazy gold in color.

WHEAT BEER: Brewed with wheat in addition to the usual barley; the extra grain provides little in the way of flavor, but results in a golden, creamy beer with intense carbonation. German wheat beers (Weissbiers or Hefeweizens) are effervescent, with notes of banana and clove. Their Belgian counterpart, witbiers, often come seasoned with coriander and orange peel.

BELGIAN TRIPEL: The name means “triple” and implies high alcohol (8 percent-12 percent) and big flavor. These powerful, sweet ales go great with rich, spicy fare—think Indian or Thai.

INDIA PALE ALE (IPA): The original IPAs come from England and pack sweetness and moderate bitterness. The latter comes from ample hops. American IPAs—particularly those from the West Coast—tend to be syrupy nectars with extreme piney bitterness.

STOUT: This dark ale picks up deep color and hints of coffee and chocolate thanks to roasted barley malt. Stouts are silky smooth and range from light in body and flavor, like Guinness, to heavy and full-flavored.

PILSNER: Light. Crisp. Refreshing. This pale lagers hails from the Czech city of Pilsen and packs sharp bitterness and acidity.

BOCK: A strong German lager dating back to the—whoa!—14th century. Dark malts added during brewing result in a deep, toasty sweetness that goes great with rich, meaty meals. Bocks’ darker, stronger siblings, Doppelbocks, are dinner by themselves.

DUNKEL: The name translates as “dark” in German, but dunkels are surprisingly drinkable lagers, despite their near-black coloring. They’re relatively low in alcohol (around 5 percent) and perfect for light takes on heavy dishes.

Available at the Bowery Whole Foods (95 E Houston St at Bowery, 212-420-1320), Bierkraft (191 Fifth Ave between Berkeley Pl and Union St, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-7600) or the (256 Court St at Butler St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-875-0226).

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