How to recognize your ideal beer style guide to the great craft styles
Choosing a craft beer is not like grabbing any beer at the bar. It’s a personal, almost identity-defining act. Yet many find themselves in front of a shelf full of labels without knowing where to start. This guide is designed to help you understand which style suits you — whether you are new to craft or just want to explore beyond the usual.
First of all: what do you really like?
The starting point is not the beer, it’s you. Think about what you like in general: do you prefer bitter flavors (coffee, dark chocolate, citrus) or sweet and rounded ones (caramel, fruit, honey)? Are you attracted by the acidity of yogurt or tropical fruit, or do you prefer something clean and refreshing? The answers to these questions already guide you toward a specific style.
The great styles compared
🍋 IPA and Pale Ale — For those who love bitterness and intense aromas
Sensory profile: pronounced bitterness, aromas of citrus, resin, tropical fruit, flowers. Golden or amber color. Persistent foam.
You like it if: you love long coffee, grapefruit, aromatic herbs, clear and defined flavors. If you get bored with flat beers and want something that leaves a mark.
Not for you if: bitterness bothers you or you are looking for something light and refreshing.
Variants to explore: American IPA (dry bitter), New England IPA (soft and fruity), Session IPA (light but aromatic), West Coast IPA (resinous bitter).
👉 Explore our craft IPA and Pale Ale beers
🌾 Craft Lager — For those seeking cleanliness and drinkability
Sensory profile: clean, fresh, slightly malty or floral. Low bitterness. Color from straw yellow to golden.
You like it if: you love simplicity, refreshment, beers that accompany food without overpowering it. You are used to industrial lagers but want to discover how different a craft lager can be.
Not for you if: you are looking for aromatic complexity or a strong character.
Variants to explore: Czech Pilsner (floral and bitter), Helles (soft and malty), Vienna Lager (amber and toasted).
👉 Discover our craft Lager beers
☕ Porter and Stout — For those who love dark and enveloping flavors
Sensory profile: coffee, chocolate, licorice, roasted. Dark color up to black. Full body, creamy hazelnut-colored foam.
You like it if: you love espresso coffee, bitter cocoa, deep and enveloping flavors. You are looking for a beer to meditate on or to pair with desserts and aged cheeses.
Not for you if: you prefer light beers or fear intense flavors.
Variants to explore: Dry Irish Stout (dry and bitter), Milk Stout (sweet and creamy), Imperial Stout (powerful and complex), Porter (lighter than Stout).
👉 Explore our Porter and Stout
🍋 Sour, Wild, and Gose — For adventurous palates
Sensory profile: lively acidity, fruit notes, citrus, yogurt, sometimes salty (Gose). Variable color. Pronounced effervescence.
You like it if: you love dry white wines, kefir, kombucha, fermented foods. You have a curious palate and are not afraid of the unusual.
Not for you if: acidity bothers you or you are looking for something conventional.
Variants to explore: Berliner Weisse (light and tart), Gose (salty and citrusy), Lambic and Gueuze (spontaneous fermentation, unique complexity), Fruit Sour (fruity and refreshing).
👉 Discover our Sour, Wild, and Gose
🍯 Belgian Ale — For those who love complexity and spices
Sensory profile: fruity (banana, pear, plum), spicy (clove, pepper), sweet-dry. Golden or amber color. Often high alcohol content.
You like it if: you love aromatic wines, spices, complex and layered flavors. You look for a beer to savor slowly, not to drink quickly.
Not for you if: you prefer linear profiles and clear bitterness.
Variants to explore: Witbier (light and spicy), Saison (dry and fruity), Tripel (powerful and golden), Dubbel (dark and malty).
Quick guide: find yourself in one line
| If you love... | Your style is |
|---|---|
| Bitterness, citrus, intensity | IPA / Pale Ale |
| Cleanliness, freshness, drinkability | Craft Lager |
| Coffee, chocolate, depth | Stout / Porter |
| Acidity, fruit, fermentation | Sour / Wild / Gose |
| Spices, complexity, fruity aromas | Belgian Ale |
Final advice: taste in order
If you are a beginner, start with craft Lager or a Pale Ale — they are the most accessible entry points. Then explore bitterness (IPA), roasted notes (Stout), or sourness (Sour). Belgian Ale is often the most surprising discovery for those who thought they didn’t like beer.
There is no right or wrong style. There is only the one that matches your taste right now — and the one you will discover to love tomorrow.
Need a starting point? Browse all our collections by style and start with what intrigues you the most.
