Dual Beer Styles - Which name do you use?

Siaison, Imperial IPA/Stout, Octoberfest or Festbier. I don't really think of the rest

 

I'm pretty sure that's how it goes. There was a discussion earlier this year- I think it was on the Germany board- that got into it in more detail. Until then I was calling the pale ones the Wies'n style, but that turns out to be just a marketing term by Paulaner.

That Weiherstephaner beer is amazing, btw! Can't wait till next year's.

 

I just call it what the brewery calls it, and if that fails me or they don't let on to what it is. I call it, beer.
Honestly, how can someone not like referring to a beer as a wee heavy?

 

Yeah, in short - that's pretty much true. Exports aren't necessarily just stronger versions of existing beers, but the term refers to strength/gravity. It apparently goes back to how fit something was for travel. I think it might have been a tax classification, but I'm not sure. Dortmund might have been a hub for the style, but not all exports have anything to do with the city.

Maerzen is another one of those strength terms with historical roots going back to brewing in March. From what I understand, the only beers served at the Oktoberfest are from Munich proper (Augustiner, Hofbrau, H-P, Spaten, Lowenbrau, and Paulaner) and they're all serving a pale maerzen at the moment. The other ones with that name are probably just using it as a sales tool (like Erdinger and Ayinger) in spite of them not actually being at the fest. There are pletny of Maerzen beers that have nothing to do with the fest at all, too.

 

Tripel: Pils malt, Pale Candi Sugar, usually around 9%
Dubbel: Pils malt, Dark Candi sugar, usually around 7%; and can also include special B/Munich malts for more malt character/complexity.

Westmalle's are probably the best starting point if you wanted to have a look. Plus they are the ones that popularized the naming convention.

http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style18.php

 

I think relatively they do, and are comparable in that sense, not saying its the same thing.

 

It all depends on the context

 

The terms come from the strength of the beer in relation to Belgian Table beer that is usually around 3% ABV

 

American Amber / Red Ale - Depends what colour it is. Is it red or amber?
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy - Barley Wine for the strong ones, Burton Ale for the weaker ones.
Milk / Sweet Stout - Milk Stout
Saison / Farmhouse Ale - Saison
American Double / Imperial Stout - Imperial Stout. Only "double stout" I've had was about 5%.
American Double / Imperial IPA - Double IPA seems to be what most people call it
Marzen / Oktoberfest - Maerzen in general. Oktoberfestbier when referring to the stuff sold at the festival. Oktoberfest when referring to the American style.
California Common / Steam beer - Is there more than just Anchor?
Foreign / Export Stout - Happy with either
Maibock / Helles Bock - I guess Helles/Heller Bock is a nicely bland and descriptive term, though obviously less evocative.

 

yessssss

 

Here's mine (with my favorite beer in each category):

Red Ale - Murphy's
Wee Heavy (a true Scot knows what this is): Great Divide Claymore
Milk Stout - No real favorite
Farmhouse Ale - Magic Hat Seance
Imperial Stout - Old Rasputin
Double IPA - Rarely enjoy IPA's, let alone a double
Oktoberfest - Hofsbrau. American Oktoberfests ruin this type of beer. Truly.
California Common - Anchor
Foreign Stout - I'd like to try more, so I'm only going with Guinness Foreign Stout because I haven't had anything else
Helles Bock - Hofbrau Munchen Original. I'm a huge Hofbrau fan myself.

 

I've had some Tripels in the low 8 range.

 

I like me Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. I call it by that one name.

 

Farmhouse Ale is more down to earth. Saying "I like Saisons" to non-beer advocates just sounds like a snobby elitist name for a beer. Therefore Farmhouse Ale is my preference.

 

I've always preferred imperial over double, since few "double" beers are actually double. Take Union Jack, 7.5% abv, Double Jack is 9.5%, somethings not right there.

 

I've always preferred imperial over double, since few "double" beers are actually double. Take Union Jack, 7.5% abv, Double Jack is 9.5%, somethings not right there.

 

I've always preferred imperial over double, since few "double" beers are actually double. Take Union Jack, 7.5% abv, Double Jack is 9.5%, somethings not right there.

 

Amber
Scotch Ale
Milk Stout
Saison
Imperial Stout
Double IPA
Oktoberfest
Steam Beer
Export / Foreign Stout (I don't remember ever saying either)
Maibock / Helles Bock (I toggle back and forth)

Interesting that I say Imperial Stout, but Double IPA.

 

I say things backwards. SO

IPA Imperial
Heavy Wee
Ale Red
Stout Milk
Beer Steam
Bock Helles

I also like to say MarzenFest.

 

battery acid > malt liquor