Misleading Beer Style Names

I admitted it was a semi facetious post, but the part of it that was serious would put mild into pale ales.

Semi seriously- pale ales would include beers with a certain percentage of pale as base malt, even pilsener, top fermented , and a light straw to amber look. I would not consider hopping, nor flavor additions, but those lines - semi seriously, now - are already blurred.

Too many styles, or too few? Confusion and over expectation, or not enough info.?

 

You use the word hoppy like it is a definite description. Does hoppy mean bitter? Does hoppy mean juicy citrus or floral? How about resinous? Hoppy is really no more descriptive. What about the word dark? Do you mean darker than light yellow or do you mean high in alcohol? You do realize dark has many widely understood meanings when it comes to beer right? You see how your argument can break down just as easily right?

Where is the benefit to being to persnickety? It seems as if this argument is taking up on side while completely ignoring the other completely legitimate side of the argument. There is nothing wrong with taking sides but lets not go too overboard with out acknowledging both perspectives.

 

Blonds, browns, redheads and brunettes?

 

I drink beer, not labels. Don't much care what the color is - so long as it's tasty.

To me any beer description with color is just that - what color it is - color does not equal taste.

 

Breaking news: ESBs aren't special OR bitter!

 

Are they at least Extra?!?

 

Mild certainly began its long life as an ale made entirely from pale malt.So it has a pedigree at least of a pale ale.
As I posted a week or two ago, styles guidelines are really an exercise in shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.The danger is that the wrong horse got in when they locked the stable door again.

 

Schwarzbier is said to share characteristics with pilsner. What would be the benefit of referring to it as a Black Pale Lager?

 

Excellent point, one which I will not discount. At this point both the Schwarzbier and Pilsner are well established styles or types of beer so it seems counterproductive to not refer to them by name. If the Schwarzbier were a new style, or someone was unfamiliar with the style a Black Pilsner or Black Pale Lager could be a beneficial descriptor. People getting up in arms today about the Black IPA/Cascadian Dark/American Black seems silly to me, no one name is better than another and they all have flaws. The Black Pale Ale has historical roots and can be broken down into understandable terms at the very least.

 

News at 11. Helles has nothing to do with the underworld.

Just saying.

 

If I order a "Dark IPA" at a bar, I'd expect to receive an ale that is hoppy like an IPA and also dark. If that's what I get, then what in the world is misleading?

 

Surely you don't mean to say that hell is neither light nor pale?

 

Yes, and don't call me Shirley.

 

Good point here, that many of the beer styles have been around for a long time and also came from different parts of the world, so it is understandable that they don't all fit into a neat, organized system and may have overlaps.

 

Something can be lost in translation?

 

Uh oh. Someone has invoked the beer witch, who, much like Beetlejuice, will now feel compelled to appear, having been summoned by the mention of her name. Who knows what mischief is about to commence... She's not as merciful as the Beer Wench...

 

Anyone who says it doesn't matter what's on the label but how it tastes, needs to stop eating labels.

 

Why ask why? Try bud dry.

 

OP, can you please take a minute to educate yourself on the origin of India Pale Ales? Spoiler alert: It's not because the ingredients are from India, and it's not made by Native Americans.