Your First Craft Beer: What Should You Order?

Six doors into the flavour playground

IPA: citrus, tropical fruit, flowers or pine may come from hops. Ask for hop aroma with softer bitterness if you are cautious.

Wheat beer: German styles may show banana and clove; Belgian witbier may lean toward citrus or spice. Ask which direction the beer takes.

Fruit beer: fruit aroma may come from fruit or from the beer’s own flavours. Ask whether it is tart or sweet and what the ABV is.

Stout or porter: dark malt may suggest coffee, cocoa, toast or caramel. Body can be light or full, so do not guess from colour.

Sour beer: acidity may be bright, fruity or fermentation-led. Ask how tart it is before ordering.

Lager: it can be crisp and clean, malty or even dark. It is a broad family, not one fixed flavour.

A few phrases you can use

“Do you have something crisp and not too bitter?” “Is there a hop-forward beer with a softer bitterness?” “Do you have a wheat beer with a gentle malt flavour?” “Is this dark beer roasty but not too heavy?” “How tart is this sour?” You can also say: “I usually like ___, but I do not like ___—could you help me choose?”

Keep in mind

These styles are starting points, not guarantees. Every brewery and beer can have its own character. Check the current menu for the specific beer, size, price and alcohol strength.