Drinking a bottle of icy beer in the blistering heat is certainly a blessing. However, with the popular drink’s various tastes and types, it’s easy to get confused about the names and brands, especially when you go abroad.

酷暑高温之下，如果能喝一瓶冰啤，生活简直不能更美好！但是，啤酒种类繁多、口味各不相同，名字、品牌，很容易让人分不清楚，而身在异国的小伙伴们更是一脸茫然。

Generally, beer is made using a process of malting and brewing. Malt, water, yeast and hops are four major ingredients, each playing a key role in how the beer tastes. Basically, beer is categorized into two types: ales and lagers, according to the yeast it uses. Here, we introduce the differences and specific categories of each type. Read on and indulge your taste buds.

一般而言，啤酒由麦芽发酵而成。麦芽、水、酵母和啤酒花是啤酒最主要的四种成分，每一种对啤酒的口味都至关重要。基本上，啤酒根据其发酵方式分为：麦芽酒和贮藏/拉格啤酒。下面，我们将分别介绍这两大类啤酒中更加具体的种类。让我们一饱眼福和口福吧！

Ales
麦芽酒

Ales tend to be high in alcohol and complex in taste. Their colors vary from dark to a pale gold or rich brown. During fermentation, they use “top-fermenting” yeast that rises to the surface of the beer. Due to a higher fermenting temperature than that of lagers, ales are generally stronger and fuller.

麦芽酒酒精含量较高，口味更富于变化。其颜色从黑色、深棕色至浅金色不等。在发酵过程中，麦芽酒主要使用“顶部发酵”，发酵时发酵泡沫聚集在啤酒液体表面。由于发酵温度高于拉格啤酒，麦芽酒一般口感更浓厚香醇。

The following are two typical ales.
以下为两种典型的麦芽酒：

Bitter
苦啤酒

Don’t be fooled by its name. Bitters contain hops, which give them more aroma than bitterness, and their flavors are reminiscent of fruits and caramel. They also come in strong and heavy-bodied varieties, which are called extra special bitters, or ESBs. Bitters range from golden to dark red in color. They are best served in a traditional pub glass.

不要被它的名字骗了，因为含有很多啤酒花，苦啤酒香味更浓、苦味较，同时还有水果与焦糖的味道。它还有一种口味更重、口感更浓的类型，称为“特别型”（ESB）苦啤酒。苦啤酒的颜色也各不相同，从金色到深红色均有。而传统的酒吧玻璃杯则是饮用苦啤酒的最佳选择。

Example: Fuller’s ESB
代表：Fuller酒厂的伊士啤

Stout
烈性黑啤酒

Stouts can carry hints of coffee, chocolate, licorice, and molasses with no apparent hops. Theirhead is thick and tan to brown in color, while the body is a dark brown or black. They taste silky, full and creamy without any watery mouthfeel. Usually served in a pub glass or a beer mug, stouts can be paired with chocolate, meat prepared in almost any way, and oysters.

烈性黑啤可含有微量咖啡，巧克力，甘草或是糖浆，却没有明显酒花。其啤酒沫较厚，颜色从黄褐色至棕色不等，而酒体的颜色则呈深棕色或黑色。烈性黑啤入口丝滑、浓郁、如奶油般细腻，丝毫没有水样口感。烈性黑啤一般使用酒吧玻璃杯或带柄啤酒杯盛放，可与巧克力、牡蛎，以及任何形式的肉类相搭配。

Example: Guinness’ Extra Stout
代表：健力士特佳烈性啤酒

Lagers
贮藏/拉格啤酒

Lagers are known for their crisp and clean taste. They are generally less alcoholic and complex. They are based on “bottom-fermenting yeast”, which tends to settle on the bottom of the fermenter. The low fermenting temperature and long “lagering” aging process create a cleaner and clearer taste.

拉格啤酒以清爽的口感著称。其酒精浓度较低，没有过于复杂的口感。拉格啤酒采用“底部发酵”的方式，酵母位于发酵容器底部。较低的发酵温度与较长的贮藏时间都让拉格啤酒具有更加清新淡雅的口感。


Here are three typical lagers.
以下为三种典型的拉格啤酒：

Bock
博克啤酒/高浓度啤酒

Originating from Germany, bock beers are sweet and dark lagers with a high alcohol content. Traditional bock beers, such as Dunkles bock, have a malt flavor with the hop bitterness taming the overall sweetness. Also, there are paler and more hoppy-flavored bock, often known as Helles bocks. Bocks are routinely served in beer glasses called stange or kolsch glass. They can be paired with roasted, grilled food or pork.

博克啤酒原产于德国，是拉格啤酒中味道较甜、颜色较浓、酒精含量较高的一种。传统的博克啤酒中，如Dunkles博克啤酒，拥有麦芽的香味，而整体的甜味则被啤酒花的苦味冲淡。当然，也有如Helles博克啤酒一样，酒味更清淡，酒花香味更浓的博克啤酒。博克啤酒一般盛放在科隆直身杯或是科尔茨啤酒杯中，可搭配烘焙烧烤类食物，如烤肉，一同食用。

Example: Shiner Bock from the Spoetzl Brewery
代表：Spoetzl酒厂的夏纳博克啤酒

Pilsner
皮尔森啤酒

Pilsner lagers, originating from the Czech Republic, are clean and crisp pale lagers. They are straw-colored beers with a mild to medium hop character. Caramel flavors are often accompanied by a medium to high bitterness. They are ideally served in tall and slender pilsner glasses. They pair well with roasted meat, chicken, fish, spicy Indian or Mexican dishes, and Asian cuisines.

皮尔森拉格啤酒原产于捷克，是一种色泽明亮、口感清爽的淡色拉格啤酒。其酒体呈浅黄色，酒花温和至中等厚度。其苦味较重，常常还有焦糖的味道伴随其中。细高的皮尔森酒杯是盛放它的理想容器。烤肉、烤鸡、烤鱼、辛辣的印度菜与墨西哥菜肴，或是亚洲美味都可与皮尔森啤酒搭配而食。

Example: The Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager
代表：Sierra Nevada Summerfest拉格啤酒

Maerzen/Oktoberfest Beer
三月啤酒

From the 15th to 19th century in Germany, most beers including Maerzen, were brewed in March and then kept in cellars and caves until being served in the fall during the September and October in Oktoberfest, a beer festival since the 19th century. They are full-bodied, rich, and have a light brown body with a white head. A malty character dominates the flavor. They are typically served in a beer mug and can be enjoyed with fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta and seafood.

德国15至19世纪期间，大部分啤酒都是在三月酿造，随后贮藏在酒窖中直至九、十月慕尼黑啤酒节（始于19世纪），三月啤酒也在其中。它们口感香醇、浓郁，酒体呈浅棕色并拥有白色的泡沫。整个啤酒以麦芽的香味为主。三月啤酒主要使用带柄啤酒杯盛放，可与新鲜、多脂的奶酪、意面与海鲜搭配。

Example: The Samuel Adams Octoberfest
代表：The Samuel Adams Octoberfest拉格啤酒