by Mark Meli Barley Wines are potent ales, named on account of their strength, not because of any reliance on grapes. With 8-15% alcohol, they are almost as strong as wine. Barley wines originated in Great Britain, usually as the strongest beer a brewer made. Most are amber to deep brown in color and are…

by Mark Meli Autumn is the time for Oktoberfest (though in Japan today it seems it’s always time for Oktoberfest). The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, and the tradition has continued to this day on the Theresienwiese outside Munich. “Oktoberfest Bier” in Germany signifies only…

by Mark Meli If any style of beer tastes like it was made for summer drinking, it’s Belgian White. This wheat ale of about 5% alcohol is usually brewed from half malted barley and half unmalted or malted wheat. It is fermented with Belgian Ale yeast, which leaves it tasting rather spicy, and traditionally witbier…

by Mark Meli Bitter is a very English style of beer. It’s still somewhat rare and little understood outside the UK. A “regular” bitter is usually amber or copper-colored, contains less than 4% alcohol, and is served from the cask as real ale. These are session beers—made to be consumed in large quantities. They have…

Beer Styles by Mark Meli Altbier is an amber or brown brew hailing from the region around Düsseldorf on the Rhine in Germany. Its name translates as “old,” which comes from its being a top-fermented ale. Ales were the main type of beer for centuries in Germany, but they have been widely replaced by bottom-fermented…