Beer comes in a lot of shapes and sizes. Some are crisp and refreshing. Others are dark, rich and best enjoyed slowly. Some are so hoppy they’ll wake up your tastebuds like a splash of cold water, while others are smooth enough to disappear quicker than you planned.

In other words, there are a lot of different types of beer out there.

The good news? Once you understand the basics, the whole world of beer becomes a lot more fun to explore. Let’s run through a few of the big players from easy-drinking lagers to hazy IPAs and unpack what makes each style tick.

Lagers: Crisp, Clean and Built for Refreshment

Lagers are probably the most widely recognised beers on the planet. They’re fermented at colder temperatures using lager yeast, which results in a cleaner, crisper flavour profile.

Think refreshing, light-bodied and highly drinkable.

Classic lagers often lean toward subtle malt sweetness with a gentle hop finish. Nothing too wild. Just balanced, refreshing beer that does exactly what it’s meant to do: quench thirst and keep things moving along nicely.

They’re the ultimate “sessionable” style of beer.

Ales: The Broad Beer Family Full of Flavour

Ale is one of the biggest categories in beer, and it covers a huge range of styles. While lagers are known for being crisp and clean, ales are typically fermented warmer and tend to bring more expressive flavours to the glass. Depending on the style, that can mean fruity notes, gentle malt sweetness, floral hops or a fuller mouthfeel. Pale ales, IPAs, stouts and plenty of mid-strength craft beers all sit under the broader ale umbrella, which makes ale a pretty handy style to know when you’re getting your head around the different types of beer. 

Captain Sensible is a good reminder that ale doesn’t always have to be big, boozy or over the top. This mid-strength ale comes in at 3.5% ABV and balances refined malt undertones with lively hop notes, giving it a full taste and mouthfeel that punches well above its strength. It’s proof that a lighter beer can still bring proper flavour, making it a strong option for longer sessions when you want to keep things sensible without settling for something forgettable.

Pale Ales – The Gateway to the Craft Beer World

If lagers are the crowd-pleaser, pale ales are the friendly introduction to craft beer.

Pale ales bring more hop character to the table, which means brighter aromas and flavours. Citrus, pine, tropical fruit… that kind of thing. But they still stay balanced enough that you’re not battling a wall of bitterness.

American-style pale ales in particular helped kick off the modern craft beer movement. They showed drinkers that hops could add heaps of flavour without overpowering everything else.

And once you’ve had a good pale ale, you tend to start wondering what else is out there.

IPAs – Where the Hop Lovers Hang Out

The IPA (India Pale Ale) family is where things get really interesting. Over the years, brewers have taken this style and pushed it in all sorts of directions. Originally, IPAs were brewed with higher hop levels to survive long sea voyages (hence India Pale Ale… the beer had to make it from Great Britain to British-colonised India at the time). Today, they’re more about showcasing hop flavour and aroma.

Within this category alone, there are plenty of different types of beer worth exploring.

• West Coast IPA: These are crisp, clear and hop-forward. Expect pine, citrus and a firm bitterness that hangs around for a while.
• NEIPA (New England IPA): Often called a Hazy IPA. These beers are softer, juicier and packed with tropical fruit flavours. Less bitterness, more juicy goodness.
• Double Dry Hopped IPAs: As the name suggests, these beers receive an extra hit of hops during fermentation. That means huge aroma and punchy flavour.
• Double or Imperial IPAs: Bigger, stronger and loaded with hops. These are the bold cousins in the IPA family.

For hop lovers, this part of the beer world can feel like an endless playground.

Stouts

Not all beers are about sunshine and citrus.

Stouts live on the darker side of the spectrum, using roasted malts to create flavours like coffee, chocolate and toasted caramel. Some stouts are smooth and creamy. Others are thick and dessert-like. You might also come across oatmeal stouts, milk stouts, imperial stouts and plenty more variations.

They’re perfect when the weather cools down or when you’re in the mood for something a little more indulgent.

Sour Beers – Bright, Tangy and Wildly Different

Sour beers are exactly what they sound like… beers with a noticeable tartness. Instead of chasing bitterness or malt sweetness, these beers lean into acidity and fruit-driven flavours. You’ll often find notes of citrus, berries or stone fruit, depending on how they’re brewed. Some are lightly tart and refreshing, while others can be seriously puckering.

They’re not everyone’s first stop when exploring the different types of beer, but once people try a good one, they tend to remember it.

So… Which Beer is the Best?

That’s the fun part. There isn’t one answer. Good beer is for everyone and everyone has different tastes.

Sometimes you want something crisp and refreshing; other times you might be chasing juicy hops, a smooth hazy number or something dark and rich.

The beauty of craft brewing is that there’s always something new to discover.

A Few Worth Trying (If You’re Feeling Thirsty)

If all this talk about hops, haze and roasted malts has you thinking it might be time for a beer, we’ve got a few that might hit the spot.

At Balter, we think great beer should be packed with flavour but still ridiculously drinkable… and that philosophy shows up across the range.

Our XPA has become a bit of a crowd favourite for good reason. Bright, tropical hops with a crisp finish that keeps you coming back for another sip. 

If you’re chasing something juicy and relaxed, Eazy Hazy delivers smooth tropical flavours with that soft, hazy mouthfeel that’s become a modern classic. 

And for those moments when you want the flavour without the full strength, Captain Sensible proves mid-strength beer doesn’t have to be boring.

Because at the end of the day, exploring the different types of beer is supposed to be fun.

Crack one open, try something new, and see where your tastebuds take you.