If you've ever stood in front of a shelf full of beers or scanned a brewery menu, you've probably realised one thing: beer is anything but one-dimensional. Beyond the familiar lagers are wheat beers, IPAs, amber ales, stouts, porters, sours, and countless other styles, each with its own flavour, aroma, and personality.
So, how many types of beer are there?
The short answer is: more than you could ever try. Brewers around the world recognise well over 100 beer styles, with new interpretations and variations emerging all the time. While that might sound intimidating, most beers belong to one of two broad families: ales and lagers. Once you understand those, exploring the rest becomes much easier.
Whether you're new to craft beer or simply looking to broaden your horizons, here's a closer look at some of the most popular beer styles you'll find in India and around the world.
10 Popular Types of Beer in India
India's beer scene has changed dramatically over the past decade. While lagers still dominate, the growth of craft brewing has introduced drinkers to a much wider range of styles and flavours. Here are ten of the most popular types of beer you'll come across.
1. Lager
Light, crisp, and refreshing, lagers remain India's most widely enjoyed beer style. Brewed at cooler temperatures, they're known for their clean finish and easy-drinking character, making them a reliable choice for almost any occasion.
2. Wheat Beer
Wheat beers are brewed with a high proportion of wheat malt, giving them a naturally smooth texture and a slightly cloudy appearance. Many feature notes of citrus, banana, and gentle spice, making them especially refreshing in warm weather.
3. India Pale Ale (IPA)
Despite the name, IPAs have become a favourite with beer lovers across the world. They're recognised for their bold hop character, lively bitterness, and aromas that can range from citrus and tropical fruit to pine and floral notes.
4. Amber Ale
Amber ales strike a balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. With flavours of caramel, toasted malt, and biscuit, they're full of character without being overpowering, making them an easy style to enjoy whether you're new to craft beer or already familiar with it.
5. Stout
Rich, dark, and full-bodied, stouts are known for flavours of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and cocoa. Their smooth texture and deeper flavour profile make them especially popular with those who enjoy more robust beers.
6. Porter
Porters share some similarities with stouts but are often a little lighter in body. Expect notes of roasted malt, caramel, nuts, and chocolate, with a smooth finish that makes them surprisingly approachable.
7. Pilsner
A pilsner is a style of lager with a lighter body and a slightly more noticeable hop bitterness. Crisp and refreshing, it's a great example of how much variety exists even within the lager family.
8. Saison
Originally brewed in Belgium, saisons are dry, refreshing, and lightly spiced. Their complex yet easy-drinking nature has made them a favourite among many craft beer enthusiasts.
9. Sour Beer
Sour beers are intentionally tart and refreshing, offering a completely different drinking experience from traditional styles. Many are brewed with fruit, creating bright, vibrant flavours that are especially enjoyable during warmer months.
10. Strong Beer
Strong beers continue to be popular in India thanks to their higher alcohol content and richer malt character. Despite the added strength, many are brewed to remain smooth and well-balanced.
Together, these styles show just how much India's beer culture has evolved. What was once dominated by a handful of familiar lagers has grown into a far more varied and exciting landscape.
Popular Beer Styles Around the World
Although there are hundreds of recognised beer styles, almost all of them can be traced back to two main families: ales and lagers.
Ales
Ales are brewed using top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures. This often results in beers with fruitier aromas and more layered flavour profiles.
Some of the most popular ale styles include:
- IPA
- Pale Ale
- Amber Ale
- Stout
- Porter
- Saison
- Belgian Ale
Lagers
Lagers are brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures, producing beers that are generally cleaner, crisper, and more refreshing.
Popular lager styles include:
- Helles Lager
- Pilsner
- Vienna Lager
- Bock
- Dunkel
- American Lager
As craft brewing continues to grow, breweries around the world are putting their own spin on these classic styles. By experimenting with ingredients, techniques, and local influences, they're constantly creating beers that feel both familiar and new.
Kati Patang's Take on Craft Beer Styles
At Kati Patang, classic beer styles serve as the starting point rather than the finish line. Each recipe respects traditional brewing methods while drawing inspiration from Indian ingredients and flavours.
The Saffron Lager brings a familiar lager profile together with premium saffron sourced from Pampore in Kashmir, adding delicate floral notes and a distinctly Indian identity.
Snappy Wheat reimagines the classic wheat beer with turmeric, peppercorn, coriander seeds, and bright citrus notes, creating a beer that's refreshing while staying true to its roots.
Zesty Amber, India's only bottled amber ale, showcases roasted malts that develop flavours of caramel, toasted biscuit, and dark chocolate, all balanced by a smooth finish.
For drinkers who prefer richer beers, Bareilly Extra Bold offers a fuller-bodied experience with a deeper malt profile and bold character.
Together, these beers reflect what modern Indian craft brewing is all about: taking familiar styles, adding local inspiration, and creating something that's both rooted in tradition and unmistakably original.
Saffron Lager, Snappy Wheat, Zesty Amber and Bareilly Extra Bold.
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