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.
酷暑高溫之下，如果能喝一瓶冰啤，生活簡直不能更美好！但是，啤酒種類繁多、口味各不相同，名字、品牌，很容易讓人分不清楚，而身在異國的小伙伴們更是一臉茫然。

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，啤酒由麥芽發酵而成。麥芽、水、酵母和啤酒花是啤酒最主要的四種成分，每一種對啤酒的口味都至關重要。基本上，啤酒根據其發酵方式分為：麥芽酒和貯藏/拉格啤酒。下面，我們將分別介紹這兩大類啤酒中更加具體的種類。讓我們一飽眼福和口福吧！

Ales
麥芽酒

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.
麥芽酒酒精含量較高，口味更富于變化。其顏色從黑色、深棕色至淺金色不等。在發酵過程中，麥芽酒主要使用“頂部發酵”，發酵時發酵泡沫聚集在啤酒液體表面。由于發酵溫度高于拉格啤酒，麥芽酒一般口感更濃厚香醇。

The following are two typical ales.
以下為兩種典型的麥芽酒：

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.
不要被它的名字騙了，因為含有很多啤酒花，苦啤酒香味更濃、苦味較，同時還有水果與焦糖的味道。它還有一種口味更重、口感更濃的類型，稱為“特別型”（ESB）苦啤酒。苦啤酒的顏色也各不相同，從金色到深紅色均有。而傳統的酒吧玻璃杯則是飲用苦啤酒的最佳選擇。

Example: Fuller’s ESB
代表：Fuller酒廠的伊士啤

Stout
烈性黑啤酒

Stouts can carry hints of coffee, chocolate, licorice, and molasses with no apparent hops. Their head 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，甘草或是糖漿，卻沒有明顯酒花。其啤酒沫較厚，顏色從黃褐色至棕色不等，而酒體的顏色則呈深棕色或黑色。烈性黑啤入口絲滑、濃郁、如奶油般細膩，絲毫沒有水樣口感。烈性黑啤一般使用酒吧玻璃杯或帶柄啤酒杯盛放，可與巧克力、牡蠣，以及任何形式的肉類相搭配。

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

Lagers
貯藏/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稱。其酒精濃度較低，沒有過于復雜的口感。拉格啤酒采用“底部發酵”的方式，酵母位于發酵容器底部。較低的發酵溫度與較長的貯藏時間都讓拉格啤酒具有更加清新淡雅的口感。

Here are three typical lagers.
以下為三種典型的拉格啤酒：

Bock
博克啤酒/高濃度啤酒

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.
博克啤酒原產于德國，是拉格啤酒中味道較甜、顏色較濃、酒精含量較高的一種。傳統的博克啤酒中，如Dunkles博克啤酒，擁有麥芽的香味，而整體的甜味則被啤酒花的苦味沖淡。當然，也有如Helles博克啤酒一樣，酒味更清淡，酒花香味更濃的博克啤酒。博克啤酒一般盛放在科隆直身杯或是科爾茨啤酒杯中，可搭配烘焙燒烤類食物，如烤肉，一同食用。

Example: Shiner Bock from the Spoetzl Brewery
代表：Spoetzl酒廠的夏納博克啤酒

Pilsner
皮爾森啤酒

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.
皮爾森拉格啤酒原產于捷克，是一種色澤明亮、口感清爽的淡色拉格啤酒。其酒體呈淺黃色，酒花溫和至中等厚度。其苦味較重，常常還有焦糖的味道伴隨其中。細高的皮爾森酒杯是盛放它的理想容器。烤肉、烤雞、烤魚、辛辣的印度菜與墨西哥菜肴，或是亞洲美味都可與皮爾森啤酒搭配而食。

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.
德國15至19世紀期間，大部分啤酒都是在三月釀造，隨后貯藏在酒窖中直至九、十月慕尼黑啤酒節（始于19世紀），三月啤酒也在其中。它們口感香醇、濃郁，酒體呈淺棕色并擁有白色的泡沫。整個啤酒以麥芽的香味為主。三月啤酒主要使用帶柄啤酒杯盛放，可與新鮮、多脂的奶酪、意面與海鮮搭配。

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