While humans have been making beer practically since the dawn of civilization, craft beer brewing didn’t start until the 1960s. President Jimmy Carter legalized homebrewing in the late 1970s, sparking a suds revolution that continues to thrive. Here, get a quick guide to craft beer before visiting a new restaurant or bar with unfiltered libations on tap.

What to Know About Craft Beer

Common Terms

‘Malty’ and ‘hoppy’ are among the terms you’ll read in craft beer descriptions or hear from the mouths of bartenders and servers. ‘Hoppy’ refers to hops, one of the main beer ingredients impacting aroma and taste. Hops come in many forms, including those under ‘fruity,’ ‘floral,’ and ‘piney’ umbrellas such as citrus, grassy, and wood. ‘Malty’ concerns another essential beer ingredient, malted barley. How long barley undergoes roasting influences the flavor and color of the brew; for example, light roasting creates a nutty flavor while medium and dark roasting results in toffee and coffee-like flavors, respectively.

Other common craft libation terms appearing on bar and restaurant menus include ‘bitter’ and ‘spicy.’ Bitterness levels depend on when hops get added, while spicy additives concern herbs such as coriander and clove.

Common Types

Craft suds typically come in ale, lager, porter, pilsner, and stout form. Ales encompass many craft beer types, such as American pale ales known for bold, hoppy flavors. India Pale Ales, or IPAs, also feature distinct hoppiness balanced by caramel and other sweet flavors that curb the bitterness. Brown and amber, or red, ales feature caramel flavors, with brown ales including “roasty” aftertastes.

Lager and pilsner beers are all about malted barley, offering crisp, clean flavors with notes of spice or citrus. Unlike ales where yeast gets fermented at the top of the tank, lagers and pilsners have their yeast fermented on the bottom to create smoother tastes.

The darkest beers, porters, and stouts come from dark-roasted malts and are thicker than ales, lagers, and pilsners. Both come in many flavors, including bourbon, honey, and vanilla porters, and oatmeal, milk, and chocolate stouts. 
 

Sip your favorite craft libations at The Diner at Sugar Hill, the modern diner-style restaurant and bar serving delicious food made in house from scratch. Serving the Buford, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville, Suwanee-Gwinnett County, and Forsyth County in Georgia since 2009, this restaurant offers a full bar as well as gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan fare. There’s also a party room on premise and a catering menu to select from. Call (770) 831-0180 today with catering questions or review the restaurant menu online.