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Best Beer: beer styles explained and the best beers to buy

Find the best beer for you

Clear guides to every major beer style, and shortlists of the bottles worth ordering.

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Browse by style

All style guides
A glass of PilsnerPilsner4.2–5.4% ABV, medium to high bitternessA can of Hefe Weissbier, a cloudy German wheat beer, standing on a table in warm lightHefeweizen4.9–5.6% ABV, low bitternessA glass of IPAIPA5.5–7.5% ABV, high bitternessA glass of SaisonSaison5.0–7.0% ABV, medium bitternessA glass of MärzenMärzen5.6–6.3% ABV, low to medium bitternessA glass of Belgian DubbelBelgian Dubbel6.0–7.6% ABV, low bitternessA glass of Brown AleBrown Ale4.2–5.9% ABV, low to medium bitternessA glass of PorterPorter4.5–6.5% ABV, medium bitternessA glass of StoutStout4.0–7.0% ABV, medium bitterness

Not sure what you like?

Set the color, bitterness and strength you feel like, and the beer finder picks the closest style.

Open the beer finder

Beer, explained simply

Best Beer is an independent guide for people who like beer and want to understand it a little better. There are more beers on the shelf than ever, and the labels rarely tell you what is inside. A pilsner, a hazy IPA and a Belgian dubbel are completely different drinks, and knowing the style is the quickest way to know what you will taste.

Every style guide on this site answers the same questions in plain language: what the beer tastes like, how bitter and how strong it is, where it comes from, how to serve it, what to eat with it and three widely available bottles to try first. We keep the numbers simple: colour on the SRM scale, bitterness in IBU and strength as a percentage of alcohol.

Where to start

If you are new to beer, start with a crisp lager such as a pilsner or a helles, then try a pale ale to taste what hops add. If you already know you like dark beer, the stout and porter guides are a good next step. Not sure? Answer three quick questions in the beer finder and it will suggest the closest style, with a bottle to start with.

We are not paid to recommend any beer. Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.

How we choose

Beers you can actually find

Every pick is widely distributed. We leave out one-off releases that sell out in a day.

A reason for every pick

Each beer on a list earns its place for something specific, and we say what that is.

Plain language

We explain styles and terms in everyday words, so you can order with confidence.

Don't drink and drive. Plan a safe ride home.