Guide To Beer
Sometimes you just want a cold beer, and quick. Sometimes you want something a little more complex. Both are going to taste great, of course. The Total Guide to Beer explains why.
Sometimes you just want a cold beer, and quick. Sometimes you want something a little more complex. Both are going to taste great, of course. The Total Guide to Beer explains why.
Whether you’re craving the most popular national beer brand or the newest, craziest, must-have microbrew, Total Wine & More is ready for you, with more than 2,500 beers in stock. This online beer guide will help you navigate our incredible selection. (Download the iBook version of our beer guide for free or grab a free hard copy at any Total Wine & More store.)
Ale yeast strains tend to ferment at warmer temperatures (59°- 69°F), resulting in a shorter fermentation and aging. Ale yeasts can produce esters—aroma and flavor compounds—during fermentation, which often impart the fruity and sometimes spicy characteristics for which ales are generally known.
Lager yeast strains ferment at cooler temperatures (45° - 60°F) for a longer fermentation and aging process. Cooler temperatures stifle ester production and thus impart lager’s cleaner, smoother characteristics.
Though the many major style categories establish a framework in which many beers fit, the beer world includes other distinct styles, flavors and aromas that often depart from traditional brews and carve out their own niche—and they’re just as fun to explore.