Beer Styles

Lager is the style of the north. It's bottom-fermented, pale, and cold-conditioned. According to the Carlsberg Group, Super Bock Original has 5.2% ABV, which is on the higher end for a pale lager.

The BJCP competition guidelines group beers of this kind under International Pale Lager. It's a pale, lean beer with low to medium bitterness and mild malt sweetness. It's found worldwide, from Mexico to Japan.

How does a lager differ from a German Pils? A Pils is noticeably more bitter, at 22 to 40 IBU versus 18 to 25, with the hops front and center. A lager of this kind is softer and less bitter.

It differs from a Munich Helles in its malt character. Helles is rounder and more bready, with less hop presence and slightly lower alcohol, usually between 4.7 and 5.4%. Both are pale lagers, but with a different emphasis.

It's also worth noting what isn't a style: Fino and Imperial simply refer to the size of a glass, not a type of beer. Order a Fino in northern Portugal, and you'll get a small draft lager.

There are also dark beers and, in recent years, craft beers ranging from IPA to stout. They can be found in the bars of Porto, but remain the exception alongside pale lager. A good rule of thumb for beginners: the colder and lighter, the more likely it's a lager.