Have you ever wondered the difference between an Ale and a Bock?
Open the “+” sign for the definition of all of the types of beer.
Beer Glossary of Terms
Beer fermented more quickly and at warmer temperatures than lager, with top-fermenting yeast.
A strong, dark German lager, usually brewed for the spring season.
A mild, brown beer, usually low in alcohol.
A sweet, golden American-style beer with a high level of carbonation. Some are fermented with both ale and lager yeasts.
Literally translated, “dark” in German. Dark beer.
Meaning “yeast wheat” in German. An unfiltered wheat beer that is bottle conditioned and cloudy when served.
A fermented beverage made from apples.
(IPA) A very strong, hoppy pale ale, which originated in Britain for export to soldiers in India.
A light, golden German ale, which originated in Cologne.
Fermented more slowly and at cooler temperatures than ale, with bottom-fermenting yeast, and which is then aged for a smooth, clean flavor and aroma.
A Belgian ale that spontaneously ferments with wild yeast in the air in the brewery. It is distinctive for its sour taste and aroma.
A fruity, milder version of England’s India Pale Ale.
An English-style dark ale that was stout’s predecessor. It was first brewed for London laborers.
The most imitated style of lager in the world, it was perfected in 1842 in Pilsen, Bohemia. It is pale in color with an assertive hop aroma and is highly carbonated.
A fermented beverage made from honey.
An English- and Irish-style ale that is opaque black, smooth and creamy. It may be dry or sweet.
Literally, “wheat beer” in German. An ale brewed with between 20 and 60 percent wheat that is often served in the summer.
Wine Glossary of Terms
Red, White, Rosé… know the fruit of the vine.
Open the “+” sign for the definition of all of the types of wine.
Types of Red Wine
If you are not sure whether you like red wine, let aside what type of red wine, Merlot is a safe bet! This type of wine is very soft, with a mild mix of plum and blackberry flavors. All you need to do is add a box of delicious chocolates, and you got yourself the perfect mix! In terms of food, Merlot pairs well with just about any dish, especially with deserts.
Shiraz, also known as Syrah, is a delicious red wine, with spicy flavors of blackcurrant and black pepper. A glass of Shiraz is a great accompaniment for meat dishes.
This sophisticated French wine is a mix of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a full-bodied taste of currant and bell pepper. It is one of the most famous types of wines in the world, especially among the French, Australians, Californians, and Chileans. Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with meat dishes.
Types of of Sparkling Wine
By far the most luxurious drink of all is Champagne, a well-known product of France. Champagne is savored in moments of celebration, and the prices reach the levels of its worldwide fame.
The Spanish have their delicious version of Sparkling wine, known as Cava, mostly coming as Brut and Semi-Sec, and as white and rosé.
Inexpensive fortified wines that usually have an alcohol content between 13% and 20% alcohol by volume (ABV). They are usually made of grape and citrus wine, sugar, artificial color, and artificial flavor.
Types of White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc stands out with its light yet acidic taste, with aromas of grapefruit, bell pepper, and grass. It is a classic choice for wine lovers, and comes as a great pair to salads and poultry dishes. Some wine drinkers enjoy Sauvignon served as spritz, with sparkling water.
Chardonnay is an exquisite white wine, produced mostly in Burgundy in France, but also on the coast of California. A glass of Chardonnay comes with a refreshing taste of oak and citrus fruit and hints of apple, pear, and melon. The delicious wine is a great accompaniment to seafood dishes, poultry, and pork.
Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio by its Italian name, is one of the most delicious types of wine, rich in flavor and slightly spicy. It is mostly produced in France and New Zealand. Pinot Grigio, the Italian version, is a little bit more fresh and crispy, perfectly made to accompany seafood and pasta dishes.
Riesling wine comes with appetizing flavors of lime, apple, and pear, combined in a crisp blend. The grapes are famously grown in Germany, but there are also some producers in France and New York. This wine goes nicely with poultry and pork dishes, especially ones with a spicy twist.
Types of of Fortified Wine
Typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine though it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.
Fortified wine of Spanish origin that typically has a distinctive nutty flavored, made by white grapes.
Wine produced in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own as an aperitif, to sweet wine more usually consumed with dessert.
A dark, sweet, fortified dessert wine that is high in alcohol (usually around 17-20%) that is available both in sweet or dry variations.
Liquor made from wine, with a number of different herbs added for flavors. It is best known for its role in the popular cocktail, the martini.
Types of of Rosé Wine
Dry, red wine that typically exhibits fruit-forward character with strawberry, cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit taking the cake for palate presence.
Ranges from a medium-bodied to full-bodied and are characterized by their high tannin content which serves to provide structure and intrigue while supporting the rich fruit characteristics.
Types of of Dessert Wine
A more concentrated, very sweet wine.
Wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice.
Gray mold that is deliberately cultivated on grapes to enhance the making of certain sweet wines.
Types of of Rice Wine
Japanese rice wine, may be served warm or chilled.
Rough Japanese liquor distilled from any of various ingredients, including sake dregs. (Will be found in the wine section at most locations.)
Liquor Glossary of Terms
Become a connoissuer…impress your friends
Open the “+” sign for the definition of all of the types of liquor.
A dry brown brandy distilled in the French district of Gers.
A high alcohol volume (usually 50-70%) licorice flavored herbal liqueur.
American whiskey made by using at least 51% corn grain mash in a wheat, oats, rye, and barley combination.
A product of the distillation of wine, or fruit in the case of flavored brandies such as peach or cherry. Cognac and Armagnac are special varieties made from grapes grown in specific areas of France.
A light-bodied whiskey balanced so that no one particular mash ingredient is allowed to dominate the flavor.
Brandy distilled from white wine and produced in the vicinity of Cognac.
A thick and concentrated infusion of fruit in neutral grain spirits. Commonly made from Cassis, Frambois, but can be from any fruit or nut source.
A clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavored with juniper berries.
A type of pure alcohol which has been produced by fermenting and distilling grains such as corn and rye.
A whiskey whose flavor is obtained from the malted barley component of its mash, made in Ireland.
Distilled spirit that has been flavored with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers or nuts and bottled with added sugar or other sweetener.
Illegally distilled homemade whiskey, usually with a very high alcohol content.
Spirit distilled from sugar cane residues or molasses. Light, medium, and heavy bodied flavor variations exist as do variations in color when not clear. Often flavored with spices or fruit flavors.
Mainly American and Canadian whiskey which must be made from a mash containing at least 51 percent rye.
A strong alcoholic drink resembling gin and often flavored with fruit.
Blends are a mixture of about 40 percent malt and 60 percent grain whiskey and single malts are 100% from a single distillery.
Mexican spirit distilled from the blue agave plant, a succulent. Tequila can only be made in the state of Jalisco. Generally available in three categories: Blanco (no wood aging), Reposado and Anejo.
Colorless, grain-based spirit, originally from Russia and Poland. Now made from virtually any grain, many fruits and potatoes as well and available in dozens of flavors.
A spirit made by distilling fermented cereals, which is matured and often blended.