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What better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a celebration of the American beer styles? Read on to learn about all 17 varieties.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) is a nonprofit that uses a set of guidelines to judge beer competitions fairly and consistently. Outside of wanting to become a Certified Cicerone, I would also love to someday be a certified beer judge and get involved in local homebrew contests!

In honor of Independence Day, let’s start our journey by exploring the 17 beer styles that fall under the BJCP American Beer category. A few of these were even created on this side of the pond – can you say, “as American as Cream Ale”?

What are American beer styles? To really get to know them, be sure to sign up for my email list and receive the Bright and Brewtiful American Beer Style Flashcards for free!

American Amber Ale

True to its name, an American amber ale is typically an amber color, though it can range in shade all the way up to a coppery brown. It has a moderate to high hop profile (think flavors like citrus, floral, pine, or stone fruit). Beautifully balanced, it also has a moderate to strong malt flavor that focuses on sweet caramel. This Fourth of July, pair your amber ale with some good, old-fashioned barbecue.

American Barleywine

This strong English ale was interpreted by American brewers when they began using local ingredients. Rich and malty, American-style barleywines are unique because of the heavy addition of hops. For everything barleywine is, it isn’t shy. A sip of this American beer style will hit you with rich sweetness and bitterness combined, and the high alcohol content will have you singing “America the Beautiful” in no time.

American Brown Ale

A true classic, the American Brown Ale would pair perfectly with Fourth of July standards like grilled meats and vegetables. The nutty and toasty malt flavor balances out a snappy bitterness making this beer a real crowd-pleaser that goes down easy. Popular favorites include Brooklyn Brown Ale and Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale.

American IPA

The favorite child of American brewers and beer geeks alike, the American IPA has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1970s. For a long time, there seemed to be a competition among breweries to see who could get their IPAs the hoppiest! A traditional American IPA is characterized by a strong hop aroma and bitter flavor, with only a slight biscuity malt undertone.

American Lager

Likely the first beer you ever tried: think Budweiser, Coors, or Miller. Pale and with a grainy scent, the corn-like flavor of an American lager might take you back to your college days. Because it has a low bitterness and is highly carbonated, it’s certainly refreshing on a hot Independence Day! Try some kettle corn at the community festival to pair with this classic drink.

American Light Lager

Similar to an American Lager, an American Light Lager has all the same aroma and flavor profiles – just less. In fact, in beer competitions a strong flavor is a fault when it comes to light lagers! Drinkers should expect something that goes down easy. Best served ridiculously cold.

American Pale Ale

Not to be confused with the strong India Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale celebrates hops without being overly bitter. With a hop scent and flavor that is only medium-high, pale ales are a great stepping stone to more bitter IPAs. Know what goes great with an American pale ale? Some all-American apple pie.

Also, life pro tip: top your apple pie with melted sharp cheddar. It’s amazing.

American Porter

While some porters have low hops and some have high, one thing that isn’t in question is their maltiness. Porters are made to be dark and rich, with a deliciously roasted, almost burnt character. Some of the more popular examples of a classic American porter would be Deschutes Black Butte Porter and Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.

American Stout

The difference between American porters and American stouts is often debated (just ask Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine). However, the main thing that sets the American stout apart is its intensely roasted, dark chocolate or coffee-like character. It can also be quite dry, hoppy and bitter beneath the malt. This American beer style is complex and deep; put some sharp cheddar on that burger for a surprisingly delicious pairing.

American Strong Ale

It may sound like something the Hulk would drink, but an American strong ale is a bit more balanced than the Marvel character. With a perfect blend of intense, toffee malt and substantial bitterness, this American beer style holds nothing back. Quite high in alcohol, a typical strong ale ranges from 6.3% to 10%, making it a real sipper.

American Wheat Beer

Unlike many beers, an American wheat beer is expected to be hazy and cloudy. This beer has a unique bread dough flavor and, at times, a hint of banana from the unique yeast. To me, American wheat ales like Bell’s Oberon are a sure sign of summer. Fruity, grainy, and sometimes slightly sweet, a classic American wheat ale will be a pale golden straw color with a full, long-lasting white head. Talk about refreshing!

Blonde Ale

A blonde ale is an American beer style that is seriously quaffable, with low and unobtrusive malt and hop flavors. This pale beer is characterized by a slight sweetness that is reminiscent of an American lager. Fun fact: blonde ales are considered one of the easiest ones to brew. If you’re looking to get into homebrewing (I’ve been doing it for almost ten years now), Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine is an excellent resource!

California Common

One of the only beers created in the states on the list, this light to medium amber beer seems to have a bit of everything. At times lightly fruity, grainy, toasty, woody, and caramel sweet, the California common style has a character as diverse as the state’s residents. A prime example of this West Coast original beer is Anchor Steam.

Cream Ale

This American beer style always used to confuse me, as I imagined something thick and sweet, like a nitro milk stout. However, a cream ale is actually similar to a lager with just a bit more flavor. Corn sweetness is king here, with minimal hop flavor. A cream ale should be smooth and crisp – a real lawnmower beer.

Double IPA

Ah, the double IPA. This strong and highly bitter beer was recently one of the most popular American beer styles among beer geeks. To really understand a double IPA, think of barleywine without the malty sweetness. This beer is truly intense! While hop bombs were all the rage a few years back, the tide is turning now to more sessionable and light beers, just right for the summer.

Imperial Stout

This rich and complex beer isn’t for the faint of heart. With dark cocoa, roasted coffee, and even dried fruit sweetness, imperial stouts are made to be sipped. The slightly bittersweet finish rounds it all out. Although this beer style seems to have a lot going on, the flavors blend together for an all-around pleasant and warming dark ale.

Wheatwine

One of the newer American beer styles to hit the BJCP guide is wheatwine, developed in the late 1980s. This beer has a prominent wheaty malt flavor with very low bitterness. Thick, rich, and sweet, wheatwine isn’t your ordinary wheat beer – in fact, it’s a strong ale like barleywine or a double IPA. Welcome some other cultures into your life this Fourth of July and pair your wheatwine with brie or sweet and sour chicken!

American Beer Style Flashcards

I hope you’ve learned a bit about the 17 different American beer styles today. Why don’t you celebrate your freedom by figuring out which ones are right for you?

Starting today, subscribers will receive access to all 17 American Beer Style Flashcards for free when they sign up for our email list! Printable as double-sided cards or viewable on an electronic device, the Bright and Brewtiful American Beer Style Flashcards walk you through each style’s appearance, aroma, flavor, and suggested food pairings. Just click below to sign up for our email list and stay up to date on all things beer, coffee, and tea. Happy Fourth!