Humans have enjoyed the fine art of brewing for thousands of years and much to the pleasure of beer drinkers everywhere, the fine art of brewing only continues to expand. Traditional styles are being created in different places all over the world through the combination of ingredients that would be mind-blowing to beer drinkers just a generation ago. To help curb the confusion and assist in developing a better understanding of the flavors available to modern consumers, we decided to create the Periodic Table of Beer using the most recent Gold Medal winners from the World Beer Cup Competition. Also known as the world’s most prestigious “Beer Olympics”, the bi-annual event involves over two hundred judges ranking 96 style categories.
In the table, the categories are separated between Hybrids in orange, Ales in green, and Lagers in blue. The different shades of each box represents the regional style varieties within each category. Click on any of the boxes for a more in depth look at the specific style, the beer name of the gold medal winner, the brewery responsible for it, its location, and how much alcohol it contains (a.k.a. ABV). We even created a downloadable poster so you can have an exquisite understanding of the finest flavored beer in the world.
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1. Whammy Bar Wheat
Amplified Ale Works - San Diego, CA
ABV - 5.0%
American-Style Wheat Beer (Hybrid)
2. Fuzztail
Sunriver Brewing - Sunriver, OR
ABV - 5.0%
American-Style Wheat Beer with Yeast (Hybrid)
3. Shady Spot
Susquehanna Brewing Co. - Pittston, PA
ABV - 4.7%
Fruit Beer (Hybrid)
4. First Peach Ale
Blue Moon Brewing Co. ® - Golden, CO
ABV - 5.6%
Fruit Wheat Beer (Hybrid)
5. Rosetta
Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, NY
ABV - 5.6%
Belgian-Style Fruit Beer (Hybrid)
6. Pump Action Imperial Pumpkin Ale
4 Noses Brewing Co. - Broomfield, CO
ABV - 6.1%
Pumpkin Beer (Hybrid)
7. Ponce
Quest Brewing Co. - Greenville, SC
ABV - 5.0%
Field Beer (Hybrid)
8. Yellow Fever
Comrade Brewing Co. - Denver, CO
ABV - 5.8%
Chili Beer (Hybrid)
9. Sakura Mankai Lager
Chateau Kamiya Ushiku Brewery - Ushiku, Japan
ABV - 5.0%
Herb and Spice Beer (Hybrid)
10. Pasteur Street Cyclo Stout
Pasteur Street Brewing Co. - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
ABV - 13.0%
Chocolate Beer (Hybrid)
11. Mocha Machine
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing - Long Beach, CA
ABV - 9.2%
Coffee Beer (Hybrid)
12. Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
Funky Buddha Brewery - Oakland Park, FL
ABV - 6.4%
Specialty Beer (Hybrid)
13. Rye Dawn
Breakwater Brewing Co. - Oceanside, CA
ABV - 6.8%
Rye Beer (Hybrid)
14. Honey Chamomile Wheat
Nexus Brewery - Albuquerque, NM
ABV - 6.0%
Honey Beer (Hybrid)
15. Otra Vez
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Mills River, NC
ABV - 4.5%
Session Beer (Hybrid)
16. Little Secret
Triptych Brewing - Savoy, IL
ABV - 5.0%
Session India Pale Ale (Hybrid)
17. Brilliant
10 Barrel Brewing Co. - Bend, OR
ABV - 7.5%
Other Strong Beer (Hybrid)
18. Arima Japan Ale
Konishi Brewing Co. - Itami, Japan
ABV - 5.5%
Experimental Beer (Hybrid)
19. High Ground IPA
Manitou Brewing Co. - Manitou Springs, CO
ABV - 7.0%
Fresh or Wet Hop Ale (Hybrid)
20. Archetype Historical IPA
Circle Brewing Co. - Austin, TX
ABV - 7.5%
Historical Beer (Hybrid)
21. Glutenberg India Pale Ale
Brasseurs Sans Gluten - Montreal, Canada
ABV - 6.0%
Gluten-Free Beer (Hybrid)
22. Snowcat White IPA
Rock Bottom - Chicago - Chicago, IL
ABV - 6.1%
American-Belgo-Style Ale (Hybrid)
23. Confliction
Sloop Brewing - Elizaville, NY
ABV - 4.0%
American-Style Sour Ale (Hybrid)
24. Blushing Star
Liquid Riot Bottling Co. - Portland, ME
ABV - 8.0%
Brett Beer (Hybrid)
25. Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter
La Quinta Brewing Co. - Palm Desert, CA
ABV - 8.5%
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer (Hybrid)
26. Bourbon Barrel Aged Jinx Remover
Fall Brewing Co. - San Diego, CA
ABV - 8.2%
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (Hybrid)
27. A Night to End All Dawns
Kane Brewing - Ocean, NJ
ABV - 12.4%
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout (Hybrid)
28. Love Among the Ruins
Thornbridge - Bakewell, United Kingdom
ABV - 7.0%
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer (Hybrid)
29. Nine-Tailed Fox
Nasu Kohgen Beer Co. - Nasumachi, Japan
ABV - 11.0%
Aged Beer (Hybrid)
30. Baumgartner Junghopfenpils
Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner - Schaerding, Austria
ABV - 4.8%
Kellerbier or Zwickelbier (Hybrid)
31. Ashes from the Grave
Monkey Paw Brewing - San Diego, CA
ABV - 6.6%
Smoke Beer (Hybrid)
LAGER
32. Miller Lite
Miller Brewing Co. - Milwaukee, WI
ABV - 4.2%
Light Lager (Lager - Other)
33. BEER
La Cumbre Brewing Co. - Albuquerque, NM
ABV - 4.7%
International-Style Lager (Lager - Other)
34. Apogee Baltic Porter
Morgan Territory Brewing - Tracy, CA
ABV - 8.0%
Baltic-Style Porter (Lager - European)
35. Trumer Pils
Trumer Brauerei - Berkeley, CA
ABV - 4.8%
German-Style Pilsener (Lager - European)
36. Duchovni
Medusa Brewing Co. - Hudson, MA
ABV - 5.5%
Bohemian-Style Pilsener (Lager - European)
37. Loewenbraeu Original
Loewenbraeu - Muenchen, Germany
ABV - 5.2%
Muenchner-Style Helles (Lager - European)
38. Festbier
Muellerbraeu - Pfaffenhofen, Germany
ABV - 5.6%
Dortmunder/Export or German-Style Oktoberfest (Lager - European)
39. Dock Time
Stony Creek Brewery - Branford, CT
ABV - 4.8%
Vienna-Style Lager (Lager - European)
40. Hissy Fit Marzen Lager
Bitter Sisters Brewing Co. - Addison, TX
ABV - 5.8%
German-Style Maerzen (Lager - European)
41. I Dunkled in My Pants
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. - Arroyo Grande - Santa Barbara, CA
ABV - 5.2%
European-Style Dark/Muenchner Dunkel (Lager - European)
42. Schwartz Bier
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost - Lexington, VA
ABV - 4.8%
German-Style Schwarzbier (Lager - European)
43. Maibock
Stoudts Brewing Co. - Adamstown, PA
ABV - 7.0%
German-Style Bock or Maibock (Lager - European)
44. Lucubrator
Occidental Brewing Co. - Portland, OR
ABV - 6.75%
German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock (Lager - European)
45. Rainier Lager
Pabst Brewing Co. - Los Angeles, CA
ABV - 4.6%
American-Style Lager (Lager - North American)
46. Steam Engine Lager
Steamworks Brewing Co. - Durango, CO
ABV - 5.5%
American-Style Amber Lager (Lager - North American)
47. Jump Seat Black Lager
Lancaster Brewing Co. - Lancaster, PA
ABV - 5.5%
American-Style Dark Lager (Lager - North American)
ALE
48. Triumvirate
Reuben’s Brews - Seattle, WA
ABV - 6.0%
Australian- or International-Style Pale Ale (Ale - Other)
49. Claritas
Mike Hess Brewing Co. - North Park - San Diego, CA
ABV - 5.8%
German-Style Koelsch (Ale - German)
50. 90 Shilling
Odell Brewing Co. - Fort Collins, CO
ABV - 5.3%
German-Style Altbier (Ale - German)
51. Volkssekt
Bend Brewing Co. - Bend, OR
ABV - 3.8%
German-Style Sour Ale (Ale - German)
52. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan - Freising, Germany
ABV - 5.4%
South German-Style Hefeweizen (Ale - German)
53. Franziskaner Weissbier Royal
Spaten-Franziskaner-Braeu - Muenchen, Germany
ABV - 6.0%
German-Style Wheat Ale (Ale - German)
54. Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell
Brauerei Ladenburger - Neuler, Germany
ABV - 8.0%
South German-Style Weizenbock (Ale - German)
55. Hoegaarden Wit
Hoegaarden Brewery - Hoegaarden, Belgium
ABV - 4.9%
Belgian-Style Witbier (Ale - Belgian/ French)
56. Classic Saison
Blackberry Farm Brewery - Walland, TN
ABV - 6.0%
French & Belgian-Style Saison (Ale - Belgian/ French)
57. Barrel Aged Woodthrush
Little Fish Brewing Co. - Athens, OH
ABV - 6.6%
Belgian- and French-Style Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
58. La Trappe Trappist Blond
Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven - Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
ABV - 6.5%
Belgian-Style Pale Ale or Blonde Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
59. Oude Geuze Boon Black Label
Brouwerij Boon - Lembeek, Belgium
ABV - 7.0%
Belgian-Style Sour Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
60. Yearling
Eagle Rock Brewery - Los Angeles, CA
ABV - 6.6%
Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
61. Sanitarium
Bier Brewery and Taproom - Indianapolis, IN
ABV - 13.0%
Belgian-Style Dubbel or Quadrupel (Ale - Belgian/ French)
62. Bedotter
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant - Lancaster - Lancaster, PA
ABV - 9.5%
Belgian-Style Tripel (Ale - Belgian/ French)
63. Treachery
12Degree Brewing - Louisville, CO
ABV - 8.0%
Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
64. The Sixth Glass
Boulevard Brewing Co. - Kansas City, MO
ABV - 10.5%
Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
65. Supernatural
Crooked Run Brewing - Leesburg, VA
ABV - 10.0%
Other Belgian-Style Ale (Ale - Belgian/ French)
66. Song In Your Heart
Discretion Brewing - Soquel, CA
ABV - 4.0%
English-Style Mild Ale (Ale - British)
67. James Squires The Swindler Summer Ale
West End Brewery - Thebarton, Australia
ABV - 4.2%
English-Style Summer Ale (Ale - British)
68. Amber
Dry Dock Brewing Co. - North Dock - Aurora, CO
ABV - 5.8%
Ordinary or Special Bitter (Ale - British)
69. Caldera Ashland Amber
Caldera Brewing Co. - Ashland, OR
ABV - 5.4%
Classic English-Style Pale Ale (Ale - British)
70. ESB
Bier Brewery and Taproom - Indianapolis, IN
ABV - 6.2%
Extra Special Bitter (Ale - British)
71. Independence Pass Ale
Aspen Brewing Co. - Aspen, CO
ABV - 7.0%
English-Style India Pale Ale (Ale - British)
72. Kilt Lifter
Four Peaks Brewing Co. - Wilson Street - Tempe, AZ
ABV - 6.0%
Scottish-Style Ale (Ale - British)
73. Boar Brown
Pig Pounder Brewery - Greensboro, NC
ABV - 5.0%
English-Style Brown Ale (Ale - British)
74. Capella Porter
Ecliptic Brewing - Portland, OR
ABV - 5.2%
Brown Porter (Ale - British)
75. P.M. Porter
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery - West Covina - West Covina, CA
ABV - 6.4%
Robust Porter (Ale - British)
76. Chocolate Milk Stout
Boxing Bear Brewing Co. - Albuquerque, NM
ABV - 5.4%
Sweet Stout or Cream Stout (Ale - British)
77. Scaredy Cat
Vintage Brewing Co. - Madison, WI
ABV - 6.0%
Oatmeal Stout (Ale - British)
78. Clan Warrior Scotch Ale
Odyssey Beerwerks - Arvada, CO
ABV - 8.9%
Scotch Ale (Ale - British)
79. Arch Devil Imperial Stout
DevilCraft - Shinagawa-ku, Japan
ABV - 10.3%
British-Style Imperial Stout (Ale - British)
80. Ninja Pirate
Black Lotus Brewing Co. - Clawson, MI
ABV - 13.5%
Old Ale or Strong Ale (Ale - British)
81. 2013 10&2 Barleywine
Fifty West Brewing Co. - Cincinnati, OH
ABV - 10.2%
Barley Wine-Style Ale (Ale - British)
82. Reilly’s Red
Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost - Lexington, VA
ABV - 5.5%
Irish-Style Red Ale (Ale - Irish)
83. Minoh Beer STOUT
A·J·I Beer - Minoh, Japan
ABV - 5.5%
Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout (Ale - Irish)
84. Fade to Black, Volume 1
Left Hand Brewing Co. - Longmont, CO
ABV - 8.5%
Export Stout (Ale - Irish)
85. Power & Light Pale
Independence Brewing - Austin, TX
ABV - 5.5%
Golden or Blonde Ale (Ale - North American)
86. Pistol River Pale
Arch Rock Brewing Co. - Gold Beach, OR
ABV - 6.0%
American-Style Pale Ale (Ale - North American)
87. Lucky Day
Central Coast Brewing Co. - San Luis Obispo, CA
ABV - 7.2%
American-Style Strong Pale Ale (Ale - North American)
88. I Love It!
Noble Ale Works - Anaheim, CA
ABV - 7.5%
American-Style India Pale Ale (Ale - North American)
89. Hop JuJu Imperial IPA
Fat Head’s Brewery - Middleburg Heights - Middleburg Heights, OH
ABV - 9.0%
Imperial India Pale Ale (Ale - North American)
90. Epiphany Red Ale
Iron Springs Pub & Brewery - Fairfax, CA
ABV - 5.5%
American-Style Amber/Red Ale (Ale - North American)
91. Summit Sunrise
Denver Beer Co. - Canworks - Denver, CO
ABV - 6.3%
Double Red Ale (Ale - North American)
92. Blood Junkie
Three Weavers Brewing Co. - Inglewood, CA
ABV - 8.7%
Imperial Red Ale (Ale - North American)
93. Granola Brown Ale
Black Hog Brewing - Oxford, CT
ABV - 5.5%
American-Style Brown Ale (Ale - North American)
94. Turmoil
Barley Brown’s Brew Pub - Baker City, OR
ABV - 7.8%
American-Style Black Ale (Ale - North American)
95. The Defender
Haymarket Pub & Brewery - Chicago, IL
ABV - 7.0%
American-Style Stout (Ale - North American)
96. Blot Out the Sun
Three Floyds Brewing Co. - Munster, IN
ABV - 10.4%
American-Style Imperial Stout (Ale - North American)
Equipped with this guide, you’ll be the hero the next time you show up with a six-pack at the party. If you aren’t able to pull that off, then at the very least make sure your fashion sense is up to par when you arrive wearing some of these top rated sunglasses.