More than 160 styles and a tasting for all the senses: Beer’s Old and New Worlds

More Than 160 Styles: Beer’s Global Celebration

Poinews.com – More than 160 styles and a tasting for all the senses—this is the essence of International Beer Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday of August. This vibrant festival invites enthusiasts worldwide to explore a beverage landscape that transcends casual social gatherings. Since its inception in 2007 by a group of friends in Santa Cruz, California, the celebration has evolved into a global phenomenon spanning more than fifty nations. Today, beer represents a cultural treasure boasting over ten millennia of heritage and more than 160 distinct varieties, gradually securing its position alongside wine in markets such as Portugal.

A Sommelier’s Journey Through Beer Complexity

Filipa Santos, serving as both brand manager and beer sommelier for Sagres, emphasizes that true appreciation for this beverage begins with recognizing its remarkable depth. With twenty years of marketing experience and involvement in the beer industry since 2011, Filipa pursued formal sommelier training to enhance her understanding of the products she championed. What captivated her most throughout her professional journey was the extraordinary breadth of the beer world.

“I felt the need to really know the product she worked with,” Filipa explains regarding her decision to become a sommelier.

The Four Essential Pillars of Brewing

At its foundation, beer relies on four natural components: water, malt, hops, and yeast. Yet the manner in which these elements interact creates countless variations. Water constitutes approximately ninety-three percent of any brew, and its mineral content shapes flavour profiles significantly.

“Around 93% of a beer is water, so if we want a pilsner, which is a low‑bitterness, versatile beer, very easy to drink, we use soft water. Here the water is not going to dominate and we will have a beer in which the malt can provide good balance. If we want a more intense, more complex beer, such as a Guinness, a stout, then we should use hard water, because we need the minerals to help the malt take on a bigger role, to really stand out,” the specialist explains.

Malt, typically derived from barley though wheat and other grains are also utilized, contributes colour and cereal characteristics ranging from fresh bread to toasted nuances. Hops introduce bitterness alongside aromatic qualities reminiscent of tropical or citrus fruits, as well as floral and herbal tones. Meanwhile, yeast operates as the unseen force converting sugars into alcohol and carbonation, sometimes becoming the star ingredient itself.

“There are beers in which yeast is the protagonist, for example Belgian beers. In those we can find notes of clove, spicy notes, and banana notes as well.”

Old World Traditions Meet New World Innovation

Portugal remains predominantly a pilsner nation—light, refreshing, and approachable—yet this represents merely one facet of an expansive universe. Popular styles include the hop-forward IPA, the dark and rich stout featuring coffee or chocolate undertones, and the fruity weissbier. With more than 160 styles available globally, enthusiasts can explore an ever-expanding world of flavours.

Geographical traditions divide brewing into Old World and New World schools. The Old World encompasses Germany, Austria, and Czechia, where malt and wheat beers dominate. These styles tend toward cloudiness and smoothness with subtle sweetness and banana aromas. Germany particularly contributes witbier, displaying straw-yellow to pale golden hues, and Weissbier, which runs deeper from gold to amber, both unfiltered and cloudy.

Pilsner itself originated in Pilsen, now part of the Czech Republic. England, Scotland, and Ireland form another Old World cluster where malt plays a central role, influenced by their historical whisky production. The hops cultivated in these regions develop distinctive identities of their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is International Beer Day celebrated? International Beer Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of August, inviting beer enthusiasts worldwide to participate in this global celebration.

How many styles of beer exist today? There are more than 160 distinct styles of beer recognized globally, ranging from traditional pilsners to innovative craft variations.

What are the four main ingredients in beer? The four essential ingredients in beer are water, malt, hops, and yeast, each contributing unique characteristics to the final product.

Where did pilsner originate? Pilsner originated in Pilsen, which is now part of the Czech Republic, and remains one of the most popular beer styles worldwide.