What do you think of when you hear the word beer? Most people probably think of lager, pale ale and the dark beers that go with fish and chips. But do you know there are also many different kinds of beer to choose from? You can have a lager with your lunch, a bitter beer with your dinner or an ales such as a porter, golden ale, and stout.
Table of Contents
The most common types of beer
Here is a list of the most common types of beer to help you choose which one you would like to try.
Lager
A milder beer than ale, it’s made by fermenting and filtering mixtures of malt, hops and water for a long time, usually 5 to 8 weeks. Lagers are not fermented at all and so have no sourness, bitterness or alcohol. Lagers are good at drinking cool temperatures and also taste good when stored for a long time. Lager is sometimes called ‘pilsner’ because it was the most popular type of beer in the region around Pilsen, the Czech city where the beer originated.
Lager is best enjoyed on a warm summer evening when it’s a little cooler than normal, and served ice cold in tall glasses.
Bitter
An ale that is slightly bitter, it is often described as having ‘bite’. Bitter beers have a strong bitter taste and tend to be hoppy, with bitter hops, and a more refreshing taste than lager beers. Bitter beers are not brewed with yeast, but are fermented in large vats of yeast, then aged in wooden barrels to allow the flavor to mature. These are then distilled in copper boilers, where they are heated to boiling point before being bottled.
Hoppy
Made from the same ingredients as lager beer, the only difference is that hops are used as a flavoring rather than for their preservative qualities. Hoppy beers are also known as India Pale Ales (IPA). This is because they were originally used to stop bacteria in the barrel making the beer spoilt. They are not as popular now as before because of the high alcohol content. Hoppy beers are often served at room temperature, so they have a warm, fruity taste.
Cider
Also known as cyser or perry, this is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting and filtering apple juice. It’s produced all over the world, with the best quality coming from the West Country in England. Cider is a mild, fresh tasting drink that’s very popular in the summer, when it’s easier to keep cool. Like cider, beer can be kept for a long time, making it perfect for camping and picnics.
Strong Ale
An ale that has a stronger taste and higher alcohol content than bitter beer. It is usually made with caramelized malts, like porter, and has a more robust taste than most ales. Strong ales are generally made using lager yeast because of their low alcohol content. You can also make your own strong ale by adding hops and malt to a lager beer.
Stout
This is a strong, dark, rich, full-bodied beer that has been aged in barrels for a longer time than most other beers. Stouts have a distinctive flavor, often described as sweet and fruity, which comes from the way it is brewed. The name ‘stout’ comes from the fact it was once used to clean out the inside of casks.
Draught Beer
A popular British beer that’s served in pint glasses rather than the bottle, you can drink it straight from the tap or add ice to make it cold. It’s not quite as popular in Scotland, where they drink ale, but it’s becoming more popular in Britain as people become more interested in local brewing.
Pale Ale
This is a slightly lighter, milder beer than bitter. The malt content is lower than other beers and so it has a lighter taste. Pale ales are usually made using English-type barley and water and sometimes also contain hops.
English Ale
An ale that has a distinctive taste and strong bitterness and is stronger than pale ale. English ales are also referred to as bitters, which is because they were originally brewed by monks for medicinal purposes, and they were served with a pinch of salt to cure headaches.
Tips to take good beer photographs
Take a good number of shots
Asking the right questions is only half the battle. The second part is to take lots of photos. At this type of event, there are many different beers available. You could easily have 20 or 30 great images to choose from. To get the best of these, it’s important that you shoot the beers in different ways. For example, take some shots with your camera on its widest angle setting and some with it at its narrowest. Then you should shoot a few with the camera set at its middle setting, and then take a few more at its widest.
Use a timer
If you use a digital camera, it’s often possible to get the best result by using a timer. Digital cameras have an internal flash that can light up your image quickly, but it may not give you enough time to take your photo.
Choose the right location
The location of your beer is very important too. If you have a view of the beer being poured into a glass, this will make it easy for you to take your photos. This also means that you need to make sure that you choose a spot that has a clear view of the beer.
Know your beer
As soon as you start to think about taking photos of your beer, you should stop and think about what kind of beer it is. Some beers are easier to photograph than others, so it’s important to know what style you are going to be shooting. For example, if it’s a lager, then it’s probably best not to go in for any shots with lots of movement, as these may appear rather flat.
Use your knowledge of beer styles
While you know all the information you need about your beer, your knowledge of beer styles can also help you get the right shot. For example, if you are taking photos of an English ale or a stout, you can make sure that the beer is well-rounded by making sure you include some details from the side. This is especially true if you are taking a shot of the beer being poured into a glass.
Choose the right beer
Once you have done all of this, it’s time to choose which beer you are going to photograph. If you have a great selection to choose from, you should try to take photos of different ones. This way, you will be able to see how different beers look in different lighting conditions, and you will be able to compare them.
Don’t forget your smartphone or camera
Finally, once you have the right location and the right beer, don’t forget your smartphone! If you are using one, then you can use its built-in camera to take some quick photos that you can then edit later.
Other Recommendations on how to get started.
First, make sure you have a good digital camera. Not only does it need to have a great lens, but it needs to be able to take good pictures with good dynamic range, or at least the ability to do so. In order to do this, you should be looking for at least a 16 megapixel camera. A full frame sensor camera is best for capturing high resolution images, but some of the cameras available now have sensors smaller than that, so it’s important to find one that is best suited for your purposes. If you are interested in working with larger prints, a 24 megapixel or 36 megapixel camera is recommended. You want the camera to be capable of taking crisp sharp photos without having to crop out parts of the image. For beer photography specifically, the Sony Alpha 700 is a great choice because it has a good lens with the ability to capture a wide dynamic range. I also like to use a tripod when shooting and recommend that you have a remote release for when you need to quickly capture the moment.
Photographing Beer is About Perspective
When shooting a beer, we need to take into account the perspective that we are viewing the beer from. For example, if you are looking at a tall, narrow bottle of beer that is standing upright, it may appear very large in comparison to the person who is holding it. In order to achieve the effect that you want, it is important to understand that we look at objects from a certain distance, so this means that when you are photographing a beer, you should always be aware of the camera angle that you are shooting from. A horizontal shot with the subject in the foreground, such as in the photograph on the left, will make the bottle look much larger than the one on the right, which is shot with a more vertical perspective.
Equipment and Lenses
As mentioned earlier, I recommend a digital camera with a 16 megapixel sensor and a good lens. For beer photography specifically, a Sony Alpha 700 or Sony Alpha 750 will give you what you need.
I also have a few recommendations for lenses:
50mm f2.8: This is a good standard lens to use when photographing a wide range of subjects. If you are interested in capturing a large amount of beer in one shot, it is better to shoot with a shorter focal length.
28-105mm f3.6: This is a great all purpose zoom lens. While it won’t be as versatile as a standard lens, it is a good choice for beer photography because it can take photos that capture both a wide and long perspective.
80-200mm f4.8: This is an amazing lens that has the ability to capture beautiful images. It’s great for capturing portraits and landscapes.
The 70-200mm f5.8 is a great all purpose zoom lens. This is the lens I recommend for capturing the moment.
Composition
When composing an image, you want to consider two main elements: line and shape. These are two aspects of composition that work well when photographing beer. Line refers to the shape of an object and how it is placed within the frame of your photograph. The way that an object is placed in relation to the camera will help you convey the right perspective. When we think about how far away an object appears, it becomes easier to grasp the perspective of that object in comparison to one that is closer. By placing an object farther away from the camera, it will appear much larger than one that is closer. Line helps with conveying the correct perspective.
When it comes to shape, I find that objects that are square or rectangular are the easiest to place into a frame. They tend to be the easiest to capture in one shot. If you are interested in capturing more than one beer in a single photograph, then you should be looking for a beer bottle that is wide enough that you don’t have to crop out too much of the image. I recommend that if you want to get the best results, you should shoot with a horizontal line through the center of your frame. For example, if you want
Photographing people drinking beer is tricky, especially in front of a white background. The beer will have a yellowish tinge, making it look pale. Beer tends to have a cloudy appearance, which is why it’s best to get your subject to drink a small amount, then have them fill their glass before taking the photo. If possible, arrange for them to be drinking a light-colored beer, as this makes it easier to capture. Also, remember to use a fast shutter speed (1/250th sec) so that you don’t lose any of the action in the image.
Another issue is what type of beer you are photographing. To keep the beer looking fresh and vibrant, use lager or a light ale. Lagers are best photographed when they are not chilled and ale is best photographed chilled or on ice.
The subject matter of beer photography is vast, so here are some tips on how to capture unique and wonderful images of this intoxicating beverage.
Have fun!
When photographing a beer, keep an open mind about what you are trying to achieve. Beer photographs are not always about the product, but should be fun and unique. Take the opportunity to experiment with different lenses and settings to find your own style.
The best beer photos are not the most technically perfect.
For example, you don’t want your beer shots to look too posed and rigid. Instead, relax, smile, enjoy the atmosphere and let your eyes linger over the product. Don’t forget to take off the “professional” glasses and get some close-up shots!
Think about light and texture.
The ideal beer photo has a distinct visual texture, where you can see the individual grains, bubbles, foam and other interesting features of the beer. Think about lighting and use different types of light to accentuate these features.
Get close up shots.
Get as close to the glass as possible to capture the detailed texture of the liquid. The closer you get the better, but it can be difficult in busy bars and restaurants where there is little space between the patrons.
Use a flash.
If you are in a dark environment, or with low ambient lighting, the use of flash can make all the difference to the look of your photograph. Try different settings until you find the one that gives you the best result.
Conclusion
As a photographer, I always want to have the perfect shot. But when it comes to taking beer photos, it’s different. The subject matter is much more difficult.
If you are a beginner, don’t worry about it. Just take some time to practice, experiment and see what works for you. Once you find the right formula, you’ll be able to make beautiful images that stand out.