Choosing a type of beer to brew as a novice homebrewer can be pretty intimidating. In this article, we’ll go over the types of beer that are easiest to make.
Generally, most homebrewers consider ale the easiest beer to brew. It’s easy to correct any mistakes you may make while ale brewing.
Please continue reading this post as I go into detail about some very simple beer styles you can.
Why You Should Start With Something Simpler
It may be pretty tempting to rush your ascent to brewing success by starting with an impressive Russian imperial stout, imperial IPA, or even a barleywine.
I’m not saying this to put you off, but creating such complex beers leaves a lot of room for error. You might end up wasting the equipment and ingredients you’ve invested in.
The worst part of it all is that a lack of first success could make you feel insecure and possibly make you give up on homebrewing entirely.
Your best alternative is to start off brewing a forgiving, less complicated recipe. By doing so, you can get a grasp of the process as you learn the ins and outs of home brewing.
You can then apply everything you learn to more involved styles in the future.
Related Reading: Brewing Beer For Beginners – Learn It Here.
The Easiest Beers You Can Brew
American Wheat Ale
The German Hefeweizen, also known as the Bavarian Hefeweizen, has its origins in Germany. The American wheat is, well, the American counterpart of that renowned beer style.
A light to medium body, a hazy appearance, and aromas of citrus, banana, and clove define the style.
The amount of wheat in the grain bill should range from 50% to 70%. This gives the beer a specific “fluffy” quality that is also visible in the head when poured.
The use of hops and yeast is the primary distinction between American and German types.
The American variant can have a more pronounced hop flavor when using American ale yeast. The German type uses more muted hops with a German yeast.
Although the style actually does make a superb beer all year round, it is ideal for the spring and summer seasons.
Even the most discerning beer drinkers will be impressed by its flavors, aromas, and lighter body.
For this particular extract style, a common ingredient kit may include wheat malt extract, 1-2 oz. of hops for bittering and aroma, and ale yeast.
American Amber Ale
The main distinction between American amber ales and those produced in central Europe is their ingredients.
American amber ales, a more citrusy variation of the conventional English brew, are made with American hops.
The deep rust or amber hue that gives American amber beers their name, like European amber ales, is a desirable characteristic of amber ales.
American amber ales have a malty caramel taste with citrus and hop undertones. They are meant to have a thick, persistent head that is off-white in color.
Amber ales are a great option for novice homebrewers who still wish to experiment with clarifiers and fining agents.
Amber ales are a wonderful option for inexperienced homebrewers who want to try out a few different ingredients, like malts or hops, without changing the beer’s main flavor character.
American Brown Ale
A wonderful introductory recipe for a novice homebrewer is the Brown Ale because it is a very straightforward style.
English or American can be used to categorize this type, with the former having a more hoppy finish.
Of course, the English version will use ingredients grown across the pond. The American brown ale will feature American hops and yeast.
Both beers, like the amber ale, are well-balanced but a little deeper in color as a result of using more dark malt.
They are excellent for brewing and enjoying all through the year because they have a light to medium body.
Even if the brown ale style can be extremely accommodating, if you still don’t like it, it makes a great ingredient for cooking.
And when used for cooking, the beer doesn’t necessarily need to be perfect. Given their composition, brown ales go well with a variety of dishes.
Give these moonshine recipes a shot!
Porter
Brown malt and sharp hoppiness are prominent flavors in porters, a dark European type beer.
Stouts and porters are comparable, but porters have a somewhat lighter color and body. Compared to Baltic or Brown porters, which have a sweeter and mellower flavor, robust porters from America typically have a richer taste.
Porters are an easy beer style to start with because they are a top-fermented ale that is forgiving for novices.
Porters also benefit from hard water environments, giving them a better alternative for folks with hard tap water. You wouldn’t even need to brew with distilled or bottled water.
If your first porter doesn’t turn out perfectly, you can get away with some muddy flavors because porters have a history of being multiple beers combined in one mug. No one would ever know!
A porter’s flavor and aroma can be enhanced by adding chocolate malt. However, too much should be avoided to prevent the brew from tasting burnt.
Dunkelweizen
Dark wheat beers like Dunkelweizen are a fantastic choice for fall gatherings since they can quickly disguise any haze that develops during the brewing process due to their dark hue.
It is pretty likely that some natural cloudiness will develop throughout the brewing process as it is a wheat beer.
The prominent malt flavor of Dunkelweizen is complemented by unique notes of clove and banana, as well as apple, nutmeg, and vanilla.
It pairs well with fall food like roasted meats and baked dishes, thanks to its peppery undertones.
If you’re into beers that have more robust fruity notes and hints of malt rather than an intense flavor of hops or florals, Dunkelweizen is the way to go.
Belgian Saison
Belgian farmhouse ales, sometimes referred to as Saison beers, are distinguished by their warm, fruity, and spicy qualities.
They feature a strong flavor profile and a naturally yeasty scent that some people even characterize as horsey or goaty. For inexperienced brewers, this flavor profile can help hide brewing errors.
Belgian Saisons are a great option for your summer homebrewing season because they are thought of as warm-weather or summer beers.
They can have a variety of ingredients added to them during secondary fermentation to enhance the overall flavor of the beer.
If you have a herb garden and want to get into homebrewing, Saison can be a way to combine both passions. Traditional Belgian Saisons use local botanicals and herbs.
Belgian brewers use hops and other ingredients to tweak the flavors of their beers, and whimsicality is a prized quality in the creation of their distinctive Saisons.
Altbiers
The German-style vintage beer called Altbiers has notes of pepper, hops, and flowers.
Altbiers are top-fermented beers like porters, although they are lighter in color and more like brown or golden ales.
Since American altbiers have also penetrated the brewing industry, traditional European hops have been replaced by American hops, despite the fact that altbiers are traditionally a German beer.
Because authentic altbiers are among the most popular hoppy beer types, some novices might find the flavor a little overpowering.
Beginners could sample a few altbiers in a bar or tasting room before brewing a batch to familiarize themselves with its flavor profile.
Dubbel
Dubbel is a very dark beer made in the Belgian tradition, with a big, off-white head.
Dubbels feature strong, caramelized flavors with hints of chocolate and banana, much like porters and stouts.
Dubbels are a good option for beginners because they may not be able to determine when the fermentation process has concluded precisely.
This error usually results in some yeast attributes in the finished brew. Dubbels naturally have various yeasty flavors.
A reasonably high alcohol percentage is another characteristic of Dubbels. So if you’re a novice searching for a simple homebrew that packs a punch, Dubbels might just hit the spot.
Beginner brewers can learn accurate mashing methods, how to control the fermentation process, and other technical homebrewing abilities that will help them with the recipes that come after making Dubbel.
Even though the brewing method for Dubbels is quite simple, the finished beer has a refined flavor.
Next up, a beginner’s guide to brewing beer.
Irish Stout
Irish stouts are a dark beer that is thick, almost bread-like and has a long-lasting off-white froth head.
This brew is a dry stout with a bitter, roasted flavor profile and caramelized undertones, unlike dessert stouts.
Dark beer lovers particularly enjoy the characteristic coffee-like scent and flavor that roasted barley imparts to an Irish stout.
Irish stout is traditionally paired with pub foods like raw oysters, cheddar, and stews with roasted meats.
Stouts are a good beer for beginning brewers because of their robust roasted characteristics.
This can mask any off flavors brought by less-than-ideal brewing methods, and their black coloration hides any possible haze.
Mild Ale
The history of mild beers is a little foggy, but they continue to share a tight relationship with brown ales.
Mild ales were initially offered in England as darker beers that weren’t matured as long and could therefore be sold for less money.
This had popularity among working people. Mild ale was also a weaker beverage, so having a couple of pints after work at the mill wouldn’t get them in trouble with their better halves.
Mild ales are still available for purchase in England, mostly in Wales and the northwest.
Over time, the style has been overshadowed by brown ales, which are more widely consumed.
Mild ales typically contain 3-3.5% alcohol by volume, which is lower than stronger ales. They are ideal for people who dislike the more bitter brown ales because they are barely hopped.
This beer goes well with classic British dishes like fish and chips or sharp cheddar cheese. Additionally, it complements burgers and fries.
Related Reading: Why Does Draft Beer Taste Better? – Check Them out Here
Final Thoughts
If it’s your first time brewing, any of the mentioned beer varieties above will ensure that you don’t run into many difficulties.
As a newbie, I would advise using extract kits because they are simpler than going to for all-grain immediately.
Find a recipe for an ale or a porter that you prefer, then get started brewing your own beer today!