Category: Style

Imperial Czar

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Have 5 Russian Imperial Stouts to claim the Imperial Czar badge.

A style developed in the 1700s by British brewers, Russian Imperial Stouts were brewed for export and had a high ABV of 7% or more to last the trip. They were favoured by the court of the Russian Tsars, leading to the Imperial name.

The Russian market was closed in the 19th century and those same British brewers had to find other export markets, which directly led to the creation of the Indian Pale Ale.

The term Imperial has now become synonymous with strong beers and this is down to the popularity of the Russian Imperial Stout.

You’re Extra Special

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ESBCelebrating English Ales, have 5 beers that are British Bitter’s for this one. It levels after every 5, all the way to level 100 for 500 Bitter’s. Three sub-styles count towards this badge: Bitter – Session / Ordinary, Bitter – Best and Bitter – Extra Special / Strong (ESB).

A bitter is a traditional English pale ale that has relatively more hops than an English Mild Ale. Usually served from a cask rather than a keg, a bitter will have an ABV of between 3 and 5.5%.

An Extra Special Bitter (or Extra Strong Bitter) is, as the name suggests, a stronger version, sitting between 4.5 and 6% ABV. The extra alcohol makes them noticeably maltier and fruitier.

The abbreviation ESB is actually a trademark owned by Fullers (Asahi).

California Dreamin’

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Have 5 California Commons, or Steam beers, to get this badge.

Essentially an ale brewed with lager ingredients, the style came about when German immigrants arrived on the Californian goldfields in the 1800s. Pre-refrigeration, fermenting cool lagers in the hot Californian climate was impossible so the German brewers made the best of what they had.

The style nearly died away in the 20th century until it was revived by Anchor Brewing when they launched a bottled version of Anchor Steam Beer in 1971. Steam beer is now a trademark of Anchor (who is owned by Sapporo) and so California Common is used to describe the style.

Respect the Kölsch

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KolschHave 5 Kölsch for this badge. A Kölsch is a German style of beer from Cologne (or Köln).

A golden ale, the style has some similarities with American Cream Ales and Altbier, which is from the neighbouring city of Düsseldorf. Their is even an ongoing rivalry between drinkers of Kölsch and the drinkers of Altbier.

Kölsch is a protected term within the European Union, which means it can only be brewed by breweries near Cologne. However, outside of the EU the term is fair game, and many craft breweries make their own version of the style.

Silence of the Lambics

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Check in 5 different Lambics to gain this badge. Lambic is a Belgian style of beer that is unique because it is left and allowed to ferment naturally, with wild yeast. The natural yeasts in the area around Brussels give Lambics their distinct dry yet sour taste.

After fermentation, Lambics are aged in barrels for over a year. Usually old port or sherry barrels are used to add additional yeasts and flavours. Untappd currently recognises seven different styles of Lambic: Traditional, Faro, Fruit, Framboise, Kriek, Gueuze and “Other”.

Lambics are one of the few styles where there is a tradition of adding fruit. Raspberry (a Framboise) or Cherry (a Kriek) are popular enough to be their own styles, but other fruit such as peach, grape or other berries are also commonly used.

A Gueuze is a combination of both old and young lambics blended together. This blend is then further aged to make a delicious, dry style of Lambic.

A Faro is also a blend, this time between a Lambic and a younger ale, sweetened with brown sugar.

In Lighter Times

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The badge for India Pale Lagers. Have 5 IPLs for level 1.

Lighter

An IPL is a bit of a hybrid. Hoppy like an IPA but brewed with lager yeast at a cooler temperature, the result is a crisp lager with a big hoppy finish.

A relatively recent creation, consensus still hasn’t emerged on what defines the style. As a result some IPLs can be no more than a slightly hoppy lager while others are the wort of an IPA simply brewed with a different yeast.

IPA Day

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Celebrated on the first Thursday of August each year, check into any IPA on the day to gain this badge.

Untappd recognises 20 different substyles of IPA, but remember APAs don’t count!IPA2018IPA2016

India Pale Ales get their name because they were brewed to be shipped to India by British brewers. First developed in the 18th century, they were brewed to be hoppier than standard pale ales so they would last the journey. They quickly found a market in Britain as well as being exported to the other corners of the British Empire.

In the 20th century American craft brewers took the style and turbo charged it, adding even more hops and kick starting the craft beer revolution.

Make sure you have an IPA to celebrate IPA day today!

#IPADay