 
by Alex Bragg
I like beer - a lot. Give me a choice of beverages to enjoy, and generally beer wins out. Sure, I'll do wine with the girlfriend, on a business lunch I'll bite my lip and order the iced tea, but in the back of my head, I'm thinking about a pint glass filled with that malty golden goodness. I like the heaviness of a full glass, I love the bitterness of a swallow as it rolls down my throat, and the taste a good head leaves on my lips. But it's more than the taste of a good beer that holds it's appeal, but also the atmosphere it creates. The first time I felt like a man was when I had one with my father and his friends. We talked of politics and our neighbors, we chuckled and swore, and never again were my conversations with any of them the same. How many times has a friend spilled the worries and concerns to me over a beer? And as the spring approaches every year, why is it I can only think about is lazing in the middle of the afternoon to soak up the sun with a beer? I'm not an alcoholic - but I certainly am addicted. Does that make sense? If you're a beer drinker, you understand.
Beer is more complex than many outsiders give it credit for. Within America, there has been a culinary explosion within the past decade due to increased international travel by everyday people, as well as a rediscovery of our own history of quality food and beverages. Beer has been swept into the forefront, which can easily been seen by the number of microbrews and imports in the corner deli. It's nearly impossible to try every beer produced in the world - but hey, you can't knock a guy for trying. What we're trying to do here is provide some info on how to tell beers apart and some terms for describing beers. But, just so we're straight from the start:
BEER: An alcoholic beverage made from malted grains, hops, yeast, and water. (That's right, alcoholic - there's no room for the alcohol free crap here.) The grain is usually barley or wheat, but sometimes corn and rice are used. Beers can also have fruits, vegetables, spices and/or herbs for flavoring. Virtually all beers can be classified within two main categories, ales and lagers.
That's out of the way. Check out the rest in the Beer Glossary for Beginners.
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