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Food & Drink

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week

By Rachel Heinrichs
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*Beerology: a pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados

*Beerology: a pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados
Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
ABV Alcohol by Volume, other­wise known as Approximate Blotto Velocity.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Cask Conditioned An unpasteurized, unfiltered beer left in the cask until it develops light bubbles, instead of being injected with C02. It’s served warm, to the delight of purists and the disappointment of anyone craving a cold one.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Growler Old-fashioned, 64-ounce jugs used to take beer home from the brewery. They’re also a quaint affectation and a convenient party favour.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Hop bomb Hold on to your bar stool, this beer is bitterer than a high-society divorce.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
IBUs International bitterness units, on a scale of one (Coors Light registers under five) to 2,500, an all-time record set by Ontario’s own Flying Monkeys brewery in a novelty beer called Alpha Fornication. Most IPAs linger around a respectable 50.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Imperial Stouts or pale ales brewed with double or even triple the hops and malts for big flavours. Beers with the extra “I” are generally for advanced beer drinkers.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
IPA India Pale Ales, made with strong hops and malts, rebel against Ontario’s history of flavourless, corporate-controlled beers. They’re the most popular craft beer currently brewed in Toronto.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Light-struck Bottled beers are like vampires: sunlight results in the True Death (a.k.a skunkiness).

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Mouthfeel A word used to describe the texture of a beer. Commonly following “creamy,” “oily” and “chewy,” even though beer is none of those things.

Beer 101: Our pocket glossary for aspiring aficionados, just in time for Ontario Craft Beer Week
Sessionable Mild, low-alcohol beers you can consume in succession without getting too hammered or destroying your palate—the educated way to binge drink.

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