Craft Beer Guides – Styles, Brewing & Tasting

🍺 Understanding Craft Beer: Beyond the Basics

What Makes Beer “Craft”?

Craft beer is defined by its origin in small, independent breweries. These artisans emphasize quality, flavor innovation, and traditional brewing techniques over mass-market consistency. It’s a movement that celebrates brewing heritage while pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.

Beer Styles Demystified

Popular Craft Beer Styles

• IPAs (India Pale Ales): Known for hop-forward bitterness. Variations include West Coast (piney), New England (hazy/juicy), and Session (lower ABV).
• Stouts & Porters: The dark side of beer. Stouts are roasty and chocolatey, while Porters are generally lighter-bodied.
• Wheat Beers: Refreshing and often cloudy. Look for German Hefeweizens (banana/clove) or Belgian Witbiers (citrus/spice).
• Sours & Wild Ales: Tart and complex, using spontaneous fermentation or specific bacteria for a “funky” edge.

The 6 Steps of Brewing

1. Mashing: Converting grain starches into fermentable sugars via hot water.
2. Lautering: Rinsing the “sweet wort” away from the grain husks.
3. Boiling: Adding hops for bitterness and aroma while sterilizing the wort.
4. Fermentation: The magic moment where yeast converts sugar into alcohol and CO₂.
5. Conditioning: Allowing the beer to mature and flavors to stabilize.
6. Packaging: Transferring the final product into bottles, cans, or kegs.

The Five S’s of Beer Tasting

To truly appreciate a pour, engage your senses in this order:

1. See: Check the color, clarity, and the “head” (foam).
2. Swirl: Gently agitate the glass to release trapped volatiles.
3. Sniff: Take short, quick sniffs to identify hop and malt aromas.
4. Sip: Let the liquid coat your tongue to hit every taste bud.
5. Savor: Notice the “finish”, does the flavor linger or crisp away?

Wisconsin’s Craft Beer Revolution

Wisconsin isn’t just the dairy state; it’s a global brewing powerhouse thanks to our German heritage and pure Great Lakes water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main craft beer styles I should know?

The core styles are IPAs (hoppy and bitter), stouts (dark and roasted), lagers (clean and crisp), wheat beers (light and refreshing), and sours (tangy and funky). Each style has dozens of sub-styles, but these five cover the foundation of craft beer knowledge.

Does Ripsaw Saloon serve craft beer?

Ripsaw Saloon carries a rotating selection of Wisconsin craft beers alongside domestic staples. As of May 2026, the tap lineup changes seasonally — ask the bartender at 1117 Railroad Ave in Prentice for current options.

What’s the difference between an ale and a lager?

Ales are fermented warm with top-fermenting yeast, producing fruitier, more complex flavors. Lagers ferment cold with bottom-fermenting yeast for a cleaner, crisper taste. Most major American beers are lagers, while craft breweries favor ales.

How should I taste and evaluate a craft beer?

Look at the color and carbonation, swirl to release aroma, take a small sip and let it coat your palate, then note the finish. Focus on four dimensions: appearance, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel. The guide above breaks down each step.