If you don't know a bitter from a hop, use this glossary as a quick study guide.  After you pass the test, treat yourself to an ale or a lager. Photo by Odelia | CSP.

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February 2005
Updated May 2009

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Beer

Beer Glossary

Page 8: Beer Types ~ T To Z

This is Page 8 of an eight-page glossary of beer terms. Click on the black links below to visit other pages. Also our 60 other food glossaries, chock-full of information about your favorite foods.

This glossary is protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in whole or part.

TRAPPIST
An order of monks with five breweries in Belgium and one in The Netherlands, that produce strong (6% to 12% alcohol), top-fermenting brews. By law they have exclusive right to use the term “Trappist” in marketing their products. The generic term for beers made by monks of other orders is abbey-style.

TRIPLE or TRIPEL
A tripel, or triple in English, is a style of Belgian beer. The term “triple” refers to the brewing process, in which up to three times the amount of malt is used than in a standard “simple” abbey-style beer. Traditionally, triples are bright yellow to gold in color, a shade or two darker than the average Pilsener.

VIENNA BEER
Originating in Vienna, Austria, Vienna beer is a very sweet, lightly hopped, light-bodied beer.

WEISSE or WEISSBIER or WEIZENBIER or WITBIER

Weissbier is the German word for white beer, a pale brew made from wheat. Weizenbock, a bock beer made from wheat, is sometimes served as a Christmas beer. It is one of the world’s oldest beer styles, typically two parts wheat malt to one part barley malt, which creates a light-bodied beer, about 4% to 5% alcohol.The Dutch/Flemish (Belgian) term for Weissbier is witbier. Belgian witbieren often are brewed with spices such as coriander, or fruits such as bitter orange peel, giving them slightly fruity nuances. In Germany, there are two styles: Weizen in the western and northern regions and Weissbier or Weisse in Bavaria. See also Berliner Weisse, Gruut, Hefeweizen, Lambic and Kristallweizen. Weissbier is popularly paired with Weisswurst (white sausage), a fresh, mildly spiced pork and veal sausage.

WEIZENSTARKBIER
A high-alcohol wheat beer.

WHEAT BEER

A beer that is brewed with a significant proportion of wheat, which provides a distinctive pale color, creamy texture and a light, sweet flavor. Some have overtones of banana and clove. The best-known wheat beers are Belgian witbier and German Weissbier. See Weisse.

Wheat beer served with baby Swiss, Gruyere and pretzels. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

WORT

The fermentable sugars made from the mash. See beer-making for the entire process of beer-making.

YEAST

Yeast cells love to eat sugar. In doing so, they cause the wort (the sweet liquid from the water and heated grains) to ferment, which produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yeast also imparts flavor and can be used to give a fruity taste to beer.

ZYMURGY
The science or study of fermentation.

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Some terms in this glossary are © 2005 National Beer Wholesalers Association. All rights reserved. Other content is © Lifestyle Direct Inc. All rights reserved.

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