Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Test

What are the primary styles of beer?

1. Ales, lagers, stouts, and porters

2. Ales, lagers, stouts, porters, IPAs, and wheat beers

3. Ales, stouts, IPAs, and saisons

4. Lagers, porters, sours, and IPAs

The correct answer is: Ales, lagers, stouts, porters, IPAs, and wheat beers

The primary styles of beer encompass a wide variety of categories, but ales and lagers form the fundamental classifications that cover most beer styles. Within these two main categories, there are numerous substyles and variations, including stouts, porters, IPAs (India Pale Ales), and wheat beers. Choosing a comprehensive answer that includes ales and lagers, as well as notable substyles, provides a clearer understanding of the beer landscape. Stouts and porters are darker ale styles with distinct flavors, while IPAs represent a popular and hoppy variation that has gained immense popularity in recent years. Wheat beers bring a refreshing element, often characterized by their lightness and often fruity or spicy notes, showcasing the diversity within the category of ales alone. By selecting the option that lists ales, lagers, stouts, porters, IPAs, and wheat beers, it demonstrates an understanding of both primary and widely recognized beer styles, reflecting the breadth of options available to consumers and beer enthusiasts. This inclusion is vital for someone preparing for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server exam, as it highlights the foundational knowledge necessary for discussing beer classifications.