Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Test

What style of beer is typically characterized by a balance of malt and hop flavors?

1. Lager

2. Pale Ale

3. IPA

4. Brown Ale

The correct answer is: Pale Ale

Pale Ale is recognized for its distinctive balance between malt and hop flavors, which is a defining characteristic of this style. Generally, Pale Ales feature a moderate hop bitterness complemented by a malt backbone that provides sweetness and depth. This balance allows for a pleasant drinking experience where neither the malt nor the hops overwhelmingly dominate. In contrast, while Lagers can also achieve some balance, they often emphasize a cleaner profile with less hop aroma and flavor than Pale Ales. IPAs tend to be hop-forward with stronger bitterness, making the malt character secondary. Brown Ales showcase a more pronounced malt sweetness with nutty or caramel notes, but they typically do not balance those elements with hop bitterness to the same extent as Pale Ales. This makes Pale Ale the style that epitomizes a harmonious interplay between malt and hop characteristics.