The world of craft beer is diverse, exciting, and full of unique flavors and styles to explore. Whether you’re a seasoned beer drinker or a newcomer to the craft beer scene, finding the right brew for your palate can be an enjoyable journey.

With so many beer styles available, ranging from light and refreshing to bold and complex, there’s a craft beer for every taste. In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the world of craft beer and find the perfect brew to match your preferences.

1. Understanding Craft Beer Basics

Before diving into specific styles and flavors, it’s important to understand the basics of craft beer. While beers may vary widely in flavor and complexity, most can be classified under two main categories: ales and lagers. The distinction lies in the fermentation process and yeast used.

Ales vs Lagers: The Primary Categories

• Ales are fermented at warmer temperatures and tend to have more robust and fruity flavors. Common ales include pale ales, IPAs, stouts, and porters.
• Lagers are fermented at cooler temperatures, resulting in crisper and cleaner flavors. Popular lagers include pilsners, bocks, and traditional German-style beers.

Key Ingredients in Craft Beer

Every craft beer contains four basic ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. Each of these plays a critical role in shaping the beer’s flavor. Malt gives sweetness and body, hops provide bitterness and aroma, yeast contributes to fermentation and flavor nuances, and water affects the beer’s mouthfeel and character.

2. The Flavor Profile of Craft Beer

Understanding the flavor components of beer can help you articulate what you enjoy and guide you to beers that suit your palate.

Sweetness

The sweetness in beer comes from the malt used during the brewing process. Beers with a heavier malt profile, like stouts and brown ales, tend to be sweeter and have caramel, toffee, or chocolate notes. If you prefer sweeter drinks, you may want to try malt-forward beers.

Bitterness (IBU Scale)

Bitterness in beer is measured by the International Bitterness Units (IBU) scale. Hops contribute bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. Beers like IPAs are hop-forward and often feature pronounced bitterness. If you enjoy bitter or sharp flavors, an IPA or pale ale might be the right choice for you.

Sourness

Sour beers are intentionally brewed to have a tart or sour flavor, often achieved by adding the wild yeast or bacteria during fermentation. If you enjoy tart beverages like lemonade or kombucha, you might find sour ales or gosebeers appealing.

Aroma and Mouthfeel

The aroma and texture of a beer also impact its overall flavor. Some beers are known for their floral, fruity, or spicy aromas, while others offer a creamy, rich, or effervescent mouthfeel. Exploring different aromas and textures can improve your beer experience.

3. Popular Craft Beer Styles and Their Characteristics

With so many styles of craft beer to choose from, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the most popular varieties. Each has its own distinct characteristics and can appeal to different palates.

Pale Ales and IPAs

• Pale Ales are well-balanced beers with moderate hops and malt flavors. They are often slightly bitter but approachable for many beer drinkers.
• India Pale Ales (IPAs) are known for their strong hop flavors and bitterness. They come in various forms, from the citrusy and piney flavors of West Coast IPAs to the juicy and hazy profile of New England IPAs.

Stouts and Porters

• Stouts are dark, rich beers with flavors ranging from chocolate and coffee to roasted malt. Imperial Stouts are often higher in alcohol content and more intense in flavor.
• Porters are similar to stouts but tend to be slightly lighter in body with a more pronounced malt sweetness. Both styles are ideal for those who enjoy bold, dark beers.

Saisons and Wheat Beers

• Saison is a farmhouse ale that is typically light, dry, and slightly fruity with spicy or peppery notes. It’s a refreshing option for warm weather.
• Wheat Beers, including Hefeweizen and Belgian Wit, are brewed with a high percentage of wheat, resulting in a smooth and often cloudy appearance. They are light and often have fruity or clove-like flavors.

Sours and Wild Ales

• Sour Beers are intentionally tart or sour, often with fruity flavors. They can be light and refreshing like a Berliner Weisse or more complex like a barrel-aged Flanders Red Ale.
• Wild Ales are fermented with wild yeast, giving them funky and earthy flavors. They are adventurous beers for those who like unique, offbeat flavors.

4. How to Choose the Right Craft Beer for You

Selecting the right craft beer doesn’t have to be difficult. By considering your personal preferences, the occasion, and even the season, you can easily find a beer that suits your tastes.

Matching Beer to Your Taste Preferences

• For a Light, Refreshing Beer: Try a pilsner, wheat beer, or saison. These beers are crisp and easy to drink, with subtle flavors that aren’t too overwhelming.
• For Bold, Bitter Flavors: IPAs, especially double IPAs, will be your go-to. Their hop-forward profiles are often bitter but balanced with citrus or pine flavors.
• For Dark and Rich Beers: Stouts and porters will satisfy your craving for deeper, more intense flavors. Look for notes of chocolate, coffee, or roasted malt.
• For Adventurous Palates: If you like to explore new flavors, try a sour ale or a wild ale. These beers offer a range of tart, fruity, and funky flavors that can be a real departure from traditional beer styles.

Choosing Based on Occasion or Mood

The type of beer you choose can also depend on the occasion:

• Relaxing at Home: A smooth amber ale or lager can be perfect for winding down after a long day.
• Socializing with Friends: Go for a session IPA or pale ale, which have lower alcohol content and are easy to drink over a longer period.
• Celebrating a Special Occasion: Consider a limited-edition beer or a barrel-aged stout for a rich, indulgent experience.

Seasonal Beers and Limited Editions

Craft breweries often produce seasonal beers that align with the time of year. In the summer, you’ll find light, citrusy beers like session IPAs or gose, while winter brings darker, warming styles like spiced ales or barleywines. Trying seasonal beers is a great way to explore new flavors and celebrate the changing seasons.

5. Tips for Experimenting and Expanding Your Craft Beer Horizons

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the craft beer world, here are some tips to expand your horizons and enhance your experience.

Attending Beer Tastings and Festivals

Beer tastings and festivals are excellent opportunities to sample a wide range of beers in one setting. You’ll be able to try beers you might not normally buy, and you can talk to brewers about their creations. Tastings also allow you to compare similar styles side by side, helping you refine your palate.

Building Your Own Craft Beer Flight at Home

Creating your own beer flight is a fun way to explore different beer styles. Choose four or five beers that vary in style, and sample them one after another. Take notes on the flavors, aromas, and textures, and see which one you enjoy the most.

Keeping a Craft Beer Tasting Journal

If you’re serious about discovering your perfect craft beer, consider keeping a tasting journal. Jot down the name, style, and brewery of each beer you try, along with your impressions of its flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns in your preferences, making it easier to find beers you’ll love.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Craft Beer

The beauty of craft beer lies in its diversity – there’s a beer for every palate, and the best part of the journey is the discovery process. By understanding basic beer styles, exploring the flavor components that appeal to you, and experimenting with new brews, you can find the perfect craft beer for any occasion.

So grab a glass, explore your local breweries, and enjoy the adventure of finding your ideal brew. Cheers!

It’s tough to know the right thing to do when you have a friend or family member experiencing loneliness. Perhaps they lost a loved one or went through a breakup. Or maybe they recently moved to a new place and haven’t made friends yet.

Then again, they could be more introverted and prone to feelings of loneliness. In any event, you want to be there for them, but you just don’t know how. Here are some thoughtful gestures to try.

Send Gifts

Gift baskets are rarely a bad idea when it comes to any kind of pain, loss, suffering, or discomfort. Loneliness can lead to great sadness and even, over time, depression, which only feels more isolating.

Once you’re in that cycle, it’s hard to break free, and sometimes you need an outside force to shake you up. The arrival of a physical gift meant to be bright and cheery can be just that necessary force.

A gift basket is ideal for combating loneliness because it can be personalized to the tastes and interests of the recipient. You can build the basket yourself, taking the time to pick out items your loved one will appreciate.

If you don’t have time for that, many companies offer get well gift baskets that can be tailored to your needs. Either way, the arrival of this thoughtful gesture is sure to make anyone feel less alone.

Pick Up the Phone

It sounds crazy in this age of texts and emails, but a phone call can go a long way toward making a person feel loved. Part of feeling lonely includes a lack of love and comfort from others.

Many people who feel secure in their relationships can go days, weeks, and even months living by themselves and not needing the company of others. In contrast, those who don’t have those bonds, or who are new to independence, might suffer more.

You can help someone suffering in this way by picking up the phone. If you know your friend or family member is someone who doesn’t typically answer, text them in advance to let them know you want to talk.

Then, when you get them on the phone, have a conversation like you would if you were sitting together in a cafe. Don’t focus on the person’s loneliness unless they bring it up. Just gossip and share funny stories to lighten the mood and lift their spirits. 

Plan to Hang Out

Speaking of sitting together in a cafe, if you live close to the person, plan a hangout session! It might seem obvious, but so many people are so busy these days, so you sympathize with someone’s plight but you shrug off the actual solution.

You can combat loneliness by spending time together. Friendship and community are beneficial to your overall health, too, so you’re doing something good for both of you.

Ask your loved one what they would like to do and then plan accordingly. If they can’t answer that question, take the matter into your own hands. Schedule a morning walk, which will boost endorphins and make you both happier.

Plan a trip to a local cafe for coffee and pastries. Or just bring snacks, magazines, and desserts over to their house and crash on their couch watching reality TV together. The idea is to combat loneliness with togetherness.

Pay for a Class

Another option if you’re physically close to each other is to take a class together. Classes are typically community-based as the people involved have a shared interest. They’re a great way to bring people together, discuss the topic at hand, and foster new friendships.

It’s also just an opportunity to get out of your house and be around other people. You get bonus points if the class is yoga or some other form of exercise that will boost happiness chemicals in your brain.

Even if you’re not close to your friend or family member, you can pay for a class you know they would like. During one of your chatty phone calls, you can pick their brain about their interests.

In most cities, you can find classes for just about anything. Pottery, paint and sip, writing, and more are offered at community centers and local studios. Get your friend a pass for a few classes and then check in on how it’s going.

Respond

Finally, and perhaps most obviously, one of the best things you can do for a friend who’s struggling with loneliness is to respond. So many people are so caught up in their own lives that they often don’t pick up on the subtle distress signals others are sending.

It’s so easy to leave someone on “read” and not get back to them for days or weeks. Of course, it’s not personal, but it can be detrimental to their state of mind.

You don’t have to send back a book-length text. Just respond when you see the text with something like, “Hey! I’m super busy right now. Let’s plan a call/walk/coffee date for this weekend!” Let the person know you see them, you hear them, and you’re here for them.

Just that quick, 30-second text can keep someone from feeling like they’re alone in this big, busy world. Then, be sure to follow up.

Again, there’s no perfect way or right way to help someone combat loneliness. And you might be struggling with your issues, too, so don’t take this situation on as a burden. Instead, see reaching out, sending a gift basket, or planning a morning walk as beneficial to your health.

Community, friendship, and good deeds are all contributors to feeling better about your life in general. And you’ll be helping someone else out along the way.

Acne is the most common skin issue in the United States, affecting an estimated 50 million people. Although most prevalent in teenagers and adolescents, adult acne is a problem affecting men and women throughout their adult lives.

So, how do you know if you suffer from acne, and how do you find out what is causing it? Let’s take a closer look.

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that predominantly leads to spots and oily skin. It most typically occurs on the face, back, and chest. Acne is often linked to a change in hormone levels during puberty but can start at any age.

Some people only experience mild symptoms of acne that do not require treatment, whereas others struggle with more severe issues.

What are the main symptoms of acne?

Although everyone’s skin is different, some of the most common symptoms of acne are:

• Crusting of skin bumps
• Cysts
• Papules (small, red bumps)
• Pustules (small, red bumps that contain white or yellow pus)
• Redness around skin eruptions
• Scarring of the skin
• Whiteheads
• Blackheads

The symptoms of acne most commonly occur on the face, although they can also manifest themselves on the shoulders, back, arms, chest, and buttocks.

How is acne diagnosed?

If you suspect that you may have acne, you can make an appointment with your doctor, who will be able to give you an official diagnosis. In most cases, they can do this simply by examining the skin without the need for any testing.

Alternatively, you could book an appointment with a dermatologist, although this is unlikely to be covered by your health insurance.

What tests are available for acne?

If you struggle with chronic acne and would like to find out more about what is causing your skin to break out, you might want to consider requesting a blood test for acne.

Although this can be carried out by your doctor, it would be better to work with dermatologists and skin experts who can administer an in-depth test to see what is going on underneath the surface of your skin.

There are lots of different biomarkers that can be checked to see what is causing the acne on your skin, such as:

• Blood glucose
• Kidney function
• Electrolytes
• Inflammation
• Vitamins and minerals
• Liver function
• Thyroid
• Hormones including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone
• Gallbladder function

It is highly unlikely that your doctor will check all these elements of your health when doing a blood test as it is expensive to do. However, this can leave you with even more unanswered questions. However, when you undergo full testing, you can find the root cause of your acne and make any necessary changes to your lifestyle, diet, and skincare routine.

You can order acne health skin care home test kits that are delivered directly to your doorstep, which require you to take a sample and post it back to the lab. Alternatively, if you do not feel comfortable doing this, you can make an appointment with a private clinic.

What triggers acne outbreaks?

There are lots of things that can trigger an acne breakout, including:

• Hormonal changes such as puberty, menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, and menopause.
• Certain medications, such as steroids and testosterone.
• Birth control devices such as drug-containing IUDs.
• Excessive touching of the skin.

Although many people believe that a poor diet can contribute to spots, there is little evidence to suggest that eating sugary foods such as chocolate and candy causes spots.

What are the best treatments for acne?

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, there are several treatment options available. For mild cases, it can be a good idea to start with a good skincare regime that includes cleansing, moisturizing and gentle exfoliation.

For more stubborn spots and blemishes, over-the-counter treatments that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can be effective. However, these can cause redness, drying, or excessive peeling of the skin in some people.

Lastly, for those who have severe symptoms of acne, there are several treatments that your doctor may be willing to prescribe, such as oral and topical antibiotics and prescription formula sulfur, resorcinol or salicylic acid.

Final thoughts

Acne, both in adolescence and adulthood, can have a seriously detrimental effect on your self-esteem. Fortunately, you do not need to suffer in silence as there are tests and treatments available, with options for all ages and skin types.