Understanding ABV
ABV (Alcohol By Volume) tells you what percentage of the drink is pure alcohol. It's required on all beer labels in the EU.
- Session beers: Generally under 5% ABV - designed for longer drinking sessions
- Standard strength: 4-6% ABV - most lagers and pale ales
- Strong beers: 7-10% ABV - many Belgian styles, IPAs, stouts
- Very strong: Over 10% ABV - barleywines, imperial stouts, some specialty beers
Standard drinks and units
A "standard drink" or "unit" of alcohol varies by country, but generally represents about 10g of pure alcohol. This helps you track consumption regardless of the drink's strength.
Quick calculation
To estimate units in a beer: multiply the volume (in litres) by the ABV percentage.
- 330ml at 5% = 0.33 × 5 = 1.65 units
- 500ml at 4% = 0.5 × 4 = 2 units
- 330ml at 8% = 0.33 × 8 = 2.64 units
Beer styles and flavour expectations
Style names on labels give you clues about what to expect. While not regulated, common styles have established characteristics:
Lagers
Clean, crisp, often light. Pilsners are hoppy lagers; Helles and Märzen are maltier.
Pale Ales & IPAs
Hop-forward with citrus, pine, or tropical notes. IPAs are stronger and more bitter than pale ales.
Wheat beers
Often cloudy, with banana and clove notes (German) or orange and coriander (Belgian).
Stouts & Porters
Dark, roasty, with coffee and chocolate flavours. Porters are generally lighter than stouts.
What style names don't tell you
Style names aren't regulated, so different brewers may interpret them differently. A "Belgian-style" beer from the US may taste quite different from one brewed in Belgium. Use style as a guide, not a guarantee.
Note
This page is a draft. More detailed information about style categories and regional variations will be added.