How to Read a Taproom Beer Menu: ABV, IBU and Styles Explained
The numbers and words on a craft beer board tell you a lot about what will land in your glass. Here is how to decode them.
Walk into almost any taproom and the beer list reads like a spec sheet: a style name, two or three numbers and a short tasting note. Once you know what each part means, choosing a pint gets a lot easier.
ABV: how strong it is
ABV stands for alcohol by volume, the share of the liquid that is alcohol. Most everyday lagers and pale ales sit between about 4% and 6%. IPAs often run 6% to 7%, double or imperial IPAs and stouts can reach 8% to 12%, and session beers stay low, usually under 5%, so you can enjoy more than one. If a menu lists pour sizes, stronger beers are often served in smaller glasses for a reason.
IBU: how bitter it is meant to be
IBU means International Bitterness Units, a lab measure of bitter compounds that come mostly from hops. A light lager might be under 20 IBU, a classic pale ale 30 to 45, and many IPAs 50 to 70 or more. The number is a guide rather than a promise: malt sweetness balances bitterness, so a strong, malty beer with a high IBU can taste smoother than a lean one with a lower figure.
SRM: the color
Some boards add SRM, the Standard Reference Method for color. Low numbers are pale straw and gold; numbers in the 20s are amber to brown; 40 and up is the black of stouts and porters. Color hints at roasted malt flavors, not at strength.
Style names in plain English
- Lager / pilsner: crisp, clean and lightly bitter.
- Pale ale: balanced, with moderate hop aroma.
- IPA: hop-forward. West Coast versions are usually clear and bitter; hazy or New England versions are softer, juicier and cloudy.
- Sour / gose: tart and refreshing, sometimes with fruit or a touch of salt.
- Stout / porter: dark and roasty, with coffee or chocolate notes.
Ask for a taste
Most taprooms are happy to pour a small sample, and many offer flights of four or five small glasses. Start light and work toward the darker, stronger beers so your palate is not overwhelmed early. And plan your ride home before the second round.