Craft beer and traditional industrial beer are two very different categories of beer, differing in styles, flavours and production methods. Understanding the differences between them can help you make an informed decision about which type of beer to choose.

Craft beer is usually made by small and independent breweries that produce a wide range of unique, flavoursome beers. The craft beer industry has exploded in recent years, with new breweries popping up all over the world.

Here are some of the most popular styles of craft beer:

1. India Pale Ale (IPA) beers are known for their bold and hoppy flavour. They are brewed with a higher alcohol content and more hop content than other beer styles, which gives them a distinct flavour profile.
2. Stout is a dark and rich beer brewed with roasted barley. They often have a chocolate or coffee flavour and can be sweet or bitter.
3. Wheat beer – wheat beers are usually light and refreshing. They are brewed with a higher wheat content than other types of beer, which gives them a distinct flavour and cloudy appearance.
4. Pilsner – Pilsner beers are light and crisp, they are brewed from a combination of barley malt and hops. They are usually less bitter than IPA beers and have a lower alcohol content.
5. Saison – saison is a light and refreshing country ale, often brewed with various spices such as coriander, orange peel or ginger.
6. Sour Beer – Sour beers are brewed with wild yeasts or bacteria, which give them a tart and sour taste. Some sour beers also contain fruit or other flavours that add complexity to their taste.
7. Belgian dubbel – Belgian dubbel is a dark and malty beer, often brewed with various spices including coriander, orange peel and cloves.

Here are the traditional styles of industrial beer

Traditional industrial beer is usually produced by large, commercial breweries and is subject to a more standardised recipe and mass production process. Styles are less diverse around the classic Lager.

Here are some of the most popular styles of traditional industrial beer:

1. Lager beers are light and crisp beers brewed using yeasts that undergo fermentation at lower temperatures. They tend to be less aromatic than craft beers and have a lower alcohol content.
2. Pilsner is also a popular style of traditional industrial beer. They are similar to craft beer pilsners, but seem to be less hoppy and less complex.
3. Amber Ale Amber Ale is brewed with a blend of malts that give them a reddish brown colour and a slightly sweet taste. They tend to be less bitter than IPAs and stouts.
4. Pale Ale Pale ales are similar to IPAs, but seem to be less hoppy and less intense in flavour. They are often brewed with a mix of pale and roasted malts.
5. Wheat beers Wheat beers are also a popular style of a traditional industrial beer. They tend to be less aromatic than craft wheat beers and are often brewed with a blend of wheat and barley.

In general, craft beer is more aromatic, complex and varied in terms of styles and flavours. On the other hand, traditional industrial beers are more standardised in terms of taste and production methods. However, both types of beer have their own unique characteristics and can be consumed by beer drinkers at all levels.