Light Vs. Dark Beer

Beer is a popular drink in bars and at sporting events, college parties and home social activities. The type of beer commonly consumed at these different events can vary greatly. Two common versions of beer include light colored beers and dark colored beers. These beers tend to be popular at different times of the year, but they are not the only beers on the market.

Light and dark are both relative terms when discussing the differences between light and dark beers. A light beer can come in a variety of colors, ranging from almost a clear or white color to a light amber color. Just because it is amber does not mean it falls out of the light beer category. Dark beers should be referred to as "darker beers" as their color starts with amber as well, but a darker variety. It goes all the way to as dark as a strong cup of coffee.

Light beers are lighter on the tongue and lower in calorie count as a general rule. These beers are popular in drinking contests because they go down easier and are less filling than a heavier beer such as a dark beer. Dark beers are more dense and have a feel on the tongue of being more oily than lighter beers, which feel more watery. A dark beer quite often is used more as a sipping beer than a chugging beer, while light beers are just the opposite.

Lighter beers tend to be heavier on the hops flavor. A common misconception is beer that is heavy on hops tends to be rather bitter. That's not true--depending on the other ingredients in the beer, a moderately hopped beer such as a hefeweizen can actually have a slightly sweet citrus flavor. Dark beers are heavier on malts. Malts are not necessarily sweeter than hops in the end, but they do incorporate flavor hints such as chocolate, coffee and toffee to the dark beers; due to a lack of malt intensity, those flavors are not present in light beers.

Light beer is marketed heavier in the summer, as the flavor is less dominant and mixes well with citrus flavors that are popular summer and warm-weather flavors. Dark beer is perceived as being more of a cold-weather beer and the heavier stouts and porters are marketed in the fall through the winter. Oktoberfest-style beers are a sort of transition from light beer season to dark beer season. Despite these differences in seasons, fans of light or dark beers can find options to drink from their favorite beer category during the entire year.

Some examples of light beers include a variety of wheat ales, both American and Belgian. Light beers also include pilsners and wheat beers. Wheat beers are commonly found with fruit flavors mixed in. Darker beer varieties are typically either stouts or porters. Both of these beers can have other flavors mixed in, including sweeter flavorings including vanilla.