Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Exam

Which of the following beer styles is characterized by fruity and sour flavors?

1. Pale Ale

2. Belgian Lambic

3. American IPA

4. Dark Lager

The correct answer is: Belgian Lambic

Belgian Lambic is known for its unique fermentation process that often involves wild yeasts and bacteria, leading to its distinctively fruity and sour flavors. This style typically utilizes a blend of grains and is often fermented in open air, allowing organisms from the environment to influence the beer's character. The resulting flavor profile can include tartness from lactic acid and various fruit notes, which are hallmark characteristics of Lambics. It's a style that embraces complex, often unpredictable flavors, making it quite different from more traditional styles that generally emphasize malt and hop profiles without significant sourness. In comparison, Pale Ales, American IPAs, and Dark Lagers have more balanced or malt-forward flavors and do not carry the same level of sourness that defines Lambics. Pale Ales and IPAs typically showcase hops more aggressively, which results in bitterness rather than sourness, while Dark Lagers feature roasted malts and caramel notes that overshadow any fruity characteristics they might have.