Beyond the Haze: Exploring Different Beer Styles

It's easy to find a beer you like and stay there. The familiar can. The reliable order. The hazy IPA that never lets you down.

But a little curiosity can take you somewhere good. Beer can be bright and fruit-led, rich and malty, or pale and gently spiced. And the differences aren't only about colour. Aroma, texture and finish all change the way a beer feels in your glass.

Here are three starting points from the SPÖN range: Philter Neon Haze Hazy IPA, Sunday Road Nitro Stout and Chimay Dorée. No tasting exam required. Just three different ways to find out what you enjoy.

The Hazy IPA: Fruit-Led and Rounded

If you enjoy beers that put hop aroma front and centre, start with Philter Neon Haze Hazy IPA, from Marrickville.

Philter builds this beer on a soft, rounded malt body, combining Eclipse hops' mandarin and orange characters with Luminosa's tropical tang and subtle floral notes. The brewery describes the result as juicy, with a smooth, refreshing finish.

When you taste it, start with the aroma. Can you pick out citrus, something tropical, or a little floral lift? Then notice how the rounded body supports those flavours. Here, the fruit notes come from the hops described by the brewery, not a promise of fruit juice in the beer.

Try it with a bowl of Bret's chips or something salty from the table. Keep the food simple for the first few sips so you can get a feel for the beer itself.

The Nitro Stout: Rich Malt, a Different Texture

Next, change direction with Sunday Road Nitro Stout, brewed in Kirrawee.

Sunday Road describes this stout as rich and malty, with a touch of bitterness and nitrogen carbonation for a full mouthfeel. It's a useful contrast to Neon Haze: rather than following bright hop-led fruit, you're exploring malt and texture.

Pay attention to how it feels as much as how it tastes. Does the mouthfeel seem fuller? Where does the bitterness arrive? Does the malt linger after a sip?

At 4.6% ABV, this particular beer is also a reminder not to judge strength by colour alone. A dark pour doesn't automatically tell you how strong a beer will be.

For the table, try a small piece of cheese or a bite of pork rillettes alongside it. Think of the pairing as an experiment, not a rule. Take a sip before the food, then another after it, and see what changes.

The Belgian Enkel: Pale, Spiced and Worth Exploring

For a third direction, meet Chimay Dorée, also known as Gold Cap. Listed in our range as a Belgian enkel, this pale ale comes from Chimay in Wallonie, Belgium.

Chimay describes Dorée as paler than its Première and spiced with coriander. Originally intended for the abbey's monks or the nearby associated inn, it later became more widely available. At 4.8% ABV, it offers another way into the Chimay family.

Give this one a moment in the glass. Look for the spice character, then consider how its aroma and finish differ from the other two beers. You don't have to find the same descriptors as anyone else. The point is to notice, not to get the answer right.

Try a little Woombye Camembert with bread alongside it, or enjoy it on its own before you start eating. Ask us about current availability if you'd like to include it in your tasting.

A Small Tasting, Not a Big Production

If you'd like to compare the three, share small pours with a friend rather than making it a race through full servings. Use clean glasses, keep some water nearby, and follow each beer's serving instructions, especially for the nitro pour.

Start with Chimay Dorée, move to Neon Haze, and finish with the stout as a simple first sequence. Then ask three questions: what do I smell, how does it feel, and what stays with me after the sip?

Words like citrus, spice, malt, soft or bitter are more than enough. So is saying, 'This is the one I'd order again.'

Follow Your Taste, Not the Trend

You don't need to move beyond hazy IPA because something else is more fashionable. Keep drinking what you love. Exploring is simply a way to add a few more possibilities to the fridge.

Come into SPÖN and tell us what usually ends up in your glass. We can help you find something familiar, something different, or a small selection that lets you discover both.

Sometimes your next favourite is only one shelf away.