IPA, Hazy, or Sour? A Beginner's Guide to Craft Beer Styles at Our Tap Wall

Walking up to a wall of 24 taps can feel like stepping into a foreign language. IPA? Hazy? Kettle sour? Imperial stout? If you've ever stood there pretending to read the description while quietly panicking, this one's for you.

At Switch Brews, our self-pour taproom lets you pour as little as an ounce at a time — which is the best beginner's cheat code in craft beer. You don't have to commit to a full pint of something you might hate. You can taste your way across six styles for the price of one beer at a normal bar.

Here's the crash course.

Lagers & Pilsners — Start Here

In plain English: Crisp, clean, refreshing. The "just tastes like beer" beer.

Lagers are fermented cold and slow, which produces a smoother, less fruity flavor than ales. Pilsners are a specific kind of lager — a little more bitter, a little more floral.

Try if you like: Corona, Modelo, Stella, Coors Banquet.

Local craft pick to look for: Huss Brewing Arizona Light Lager or Dragoon Zona Pilsner — both are Arizona-made, sessionable, and widely loved.

Order this when: It's 112° outside and you just want something cold that tastes good.

Wheat Beers — Soft and Easy-Drinking

In plain English: Light, slightly sweet, sometimes citrusy. Often served with an orange slice.

Hefeweizens (German-style) taste like banana and clove. Witbiers (Belgian-style) lean more toward orange peel and coriander. Both are cloudy and soft on the palate.

Try if you like: Blue Moon, Shock Top, mimosas on a patio.

Local craft pick to look for: Pedal Haus Bier Blanche — a Belgian wheat that took gold at the North American Beer Awards. SanTan's Hefeweizen is another easy win.

Order this when: You want flavor without bitterness.

Hazy IPA — The One Everyone's Drinking

In plain English: Juicy. Tropical. Cloudy. Smooth. Tastes like orange juice and pineapple more than "beer."

Hazy IPAs (also called New England IPAs) blew up in the last decade because they took the hop-forward IPA and stripped out the bitterness. You get all the flavor — mango, guava, citrus — without the pine-sap finish that scares some people off traditional IPAs.

Try if you like: Fruity cocktails, tropical juice blends, or you've always been "IPA-curious" but burned by bitterness.

Local craft pick to look for: Wren House Spellbinder — widely considered the best flagship hazy in Arizona, with a GABF gold medal to prove it.

Order this when: You want something flavorful but approachable.

West Coast IPA — The Classic

In plain English: Bitter, piney, resinous, clear. The IPA that started the craft beer revolution.

If a Hazy is a mango smoothie, a West Coast IPA is a grapefruit peel. Sharp, dry, and bold. Arizona breweries do these well — our desert climate and the hop-forward culture here mean you'll usually find a few standouts on our wall.

Try if you like: Strong black coffee, grapefruit, bold flavors.

Local craft pick to look for: Mother Road Tower Station IPA out of Flagstaff, or SanTan HopShock IPA — two of the state's most-loved classic IPAs.

Order this when: You want a beer that punches back.

Sours — The Surprise Favorite

In plain English: Tart. Tangy. Sometimes fruity. Nothing like what you expect beer to taste like.

Sours are intentionally acidic, usually fermented with wild yeast or bacteria (don't worry — it's safe and delicious). Kettle sours are the gateway: lightly tart and often loaded with real fruit like raspberry, passionfruit, or mango. Think beer-meets-lemonade.

Try if you like: Kombucha, margaritas, White Claw, lemonade.

Local craft pick to look for: Anything from The Shop Beer Co. in Tempe, or Crooked Tooth's Sonoran Sour Series — they use Arizona citrus and tamarind for a true Southwest twist.

Order this when: You want something refreshing that'll wake up your palate.

Stouts & Porters — Dark Doesn't Mean Heavy

In plain English: Dark brown to black. Notes of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, sometimes marshmallow.

The biggest myth in beer: "dark beer is heavy." A lot of stouts are actually lighter in alcohol than a Hazy IPA — the color comes from roasted malt, not strength. Pastry stouts push into dessert territory with flavors like s'mores, coconut, or bourbon barrel.

Try if you like: Cold brew coffee, dark chocolate, dessert cocktails.

Local craft pick to look for: Historic Brewing Piehole Porter (cherry and vanilla — tastes like dessert) or anything from Oro Brewing's dark beer lineup.

Order this when: You want a beer that drinks like a nightcap.

What's on Tap Right Now

Our tap wall rotates constantly — usually 18 beers alongside wine, cider, and non-alcoholic options. For the live list with ABV, ratings, and descriptions, check our Untappd menu. It updates in real time as we swap kegs.

The Beginner's Flight: A 4-Pour Plan

The best way to find your style is to taste across the spectrum. With self-pour, a "flight" costs you whatever 4 ounces totals — usually a few bucks.

Try these four, in this order:

1. Start light: A lager or pilsner (reset your palate).

2. Step up: A wheat beer or Hazy IPA (build flavor).

3. Go bold: A West Coast IPA or kettle sour (test your edges).

4. Finish rich: A stout or porter (end on dessert).

By the end, you'll know which section of the wall is yours.

Come Taste for Yourself

We're at 20874 Heritage Loop Rd, Queen Creek, AZ — open daily from 6:30 AM, with the tap wall ready to pour whenever you are. We run trivia Wednesdays, Music Bingo Tuesdays, and live music Fridays if you want to pair your flight with something fun.

Bring a friend, pour an ounce, ask us questions. There's no such thing as a dumb beer question — only a beer you haven't tried yet.

Switch your brew. Switch your view.