Imported Beer: Which to Buy

Most imported beers on our shelf are lagers: light, crisp and made to be drunk cold. They still taste different, and the differences are easy to learn.

The crisp, light ones

• Peroni Nastro Azzurro. An Italian lager from a brewery founded in 1846. Clean, light and a little citrusy. A good beer with pizza and pasta.
• Asahi Super Dry. Japan's "dry" lager, launched in 1987. Very crisp with a short, clean finish. Made for sushi and spicy food.
• Sapporo. Japan's oldest beer brand, from 1876. A little softer than Asahi.

The classic European lagers

• Heineken. The Dutch lager in the green bottle, brewed since 1864. Slightly fruity, easy to drink, and the safe choice for a party.
• Stella Artois. A Belgian lager, first brewed as a Christmas beer in 1926, which is where the star in its name comes from. A bit fuller than Heineken.
• Pilsner Urquell. From Plzen in the Czech Republic, where the first golden lager was brewed in 1842. More bitter and more flavorful than most lagers. If you like hops, start here.

The dark one

Guinness Draught is an Irish stout. It looks heavy, but it is lighter and smoother than most people expect, with coffee and chocolate notes. The cans have a widget inside that makes the creamy head, so pour it hard into a glass.

What to buy

For a crowd, buy Heineken or Stella in the 12-pack. With food, try Peroni or Asahi. If you want more flavor, buy Pilsner Urquell. Keep lagers cold and out of the light, and drink them fresh.