The varying reddish, amber and golden shades come from the use of different types of malt. BridgePort's flagship Blue Heron Ale and Hammerhead Ale from McMenamins are typically hoppy Northwest ambers, while Portland Brewing's MacTarnahan' s is a slightly milder rendition. India pale ale , or IPA , is hoppier in both flavor and aroma and also slightly higher in alcohol. IPAs were developed in England to withstand the long sea journey to India and the far reaches of the British Empire, since the high hops and alcohol provided preservative qualities. Local IPAs reflect that high hoppy character.
Brown ale is a slightly darker version of the pale ales.
Because of their nutty flavors, brown ales are often called nut browns. McMenamins' Nutbrown Ale usually makes its way to the taps in the fall. The darkest, richest ales are porters and stouts. Porter is a dry, dark-brown to black, usually opaque ale. It has the sharp, bitter tastes of dark malts.