Taproom Brighton: The Craft Beer Glossary Every Beginner Needs
Walking into a craft beer taproom for the first time can feel a little like arriving halfway through a conversation. The menu is full of abbreviations. Someone nearby is discussing “IBUs” and “dry hopping”. The person behind the bar asks whether you fancy something “hazy, sessionable or a bit more farmhouse”.
And suddenly, ordering a beer feels like an exam.
Don’t worry. It isn’t.
At Lost and Found, our cosy craft beer taproom on Ditchling Road in Fiveways, Brighton, there are no silly questions. You can ask what a style means, what a beer tastes like, how strong it is — or simply say, “I usually drink lager; what would I like here?” Our team will always help you find your way around the taps, and we’re happy to let you taste before you commit.
So, whether you’re completely new to craft beer in Brighton or already starting to explore Brighton craft beer, here’s your friendly glossary for the bar.
ABV: how strong is it?
ABV stands for Alcohol by Volume. It’s the percentage that tells you how much alcohol is in your beer.
A beer at 4% ABV is lighter than one at 8%. That sounds straightforward, but ABV doesn’t tell you everything about how a beer tastes. A lower-strength beer can still be packed with flavour, while a stronger beer might taste surprisingly smooth.
When you’re stood at our bar, ABV is useful for choosing the pace of your evening. Looking for something light and easy? Ask about the lower-ABV options. Fancy something richer, warmer or more intense? We can point you towards the stronger pours.
The important bit: strength and flavour are not the same thing.
IBU: how bitter is it?
IBU means International Bitterness Units. It’s a measurement associated with bitterness from hops.
A low-IBU beer will usually taste softer and less bitter. A high-IBU beer may have a sharper, more resinous bitterness — particularly if it’s a hop-forward IPA.
But IBU is not a complete flavour forecast. Sweetness, malt, fruitiness and acidity can all change the way bitterness feels on your palate. Two beers with a similar IBU number can taste completely different.
If you’re unsure, don’t just ask, “What’s the IBU?” Try asking:
“Is it bitter, or is it more fruity and juicy?”
That gives our team a much better idea of what to recommend.
Hazy: cloudy, juicy and soft
A hazy beer is intentionally cloudy rather than bright and clear. You’ll often see this term used for hazy IPAs or New England-style IPAs.
They’re usually known for big aromas of citrus, peach, mango and tropical fruit, with a soft texture and a rounded finish. They can be less sharply bitter than some traditional hop-forward beers, although every beer is different.
If you’re new to craft beer, hazy styles can be a welcoming place to begin. They’re aromatic, expressive and often feel more like biting into ripe fruit than drinking something aggressively bitter.
See a golden, cloudy pour on our live tap list? Ask what you can smell before you taste. You might pick up grapefruit, passion fruit, pineapple or even a little stone fruit.
Session: flavour without the full-strength punch
A session beer is generally lower in alcohol and designed to be enjoyed over a longer stretch of time.
A session IPA, for example, aims to offer hop aroma and flavour without the higher ABV you might find in a stronger IPA. It’s lighter in strength, but it shouldn’t be lacking in character.
At the bar, “sessionable” usually means something refreshing, easy-drinking and well suited to a relaxed afternoon or a long chat with friends. It doesn’t mean boring. In fact, brewing a full-flavoured beer at a lower strength takes plenty of skill.
DIPA: a Double IPA
DIPA is short for Double IPA.
It’s usually stronger and more intensely hopped than a standard IPA, often with bold aromas, a fuller body and a noticeable alcohol warmth. You might find citrus, pine, tropical fruit or a deeper bitterness, depending on the beer.
If you’re trying a DIPA for the first time, take it slowly. The fruitiness can make it taste deceptively easy-going, so check the ABV and enjoy it at its own pace.
Not sure whether it’s for you? Ask for a taste first. That’s what the bar is for.
Saison: farmhouse character
A saison is a farmhouse-style ale traditionally associated with Belgium and France.
Saisons are often dry, crisp and refreshing, with flavours that can be fruity, peppery, herbal or lightly spicy. They’re very different from the juicy sweetness people sometimes expect from modern hop-led beers.
Think of a saison as bright, lively and a little wild around the edges. It can be a brilliant choice if you like dry wines, fresh citrus, herbs or a gentle peppery finish.
And yes, “farmhouse” doesn’t mean heavy. Many saisons are beautifully light on their feet.
Wild-fermented: when the flavour goes its own way
Wild fermentation refers to beer fermented using wild yeast or particular strains such as Brettanomyces, often known as Brett.
The result can be tart, funky, earthy, fruity or farmhouse-like. Some wild-fermented beers are gently sour; others are more dry and complex, with flavours that develop and shift as you drink.
This is one of those terms where the best explanation is often a taste. If the words “funky” or “tart” sound intriguing rather than alarming, ask us what’s available.
You don’t need to know exactly what you like before you try it. Discovery is half the fun.
Growler: takeaway beer in a refillable container
A growler is a refillable container used to take beer home from a tap.
It’s a lovely way to extend the evening: find something you enjoy, fill a container and take that discovery back to the sofa, dinner table or garden.
We also stock independent local beer in our fridges for takeaway, so you can browse bottles and cans as well as enjoying a fresh pour at the bar. If you’re looking for something to bring to friends, ask the team for a recommendation.
Flight: a small tasting journey
A beer flight is a selection of smaller pours served together, allowing you to compare different beers.
For beginners, a flight can be a wonderfully low-pressure way to explore. Instead of ordering one full pint and hoping for the best, you can taste across several styles: perhaps a crisp pale ale, a hazy IPA, a darker beer and something tart or farmhouse-inspired.
Searching for craft beer tasting flights Brighton beginners can bring up plenty of options, but the best flight is the one that matches your tastes. Tell us what you already enjoy — wine, cider, lager, citrus flavours, chocolatey notes, anything — and we can help you choose a useful starting point.
You don’t need to judge every sample like a professional. Just notice what you like.
Keg and tap: what’s happening behind the bar?
A keg is the container that holds beer under pressure. A tap is the faucet the beer comes through.
So when a beer is “on tap”, it’s being served from a keg through the tap system. It doesn’t mean the beer is a particular style. It simply describes how it’s being served.
At Lost and Found, our taps rotate, giving you a changing selection of independent beer from Brighton and Sussex breweries first, alongside carefully chosen guest brews from elsewhere in the UK. The point is freshness, variety and giving you something new to talk about.
We’re a craft beer taproom, not a brewery. We pour and curate independent beer; we don’t make it on site.
Nitro: smooth, creamy and softly carbonated
Nitro beer is served with nitrogen as part of its gas blend. This can create a notably smooth texture, fine bubbles and a creamy-looking pour.
You may notice a gentle cascading effect in the glass as the beer settles. Nitro beers can feel softer and rounder than beers served with standard carbonation.
If you usually prefer silky textures or less prickly fizz, nitro might be worth exploring. Ask what’s available and we’ll explain how it compares with the other beers on the bar.
Dry hopping: aroma turned up
Dry hopping means adding hops during or after fermentation rather than relying only on hops added earlier in the brewing process.
The aim is to boost aroma and flavour without adding the same level of bitterness. Dry-hopped beers can smell intensely fruity, floral, citrusy or resinous before you even take a sip.
That huge tropical aroma in your glass? Dry hopping may well be part of the story.
Try giving the beer a gentle swirl, take a smell and see what you find. There’s no right answer. If you smell orange and your friend smells passion fruit, both of you may be right.
Your first visit to our taproom in Brighton
If you’ve been searching for a taproom brighton, tap room brighton or craft beer brighton, here’s the simple version:
- Come to Lost and Found at 298 Ditchling Road, in the Fiveways community.
- Have a look at the current taps.
- Tell us what you normally drink.
- Ask as many questions as you like.
- Taste before committing.
- Choose something that sounds delicious — not something you think you’re supposed to understand.
We’re proud to be an independent Brighton venue built around local connection, independent beer and relaxed discovery. Every beer and cider we pour is selected with care, with Brighton and Sussex at the heart of what we do. We also offer locally curated wines, takeaway options from the fridges and weekend street food vans or external catering partners when food is on the cards.
And if you’ve been Googling “fiveways pub brighton” or even “best independent taproom near Brighton station”, consider this your invitation to head a little north, settle in and find your new favourite pour.
No jargon test. No beer snobbery. No silly questions.
Just good beer, friendly people and something new waiting on the bar.
See what’s pouring, learn more about Lost and Found or get in touch before your visit.