In the first edition of Peter Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases (1852), words are organized by conceptual classes rather than alphabetically. “Beer” appears under Class V (Formation of Ideas), Division 2 (Space in general), Section 1 (Inorganic matter), Subsection 2 (Liquids), numbered 333. “Liquids,” specifically under the sub-subsection for intoxicating liquors.
The entry lists the following synonyms and related phrases for “beer” (presented as a noun in the list of specific examples of alcoholic beverages):
Ale, Porter, Stout, Heavy wet, Swipes, Small beer, Table-beer, Bitter beer, Munich beer, and Lager beer.
Below is a list of the top 50 synonyms for “beer” in modern English usage as of September 16, 2025. These synonyms include specific beer styles, colloquial and slang terms, and general descriptors commonly found in thesauruses, linguistic resources, and contemporary contexts. The list is comprehensive, covering both formal and informal terms used in English-speaking regions, presented in no particular order:
- Ale
- Lager
- Brew
- Stout
- Porter
- Draft
- Pilsner
- Suds
- Malt
- Brewski
- Hops
- Amber
- IPA (India Pale Ale)
- Bock
- Wheat
- Craft
- Pale
- Brown
- Blonde
- Saison
- Cold one
- Pint
- Stein
- Bitter
- Lager-beer
- Gose
- Hefeweizen
- Kölsch
- Schwarzbier
- Barleywine
- Shandy
- Radler
- Cream ale
- Steam beer
- Dunkel
- Weissbier
- Tripel
- Quad
- Lambic
- Alehouse
- Brewage
- Swill
- Sip
- Tipple
- Bevvie
- Froth
- Juice (slang, e.g., hoppy juice)
- Nectar (informal, poetic)
- Pintje (regional slang, e.g., Dutch-influenced)
- Stingo (archaic, strong beer)
Notes:
- The list includes specific beer styles (e.g., IPA, hefeweizen), which are often used as synonyms in contexts where the type of beer is emphasized.
- Slang terms like “brewski,” “cold one,” and “bevvie” are common in casual conversation, especially in North American and British English.
- Some terms, like “stingo” or “nectar,” are less common but appear in historical or poetic contexts.
- Regional variations exist; for example, “pint” often refers to a serving of beer in the UK, while “bevvie” is more common in Australia or the UK.
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