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There are two major types of beer:
- Lagers:
Pale lager, American Adjunct (macros - Bud, Miller, PBR, ...), Light Lagers, Pilsners, Vienna/Amber, Dark Lagers, Bocks, Japanese Rice Lager, Malt Liquor

- Ales: Amber, Pale ale and India pale ale (IPA), Irish Red Ale, Scottish Ale, Brown & Cream Ales, Wheat Ale, Porters, Stouts, Belgian White (Witbier), Bitter, Fruit Beer, Other,

- Hybrid: Steam, Fruit and vegetable beer, Smoked beer (Rauchbier).

The number of sub-categories within these major types varies.
The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) 2008 Styles has 23 main categories and 81 sub-categories or styles (see Classic Styles Spread Sheet).
They also list 5 categories of Ciders and Meads (an alcoholic beverage, made from fermented honey and water). BeerAdvocate.com has over 100 styles (popular ones are listed above and in the body of this page), and Beer 101 - Styles at ExploreStLouis.com has 8 as follows:
Lager: Pilsner (Includes most domestic types) and Bocks
Ale: IPA, Brown, Amber, American Pale, Wheat, American Stout

I. Lager

Some systems have only two sub categories of Lager, Pilsner Brands below are just a few examples of some of the popular beers in each category.
Scores (A-F) from BeerAdvocate.com

Pale lager

Most common type of beer. Adjuncts like corn and rice are frequently employed to lighten the body and cheapen the costs, although some can come adjunct free and often have more detectable malt and hop levels.
Moosehead Lager C+, Sapporo Reserve B- (Japan), HARP LAGER C+ (Ireland, Canada and England), Stella Artois C+ (Belgium), HEINEKEN C (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Amstel Lager C- (Netherlands)

American Adjunct

Light bodied, pale, fizzy lagers made popular by the large macro-breweries (large breweries) of America after prohibition. Low bitterness, thin malts, and moderate alcohol. Focus is less on flavor and more on mass-production and consumption, cutting flavor and sometimes costs with adjunct cereal grains, like rice and corn.
Miller High Life C, Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) C, Molson Canadian C, Coors C-, Fosters C- (Australia), Budwiser D+, Corona Extra D (Mexico), Tsingtao C (China), Tecate C- (Mexico)

Light Lagers

Lower in calories and carbohydrates compared to other beers. Typically a high amount of cereal adjuncts like rice or corn are used to help lighten the beer as much as possible. Very low in malt flavor with a light and dry body. The hop character is low and should only balance with no signs of flavor or aroma. European versions are about half the alcohol (2.5-3.5% abv) as their regular beer yet show more flavor (some use 100% malt) then the American counterparts.
Sam Adams Light B- (Boston), Yuengling Light Lager C (Penn.), Tsingtao Draft Beer C (China), Molson Canadian Light C- (Canada), Amstel Light D+ (Netherlands), Michelob Ultra Amber D+, Coors Light D-, Michelob Ultra F, Corona Light F
July 2007 Consumer reports top 10 in order (Very good): Michelob Ultra Amber, Michelob Light, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Sam Adams Light, Budweiser Select, Busch Light, Bud Light, Natural Light, Miller Lite

Pilsner

A style of lager made famous in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia that is hoppier than your standard lager. They are brewed mostly with pils malts and European / German noble hop varieties. The aromas and flavors display grainy and sometimes biscuit-like malts (honey and sulfur-like accents are not abnormal), yet normally feature most prominently a firm hop presence which can yield a strong bitterness and floral, spicey, or grassy qualities.
Gordon Biersch Pilsner B-, Becks C (German)
American Double / Imperial Pilsner:
Similar to a Pilsner in appearance, but expect a more pronounced malty backbone and an intense bitterness.
Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner A-

Vienna / Amber Lager

Vienna lager is brewed using a three step decoction boiling process. They are an amber to copper or even reddish brown color. They are medium-bodied malty (toasted or light roasted features) beers with only a mild sweetness, a lightly bitterred hop balance, and a somewhat dry finish.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager® B+ (Some experts consider it too hoppy to be a Vienna) , Dos Equis Amber Lager C+ Mexico

Dark Lagers

Copper to brown lagers with light bodies and balanced low hop and malt flavors (and often corn or rice adjuncts). Munich dunkel lager version of these dark lagers is darker (deep copper or red-brown to dark brown) and has more prominent malt (no adjuncts, but bready, biscuit, chocolate, nutty, and sometimes light roastedness) and noble hop flavors.
Killian's Irish Red C+ (Coors, Colorado), Tsingtao Dark Beer B- (China)

Japanese Rice Lager

The beer's grist bill is cut by using large portions of rice, but not enough to be classified as Happoshu. Pale yellow in color, soft hop nose, and expect a rounded, firm malty character, moderate bitterness, and a trademark dry finish.Sapporo and Asahi are produced in Canada, under the supervision of the parent companies, while Kirin is produced at an Anheuser-Busch facility in Los Angeles.
Sapporo Premium Beer C, Kirin Ichiban C-, Asahi Super Dry C-

Bocks

A deep golden (Helles Bocks & Maibocks) to brown (Traditional Bocks) colored lager, which originated in the German town of Einbeck as early as the 14th century. After being resurrected in Munich three centuries later, this style errantly became known as "bock" (which also means "billy-goat" in German) instead of "beck." The bock beer is malty rich and sweet (but not overly sweet) and typically contains bready, toasted, even caramel flavors that are in some cases lightly balanced but never overcome by hops. The alcohol level is higher than the average beer but does not dominate the aroma or flavor. The body of a bock is medium to just under full-bodied. The smooth character of a lager should come through in the bock.
Samuel Adams Winter Lager B, Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock B+

Malt Liquor

Straw to pale amber in color, most use excessive amounts of adjuncts, such as corn, rice, refined brewers sugar (dextrose) and as a result there are very few "all malt" brewed malt liquors. Hops are barely used. Higher alcohol versions tend to have a loads of fusel alcohol, which gives off solvent or fuel like aromas and flavors. Some breweries enable the use of special enzymes to further breakdown the malt and adjuncts so they will yield a larger percentage of alcohol. This makes for quite a dry beer, with only a small amount of unfermented sugars and a kick
Colt 45 Malt Liquor D+, Molson XXX C-

II. Ale

Amber

A "catch-all" category of ales that has a broad spectrum of attributes, amber or red ales encompass those hard to classify beers with more color than an American pale ale but less than a brown ale (the amber to copper range). Because of their diversity, amber ales can have low to high malty character (although most are moderate to high with caramel representing the most common component of both aroma and flavor) and a hop level (citrus aromas and flavors common) that is anywhere from supporting and balanced to aggressive. The mouthfeel of an amber ale is heavier than an American pale ale (APA) and the roasted character nearly absent relative to an Irish red ale.
Fat Tire Amber Ale B (CO), Red Tail Ale B- (Mendocino Brewing), Leinenkugel's Classic Amber C+ (Jacob Leinenkugel, Wisc.)

Pale ale and India pale ale (IPA)

Pale Ales are brewed with pale malts and are generally lighter in style than regular (bitter) ales.
There are several types English, India and American.
The English Pale Ale can be traced back to the city of Burton-upon-Trent, a city with an abundance of rich hard water. This hard water helps with the clarity as well as enhancing the hop bitterness. This ale can be from golden to reddish amber in color with generally a good head retention. A mix of fruity, hoppy, earthy, buttery and malty aromas and flavors can be found.
Bass Pale Ale B- (England), Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale B, Long Hammer IPA C+ (Redhook brewery), Boddingtons Pub Ale B- (England)

India Pale Ales First brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s. To withstand the voyage, IPA's were basically tweaked Pale Ales that were, in comparison, much more malty, boasted a higher alcohol content and were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative.
Long Trail Traditional IPA B (Vermont), Harpoon I.P.A B (Boston), Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale A-

American Pale Ales (APA) tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale A- (Chico, Calif.), Mirror Pond B+ (Deschutes, Oregon), McSorley's Ale C+ (Pabst, Ill.)

Irish Red Ale

Irish Red Ales originated in Ireland and are known for their drinkability. They are generally clean and malty with an initial sweetness and a roasted dryness in the finish. Some examples may have a light buttery character and a low hop profile. Typically this ale is amber to deep reddish copper in color and clear. Most examples are 4% to 6% ABV.
Smithwick's Ale B (Ireland) Smithwick's Brewery, Smithwick's B (Ireland) Guinness, Samuel Adams Irish Red B+ (Boston)

Scottish Ale

Scottish Ales originated in Scotland and are generally clean and malty with perhaps a faint touch of smoke and few fruity esters. Most examples have a low hop profile due to the historical fact that hops are not grown in Scotland and expensive imported hops were, therefore, used sparingly. Some examples also have a peaty character which is typically perceived as earthy, smoky or very lightly roasted. Typically this ale is clear, deep amber or dark copper in appearance, although the stronger versions can be dark brown in color. Alcoholic strength can range from a low of 2.5% to around 10% ABV.
Wee Heavy A-, St. Andrew's Ale B+ and Belhaven Scottish Ale B+ (Belhaven Brewery Scotland), Arran Dark B (Isle of Arran, Scotland) Long Trail Hibernator B (Vermont), Kilt lifter B- (Arizona), Celtic Amber B- (Sacrameto)

Brown & Cream Ales

A reddish-brown ale made with dark or brown malt.
Before 1700, nearly all beers were considered brown ales, but "brown ale" as a specific beer style is a relatively modern invention. Today's versions are slightly sweet, have a nutty flavor and restrained bitterness, with an obvious malt character, balance, and smoothness.
Typically rich without being filling, displaying hints of chocolate and fruity sweetness with varying degrees of bitterness. Known in England as a "thirst-quencher".
NEWCASTLE Brown ale B-; smooth, nutty flavour, slight hoppiness (United Kingdom), Pete's Wicked Ale B- (Texas)

Porters and Stouts

Porters

Lighter-bodied companions to the stout, possess less pronounced hop flavour than ale and a heavier brew than most with hints of sweetness.
Yuengling Porter B- (Penn.), Anchor Porter A- (San Francisco)

Stouts

The darkest of beers, are made with highly roasted malts, barley, and differentiated by their brown-black colour, chocolate-coffee flavours, and fuller body.
GUINNESS Draught B (Dublin, Ireland)
American Stouts:
Black Hawk Stout B (Mendocino Brewing)

Oatmeal Stouts are generally medium to full bodied stouts that have an unreal smoothness to them from the addition of oats to the mash. The oats not only add a lot of smoothness to the mouth feel but give a touch of sweetness that is unlike any other type of stout.
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout A- (England)

Wheat ale

Generally light in hops and heavy in carbonation, wheat ales are made from wheat, instead of barley, by top fermentation. Wheat ales are unfiltered, usu- ally very pale and cloudy in appearance, and effervescent on the nose.
Dark: Lunar B- (Boulevard Brewing, Missouri)
Pale: Samuel Adams Summer Ale B-

Belgian White (Witbier)

A Belgian Style ale that's very pale and cloudy in appearance due to it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that's used in the mash. Always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other oddball spices or herbs in the back ground.
Sometimes served with a lemon, but if you truly want to enjoy the untainted subtleties of this style you'll ask for yours without one.
Blue Moon Belgian White (Coors) B-, Allagash White (Maine) A-, Sam Adams White Ale B

Bitter

Most examples of this style will be copper in color with a mild caramel-malt aroma. Some examples will also have hop and fruit notes in the aroma. The flavor will typically be bitter with caramel, noticeable fruity esters and earthy or floral hops. A very drinkable ale.
Honker's Ale B (Goose Island, Ill)
Extra Strong Bitter (ESB):
Redhook ESB B- (WA)

Fruit Beer

A style that is broad and diverse and which captures beers with fruit added in the recipe or base style. The fruit flavors can be obtained via addition of real fruits, extracts, or syrups and artificial flavorings at multiple points in the brewing process. The fruit beer classification does not include beers with natural fruity flavors derived from yeasts, malts, or hops.

Other

McSorley's Black & Tan C+ (Pabst, Ill)

Black and Tan
US:

1/2 glass Bass Pale Ale
topped off with Guinness Draught (not Extra Stout) 
  Guinness is less dense so floats on the top.

Half & Half
 Larger & Stout
 Harp Lager & Guinness.draught How to mix youtube

Black & Tan
 Guinness promotional advertising refers to a Black & Tan
 as being the Bass pale ale and Guinness stout.
 
 Sometimes Black & Tan and  Half & Half are used interchangeably.
 
 
According to "The Guinness Drinking Companion" by Leslie Dunkling:
 * Black and Tan = Guinness and Mild
   Mild - Dark brown (occasionally pale) English and Welsh beer, lightly hopped.
 * Half and Half = Mild and Bitter
  Bitter - British term for the pale, amber or copper-colored beers
   that developed from the pale ales in the 19th century.

In Dublin, where Mild is no longer available, you will get
Guinness mixed with Bitter if you ask for a Black and Tan.

[Note: Mild is a sweet 'Tan' coloured beer.,
that is typically light in alcohol.] 

Republic of Ireland:
Half pint of Smithwick's topped off with Guinness

Boilermaker
 2 oz whiskey
10 oz beer

Beer mixed-drink recipes at DrinksMixer.com

Basic tips for pairing beer and food at RealBeer.com

Beer and ale percent alcohol vary:

Brand - Alcohol by Volume (ABV)	% alcohol
O'Doul's	2.5%
Bud ice light, Coors light, Miller light, Guinness Draught	4.1-4.2%
Sam Adams Boston L, Miller High Life, Newcastle Brown Ale	4.7-4.8%
Bud, Yuengling Ale, PBR, Killians Irish Red, Sam Adams Pale Ale, Pete's Wicked Ale, Harp Lager, Bass Ale	4.9-5.3
Sierra Nevada Porter, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Bud Ice, Anchor Porter	5.5-5.6
Sierra Nevada Stout, Sam Adams IPA	5.8-5.9
Colt 45 Malt Liquor, Guinness Extra Stout bottles	6-6.1
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout	7.5
Trifecta Belgian Style Tripel - at FiftyFifty, Truckee, CA	8.1

See also: Beer Calories, Beer Alcohol, Beer Carbohydrates. at beer100.com

American Craft Breweries: and their flagship brews.
National: Boston Beer Co's (Boston) Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Sierra Nevada's (N. Calif) Pale Ale
Regional stars like New Belgium Brewing Co's (CO) Fat Tire, Widmer Brewing Company's (OR) Hefe-Weizen and Harpoon Brewery's (Boston) India Pale Ale.
Mendocino (N. Calif) Red Tail, Anchor (San Francisco) Steam Beer, Brooklyn Brewing (Brooklyn), Redhook Ale Brewery (WA), Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing (WI)

See: Top 50 American Breweries Reflect the Diversity of American Beer at Beer Advocate

Pubs with good beer menus

• Search for a Brewery, Brewpub or Beer Bar at PubCrawler.com
• The Brickskeller in Washington DC has over 1000 beers.
• Fox And Hound Smokehouse & Tavern
  Review at BeerAdvocate says they are overpriced.

Professor Garzon said the rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was slightly better than those given water.

In a 2012 article in California Adventure Sports, Derrick Peterman, beer-runner.blogspot.com, did his own research on the web and by emailing Prof. Garzon.
Turns out Garzon's study was never published, and he doesn't think beer has any advantage. Peterman's conclusion was beer probably doesn't help physiologically, but isn't too bad and can be a motivational factor. .
See more at alcohol under health.

Links:
Listing by name for C+ or better in products
Beer Styles:
2008 Styles from the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)
  1000+ beers listed by category
1000+ beers listed by location (state, country) from the Brickskeller
BeerAdvocate.com
Beer and Beer Styles at Wikipedia
about.com
ExploreStLouis.com
RateBeer.com

Pubs and Stores with large beer lists:
1000+ beers listed by location (state, country) from the Brickskeller
Trenton Rd. Take Out, Fallsington, PA
Registered Beer Brands Available for Sale in Pennsylvania
Beers Around the World Listed by Country at CNN interactive

BrewerÕs Friend
Basic tips for pairing beer and food at RealBeer.com
Beer Calories, Beer Alcohol, Beer Carbohydrates. at beer100.com
Alcohol content and Carbs in Beer at RealBeer.com