Any style of beer can be smoked; the goal is to reach a balance between the style's character and the smoky properties.

A smoked Beer can be a robust, even an overpowering beer if not brewed carefully, more so with versions that use peat smoked malt which carries a barbequed smoke flavor that can ruin a beer in excess.

Peat smoked malts are used in many styles, like Scotch Ales, though the most common American beer that is smoked are Porters. The flavor of peat smoke tends to be much stronger and more assertive so brewers use very modest amounts in the mash.