I need a little education, I love beer, I usually steer clear of Ale, mostly because I have never tried it. Soooooo, whats the difference between Beer and Ale?
OK Crash course on Beer 101
A
le's:
The 1st types of beers ever made, generaly a little on the stronger side VS Lager's. Brewed in warmer temprament (hence 1st types, no refridgeration). More alcoholic, more flavor notes, top-fermentation, some have sediment in them (unfiltered, like Hefewizen's) because of this procces.
Lager's:
came after ale's because the means (discovery) to fement beer in a cool enviroment, using a differnt yeast than ale's (ie, caves or cool places) Bottom fermenting, lighter than ales in all ways, dryer, lighter color, less alcohol. Most american beers are lagers, Bud, Miller, coors, etc.
Ale or lager defines most of all beers in one of the catagorys. There are also hybrids of both and spin-offs of in betweens.
Charge: CO2 or Nitrogen, impacts smoothness and taste!
Hybrids of Ale & Lager (Lighter 2 Darker)
Pilsners: On the Lager side of the spectrum. Little more flavorful than a lager. Plenty of american pilsners, germans, Cz, etc.
Weiss beers: German dominated, nearly pale ale, Hearty flavor
Pale ale: Pretty flavorful, generally cloudy-er, good with citrus (lemon, orange)
Dark lagers: Good example --> Warstiener Dunkel, Fairly darker on color, lots of flavors, even smoked beer! can be bitter.
Bocks-doublebock's: Can be lighter in color but generally darker, Unique flavors, can deff taste the ingredients, aquired taste at tmes, Hoppy.
Porters, stouts: Pretty well black color, flavor loaded, chocolate, coffee flavors common, Darker beers common to charged with nitrogen wich affects flavors.
Other:
Lambics:
Belgian, fruity-ish, champagne like, There differant in the way they are fermented, the brew sits in open vats in a building with open slats in the roof for natural bacteria and yeasts in the air for fermentation!
IPA- India Pale Ale:
Devised for the long trip to the brit soldiers because normal ale would spoil on the long train ride. So the beer was super hopped to give it some self-preservatave. Because of this, its generally very stong, very hoppy, tends to be pretty bitter.
From the best of my recolection! Enjoy! :beer:
