When ale is crafted, all the yeast gathers at the top of the vessel rather than the bottom. This type of beer ferments at a high temperature, allowing the yeast to act quicker during the process. Ale is realitvely fast to produce, sometimes taking only 2 weeks to finish fermenting. It produces rich and complex flavours, with more yeasty tones than lager.
Some of the most popular types of ales include:
Wheat Beer – In general, all wheat beer is made from at least 50% wheat malt, giving it a cloudy appearance. Usually wheat beer is lightly coloured and fully flavoured!
Stout – Thick, black and rich are 3 perfect words to describe stout. They often taste of malt and caramel, deriving their tones from roasted barley.
Pale Ale – One of the most popular types of ales, pale ale is golden in colour with a dry and crisp hop flavour*.
Brown ale – Named after its colour, this traditional English-style ale can taste malty, nutty, sweet and lightly hopped all at the same time.
* A member of the hemp family, the hop plant is used as a stability agent in the fermenting process of beer. Naturally containing a very bitter oil, hop counters the sweetness from the malt to create a more balanced flavour.
Unlike Ale, the yeast in lager sinks to the bottom of the vessel. This type of brew ferments at a lower temperature, making the entire process longer to complete. In addition, the colder temperature and bottom-fermenting yeast creates fewer flavours, creating a more crisp, mild and cleaner taste.
Some of the most popular types of lager include:
Pilsner – This finely crafted brew is pale in colour, and denotes a smooth and clean taste, with a little more hops than your usual lager.
Red lager – Typically known as a more balanced beer, red lager is crisp and clean in taste, sporting aromas of caramel and other sweet tones.
What’s your go-to beer? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Check out Beginner’s Guide To Wine here:
Beginners Guide To Choosing & Tasting Wine