Difference between Ale and Lager
Key difference: Ales are made with "top-fermenting" strains of yeast which means that the yeast ferments at the top of the fermentation tank. Lagers use "bottom-fermenting" yeasts which sink to the bottom of the tank and ferment.
Beers are the most popular and the most commonly consumed alcoholic drink in the world. Ales and Lagers are the two main types of beer. Beers have been around thousands of years with a history dating back to the Egyptians and Sumerians. These were primarily ales, whereas lagers were discovered in early 1400s. The term “lager” comes from the German “lagern”, which means to store.
The main difference between ales and lagers is that ales are fermented "top-fermenting" strains of yeast which means that the yeast ferments at the top of the fermentation tank at room temperature. Lagers, on the other hand, use a bottom-fermenting yeast and are fermented at much colder temperatures. The yeast that collects at the bottom of the fermentation tank can be reused. Lagers usually have a mild flavor, and can vary immensely in flavor, color, and composition. Lagers can also have a much higher alcohol content than ales. Other differences include:
|
Ale |
Lager |
Type of yeast |
Saccharomyces cervisiae – top fermented |
Saccharomyces Uvarum – bottom fermented |
Color |
Reddish brown or dark brown, light pale |
Pale or dark |
Brew time |
as little as 7 days |
up to several months |
Described as |
Robusty, hearty and fruity |
Smooth, elegant, crisp, fruity, and clean |
Fermentation temperature |
Warmer (15 – 25 deg Celsius) |
Colder (less than 10 deg Celsius) |
Types |
Pale ale, amber ale, pale ale, amber ale, etc. |
Pilseners, bocks and dopplebocks, Maerzens/Oktoberfests, Dortmunders, Dunkel, Schwarzbier and a few other styles found mostly in Germany |
Serving temperature |
Cellar temperature (10-14 deg Celsius) |
Cold (4-7 deg Celsius) |
Additional ingredients |
Hops, malt and roasted malts, adjuncts such as rice, maize, etc |
Malted grain, hops, yeast and water |
Alcohol content |
3% - 5% ABV |
As much as 14% ABV |
Image Courtesy: buckshappening.com, beeriety.com
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