July 15th, 2009
Ales . Ales vs. Lagers . Lagers
Beer or ale: What are you drinking?
Are you drinking Lagers or Ales? Do you know?
This is an interesting question that many beer drinkers face. Budweiser is a lager, but what is Miller light? Are my favorite Harpoon beers lagers or ales?
At a recent beer event, I had a discussion with a festival participant on this topic. Lets say his name is Bob. Bob asked me if he was drinking “beer” or an ale. At first I was a little confused. Ale’s are beer – what was he asking me about?
I quickly understood his question. He was asking me about Lagers vs. Ales. I explained that in this specific case he was drinking an ale. He asked. “Is it an ale because it’s darker and maltier”. No Bob, that’s not the reason. Lets Discuss…
Here are some basic differences between Lagers and Ales:
- Fermentation Location:
- Ales use yeast fermented at the top of the vessel.
- Lagers use yeast fermented at the bottom of the vessel.
- Fermentation Duration:
- A standard ale will complete fermentation in 2-3 weeks.
- A standard lager will complete fermentation in 4-6 weeks.
- Fermentation Temperature:
- Lagers need a colder temperature – fermentation typically occurs between 45 – 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ales need a warmer temperature (closer to room temp) – fermentation typically occurs between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Style Examples:
- Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Stout, Porter, Barley-wine, Belgian Strong Ale, Extra Special Bitter.
- Light Lager, American Style Lager, Pilsner, Marzen, Bock, Dunkel.
- Classic Examples:
- ALES: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Harpoon IPA, Redhook ESB.
- LAGERS: Budweiser, Miller Light, Heineken, Sam Adams Boston Lager.
I hope that this helps unlock the mystery.
Enjoy!!
Sean
Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned it!!
This article can also be viewed on examiner.com