As you know, almost all of today's beer can be safely divided by the type of fermentation. Therefore, every self-respecting beer lover should clearly understand the differences between ale and lager.
Even if you do not consider yourself a gourmet, knowledge of the main types of beer will help you discover new varieties and varieties of this wonderful drink, as well as touch the most interesting beer culture in the world. Let's try to figure out what are the main differences between ales and lagers.
Lager
Lager - the name of the beer comes from the German word "lagern", which means storage. This is a bottom-fermented beer that first appeared in Bavaria in the late 15th century. Beer got its name due to the fact that it had to be kept in wooden barrels for several weeks at a relatively low temperature. The whole process took place in the deep cellars of the monasteries, where there was an ideal temperature for bottom fermentation. This beer spread very quickly outside of Bavaria, and after a few decades, it was possible to buy lager type beer almost all over the world.
Lager is an elegant, sophisticated, fresh, smooth beer that perfectly quenches thirst and is served in a slightly chilled form. In such a beer, there is an order of magnitude less alcohol than in most ales, and the color of the drink is lighter, purer. Contrary to popular belief, lager, like ale, can be of various colors - from light wheat to dark coffee. That is why dividing beer by color is not entirely correct.
The most popular types of camp are:
BOCK (Bock) - beer settles throughout the winter and is traditionally made in Germany at the end of the harvest, when barley and hops reach their peak of maturity.
RAUCH (smoked) - beer with smoked aftertaste, which is obtained thanks to roasted malt.
DRAFT (draft) - most often non-pasteurized beer from a barrel.
ICE BEER (Ice beer) - beer that has undergone almost complete freezing after the end of brewing, but before the fermentation process.
Ale
Ale is a top-fermented beer that is created at relatively high temperatures (15-25 ° C). A similar drink, but without hops, was known to mankind in the VII century. Classic ale, as we used to see it today, appeared in England in the 15th century. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to make such a beer, but some beers can roam for 4 months. Already in the Middle Ages, ale was considered a necessity, along with bread and water. Today you can buy ale in Moscow in many large stores in the city, and it has reached the greatest popularity in countries such as Ireland, Scotland and, of course, England.
Ale has a richer and deeper taste than lager. This is due to the high temperature at which this drink is created. Thanks to the warmth, more yeast and microorganisms remain in the beer, giving the beer a rich fruity, grassy and berry shade, present both in taste and aroma. Ely has a lower carbonation and a high proportion of alcohol. Beer can have an amber-golden, dark brown or reddish-golden color.
The most popular types of ale are:
BITTER (Bitter) - a strong ale with a rich bitterness and a hoppy taste.
PORTER (Porter) - strong dense beer with a strong hop flavor.
STOUT (Stout) - a group of dark beers made from ordinary and roasted malt. The taste of beer is distinguished by a strong hop tone and a bright finish with burnt caramel.
BARLEY WINE (Barley Wine) - a beer with a wine flavor, high density and a serious alcohol content.
Fermentation methods
Horse fermentation was first invented and has been known since ancient times. Due to the high temperatures necessary for such fermentation, many fungi and bacteria are formed in the liquid, significantly shortening the life span of such a beer. Despite the significant disadvantages of this method, beer brewed by top fermentation has a deeper and more interesting taste.
With bottom fermentation, fungi sink to the bottom of the barrel. The comfortable temperature for bottom fermentation is only 5-14 ° C, therefore, to create lagers, basement type rooms, or with a good cooling system are required. A feature of the bottom fermentation is the fact that some beer can be fermented directly in the bottle.
How to distinguish ale from lager?
Most often, ale can be described as a beer with a light fruity taste and subtle shades of herbs. Such a drink has a medium or low degree of carbonization and a wide range of colors: from dark to almost completely black. Beer may contain a fairly high content of alcohol and hop products. Buying ale is an excellent choice for wine connoisseurs and real beer gourmets.
Lager cannot boast of such a wide palette of tastes as ale. It has a smooth, fresh, bitter taste with prevailing malt motifs. Beer is most often represented on the market by classic light varieties with transparent golden colors and high carbonation. Lager is a light refreshing beer that will appeal to fans of a classic beer with a malt body and a high froth.