When I was enjoying a barbecue at my friend’s place on BC Day, I was asked about the difference between an ale and a lager. You see, I brought along a variety pack from Granville Island Brewing and it included four different beers from the local brewery.
Now, I’ve never claimed to be an expert in this arena, but I have an intuitive understanding of the difference between the two. For me, an ale is typically a little bit darker with a slightly sweeter taste, whereas a lager is typically lighter in color with more of a bitter aftertaste. At least, that’s how I understood it. Being the curious type, I couldn’t help but to do a little reading online to better understand the difference between lager and ale.
So, what did this research yield? Well, There are two fundamental differences in how the two are prepared.
It Starts with the Yeast
An ale is brewed using a top fermenting yeast, meaning that the yeasts flocculate (“collect together in a loose aggregation”) toward the top of the fermentation tank. By contrast, a lager is brewed using a bottom fermenting yeast, meaning it collects at the bottom of the fermentation tank.
Temperature, Brewing, and Aging
Ales are brewed at a higher temperature, between 60 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 22 degrees Celsius). The aging process is also at a higher temperature (40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, 4 to 13 degrees Celsius) and the fermentation is only for a few weeks.
Lagers are brewed at a lower temperature, between 46 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 13 degrees Celsius). The aging process is similarly at a lower temperature (32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, 0 to 8 degrees Celsius) and the fermentation can last months at a time.
The End Product
And this is the part that really matters to the end consumer, whether it’s at the Stampede or while chowing down on a steak dinner at the Keg.
An ale (like Granville Island Pale Ale) is generally a little darker in color (compared to a lager), contains more sweetness, and has a more complex and robust flavor. It is usually described as being “full bodied.” By contrast, a lager (like Canadian) is lighter in color, clearer in appearance, and simpler in its flavor notes. It is oftentimes described as smooth and crisp.
What do you prefer? Ale or lager? Or do you like thicker alternatives like stout? I know that John Biehler is partial to hefeweizen (unfiltered wheat beer).
I’ll take a good weizen any day, but Lager is always accept.
You know, real Lager. Lager lager. PA Lager. The top non-definition result on a Google search for “lager”.
http://www.yuengling.com/
This is an interesting topic to be discussed on this blog.
Be it Ale or Lager, I just love my Weissbier (German: “white beer”)!
I’m not a stout drinker though.
You know the #1 beer in the US is a lager. I’m sure everyone has had a Budweiser.
thanks a lot for this post . i never heard about ” ale ” before … real thanks from me
Nice! Finally someone posts about good beer. What a break in the norm. Me I prefer a Porter or Darker beer. Not a big fan of Guinness. But do like the heavy and more flavorful beer. Too bad I am stuck in Florida where the darkest beer I can grab is a New Castle.
I have to add that while reading Philly.com I came across an article on a Lager and Ginger Beer:
Joe Sixpack: More ginger-flavored beer is showing up on store shelves