In terms of flavor and appearance, ales and lagers are quite easy to tell apart. Logically, the former will have lower alcohol than ales. It also produces less alcohol simply because it can’t survive in high-alcohol environments. In contrast, lager yeast is slower-acting and more fragile. It stands to reasons therefore that the resulting brew will have a higher alcohol content as well.
It is better able to withstand a high-alcohol environment. The reason for this goes back to the type of yeast used in its production. Simply put, lagers are brewed using bottom-fermenting strains of yeast held at colder temperatures, while ales are brewed with a top fermenting yeast that operates at warmer temperatures.Īles generally have a much higher alcohol content than lagers. In fact, the yeast is typically propagated at room temperatures, rather than cold.Īles and lagers are each made using different strains of yeast. That being said, it will ferment quite well in temperatures normally reserved for ales. Lagers, for their part, ferment at temperatures of 45° to 55☏ (7° to 13☌). Some saison strains may even ferment at much higher temperatures of 95° to 100☏ (35° to 38☌). The former is generally fermented in warm temperatures, while the latter is fermented in cold temperatures.Īle typically ferments in the 60° to 75☏ (16° to 24☌) range. However, this also results in more varied types of brews.Īnother key difference between ales and lagers is the temperature at which fermentation takes place.
This fragility means that it only thrives under a limited set of conditions. Lager yeast is a lot less hardy than its ale counterpart. What happens is that it doesn’t quite rise to the top as ale yeast does, and later settles to the bottom as fermentation ceases. “Bottom fermenting” isn’t an entirely accurate term, as this particular ingredient doesn’t actually ferment at the bottom of the vessel. Brought over to Europe from America, it was used in brewing in Bavaria as far back as the Renaissance period.
Lager production utilizes the bottom-fermenting yeast Saccharomyces uvarum. These qualities have an effect on the alcohol content of ales, as will be explained later. Its hardy kind is better able to withstand a wider range of temperatures and a higher-alcohol environment. This is a fairly common type that is also used in making wine and bread. The top-fermenting yeast used in ale production is known as Saccharomyces cerevisia. But at certain stages, each will be more noticeably present at the top or bottom, depending on the ingredients used.
Generally speaking, ales are brewed with top-fermenting yeast, while the lager beer is brewed with its bottom-fermenting kind.īoth are actually dispersed throughout the fermentation vessel during the brewing process. In fact, ask any beer aficionado what the main difference is between lagers and ales, and it will likely come in at the top of the list. īrewer’s yeast is, of course, the most important factor. However, there are several other factors that have to be considered when distinguishing the different types of brews around the world.Įach of which has an effect on the quality, flavor, and clarity of the resulting brew. The main difference between ale and lager comes down to the type of yeast, fermentation temperature, color, and taste.Īle is usually darker in hue, and taste more fruiter and bitter. Lagers tend to have a light and clear appearance and the flavor tends to be smoother and sweeter. What is the Difference Between Ale & Lager? If you have ever wondered what the differences are between the two, this article will prove to be quite revealing. Lager and ale are actually two distinct-looking and distinct tasting brews, each of which has its own characteristics, brewing method, and history. But perhaps the most common of these are those we will discuss today. Have you ever wondered what the difference between lager and ale is? In the vast and infinitely varied world of beer, there is a multitude of varieties and flavors.Īny two of these could be as different from each other as any two beverages could be.
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