Don’t just dismiss beer!
Did you know that beer, the most recognized and easiest of drinks, is actually one of the oldest drinks in the world? Fermented drinks, the father of beer, date back 12 thousand years before our time and beer as we know today has hundreds of years of history. Beer, which has been made in different places and cultures throughout its profound history, became varied as it was changed in different regions. However, the types of beer which have made it to this date are divided into two big categories: Ale and Lager. Even though both these categories are beer, they are very different from each other since they are made with different yeasts and go through different fermentations. To learn about these differences we assembled a team, tasted them and gathered information for you. Fair warning: You might be craving some beer and chips after reading this!
Lager
Let’s begin with some technical information: Lager, which is a German word, is a refreshing, easy to drink and slightly sour beer. It was first made in Germany and Bavaria and can be traced back to the 13th century. The word lager in German means ‘to store’ or ‘to delay’ because its production lasts longer than ale and it needs to be cooled. Because it is manufactured with a fermentation process called sub fermentation in cold spaces it was mostly produced in the winter until the 19th century. Even though it is harder to produce than ale, it’s a more popular type in Turkey. So if you’re a standard beer drinker, most probably the beer you drink is lager. For example, Pilsner, which is quite popular in Turkey, is one of the many subtypes of lager. Other subtypes include Maibock, Eisbock and Oktoberfest. (Yes, you haven’t misread- Oktoberfest is not only a beer festival but a lager! Keeping in mind where the festival is held, we’re sure no one will be surprised to find out that this is a German beer)
Surely this technical information is not something that can be easily spotted by a regular beer consumer since we only see the beer in our glasses or bottles. But what differentiates lager from ale is it taste and look. As we mentioned in the beginning, lager is easier to drink and has a slightly sour taste. Since its sugar content is a bit higher than ale, it is sweeter; it has a more malt aroma and has less alcohol compared to ale. In a glass, lager is cold and has a clearer color. Even though the color of the beer varies according to its type, most popular colors are yellow and orange. If you’re daydreaming of a cold, refreshing beer accompanied by chips and snacks on a hot summer day, congratulations; you’re a lager person.
Ale
Contrary to lager, ale is not a German beer; it’s Belgian and British. The word ale comes from old English; in fact, in most old English folk songs, the word ale is used instead of alcoholic drink. The fact that the word was so frequently used in English is because of its huge impact on daily life. Even back in the Middle Age when water refining wasn’t discovered, people preferred drinking ale instead of water because the alcohol in ale made it more sterile than water. That’s why types of ale with different alcohol ratios were consumed by people of all ages.
Beyond its historical and regional difference, ale yeast is different than lager yeast. Ale yeast enables quicker fermentation and that’s why it is preferred by people who make beer at home. In addition, contrary to lager, superior fermentation is used and since it is fermented in hotter spaces it can be manufactured during every season. The ale category includes types such as Pale Ale (you might have heard about Indian Pale Ale or IPA as subtypes), Porter, Belgian Blonde Ale and many others.
So how can a normal beer consumer know the difference? First of all, ale is served at room temperature and is a heavier beer than lager. It has a more sour taste than lager and includes a fruit aroma that cannot be found in a lager. Of course we’re not talking about a fruit aroma that can be found in fruit cocktails; we’re talking about a slight fruit aroma on your pallet after you’ve smelled and tasted it. Besides the taste, ale also looks different from a lager. Mostly ale is darker in color- but it’s most distinguishing characteristic is not its color but its clarity. While lagers are clearer, ale has a foggier look. If you put two same colored beers in clear glasses, the foggy beer that doesn’t let you see the other side of the glass is most probably ale
Even though ale and lager are the two main types, other types can be manufactured by mixing them or altering fermentation techniques. That’s why if you go on a beer hunt, you can come across sour lagers or sweet malt ales. But whatever beer you’re drinking, we hope you have plenty or snacks and good company!
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