Posted on 08/03/2023 7:09:56 AM PDT by Red Badger
Beer, a fermented beverage made from grains and yeast, is a popular drink all over the world. There are many different types of beer, although they are usually broken up into two basic categories: ale and lager. The term lager is often interchanged with “beer”, especially outside of Germany, which is why some consumers make a distinction between beer and ale, rather than lager and ale. The difference between beer and ale has to do with the way in which is it brewed, and how the yeast ferments.
Before hops became widespread in Europe, ale was a beer created without the use of hops, while lager combined hops with the other ingredients. As hops began to pervade breweries, however, this distinction between beer and ale no longer applied. Brewers began to differentiate between beer and ale on the basis of where the yeast fermented in the cask: ale uses yeast that gathers on the top, and lager uses yeast that ferments on the bottom.
...Hops, a main ingredient in beer.
Beer and ale both start out in the same way. Barley or another type of grain is malted, which means that it is sprouted in a moist environment and then dried. Brewers yeast is added and it ferments the beverage, usually very quickly, before the malt has a chance to spoil. Other ingredients such as hops are added to increase the depth of the flavor, and to temper the sweetness of the malt.
...Barley, a common ingredient in many beers.
Ale is fermented at a higher temperature, and matures more quickly as a result. The yeast rises to the top as the beer ferments, creating a yeasty froth on the top of the beer cask. Lager is fermented at a lower temperature, and the yeast settles to the bottom as the beer matures. Lagers were traditionally brewed in German caves, which got quite chilly during the winter especially.
...A stout, a brown ale, and a pilsner.
Beer and ale can usually be separated by taste as well as brewing process. Ale has a brighter, rich, more aggressive, hoppy flavor, and often has a higher alcohol content as well. Lager has a smooth and mild flavor with a clear, clean finish. Examples of ale include any sort of beer with “ale” in the name, porters, stouts, and many German specialty beers such as Abbey ales. Lagers include pilsners, dopplebocks, and Oktoberfests.
...Malt extract is known for its use in brewing beer.
Beer and ale also have different distribution patterns. Ale is found in the Belgium, the British Isles, and many former British colonies including the United States and Canada. Lager is widely served in Germany and other European nations, although some German specialty beers are actually ales. Many consumers have difficulty distinguishing between beer and ale on the basis of taste alone, as many modern breweries incorporate a variety of brewing techniques and flavors in their beers.
I made a medieval ale not to long ago based a Cornell recipe that was published. No hops. Was not really sweet and was drinkable.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other...please.
This thread is more than likely gonna be worse than gun porn. 😏
We’re wenches available?
Ale was drunk by all in the household including children. It was a low ABV drink but the Brewer (Almost always the woman of the house) would often brew a strong Ale for the adults for actual drinking pleasure.
Nice.
I was going to say ale taste better...but that’s not always true.
I suspect the author is not a brewer.
Thanks for reminder to go down to cellar and bring up a few bottles of my aging up-your-kilt wee heavy scots-ale brewed last year (11%). Drink Freedom, I say.
Since the Germans and the German-Americans primarily went to China and Japan in the 1800s while the Brits were raj-ing in India, the Chinese (Tsing Tao) and Japanese (Kirin, Suntory) make good German lagers, while Indian beer, primarily Kingfisher, has never been known for its quality.
Not many beer snobs around, it’s all good :) Give be whatever is coldest.
Sometimes I like hoppy beers and sometimes I like sweet beers.
But since I don’t drink any more it doesn’t make much difference....................
Now that was one funny sitcom.
I’m sure the weather and the materials available have much to do with the quality...............
What’s the difference between beer and a pea?
Twenty minutes.
Indeed!
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