Some of the malts are taken a further step and are actually smoked over wood or peat to add a smoky note reminiscent of Scotch whisky. These trace compounds, when added in various degrees, add a spicy or fruity nose to the beer. Taste is the composition of all the ingredients. Most important is the water used, as its volume and weight can dictate the overall flavour profile of each individual ale. Various types of filtration can adjust the water in character and therefore alter the personality of the ale greatly.
Hops influence a beer's flavour.
Those added in the early brewing stages add bitterness to the ale, those added in the middle provide a hop flavour and those added in the late phases of brewing increase the beer's hoppy bouquet. Dozens of varieties of hops are grown worldwide with each adding their own unique character to an ale's taste and smell. The body of ale is best described as the way your mouth reacts to the taste of the beer. Whether thick and chewy or light and dry, the level of body may be adjusted with the style of the ingredients or even carbonation levels. British Ales are steeped in history, with some breweries dating back hundreds of years.