Lager beers were seasonal beers, produced only in the winter months until refrigeration was invented. Top-fermentation' means the brewer's yeast stays at the top of the fermentation vessel, giving a nice fruitiness to the final product. Complex and full-flavoured, ales taste best at cellar temperature. They include the popular bitters and stouts. Bottom-fermentation' means the brewer's yeast sinks to the bottom of the fermentation vessel, giving no fruitiness to the final product.
Lagers are lighter and softer than ales, and taste better chilled.
They include dry beer, malt liquor, bock, and pilsner. Traditionally, it was brewed in the winter for spring consumption, but it is now available year-round. Similar to ale or lager but has less alcohol by volume. German beer drinkers were understandably quite cautious about any impurities contaminating their brew, and the hinged pewter lids were thought to keep them out. Once upon a Cooler Coolers weren t invented overnight.