Ales are aged, or conditioned, for one to three weeks. Mild ale , originally produced in England, has a gentle, sweet taste that is meant to quench the thirst. It is usually tawny to dark in color. Bitter ale is a popular style of British ale that ranges in color from light to dark. It tastes dry and bitter because the hops are added early in the cooking process, enabling the bitter oils to impart a strong flavor.
Pale ale is a clear beer with a dry, malty, nutty flavor.
It has a less pronounced hop flavor than bitter ale. Brown ale , in contrast, is deep amber or darker in color and may have a strong, dry, nutty taste or be somewhat sweet and fruity, depending on how it is brewed. It is usually dark in color and may have an alcohol content as high as 8 percent. Bock and doppel bock beer are usually brewed in the winter and consumed in the spring. British troops and civilians living in India needed a reliable source of beer.