ABOUT DIVISIONS DISTRIBUTORS PORTFOLIO CAREERS NEWS CONTACT US BEER STYLES NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE FOUR INGREDIENTS OF BEER (water, barley, yeast & hops) YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW MANY VARIATIONS THEY CREATE. ALES AND LAGERS Ales and lagers are the two main beer styles. Most all sub styles of beer are differentiated into sub styles of ales and lagers. Ales and lagers differ in 6 major ways: BREWING PROCESS INGREDIENTS FLAVORS MOUTHFEEL COLOR CLARITY BREWING PROCESS One of the brewer’s many choices during the brewing process is the selection of a yeast strain. The mixture of hot water and malt sugars created in the brewing process, called wort, is hearty a meal for the tiny fungus called saccharomyces. The yeast converts this meal into two by-products essential for our enjoyment of beer; alcohol and carbon dioxide. Ale yeast, known as saccharomyces cervisiae, prefers a warmer fermentation temperature and works quickly; on the other hand, lager yeast, saccharomyces uvarum, works more slowly and at cooler temperatures. Ale fermentation can be completed in as little as a week, and can impart earthy, fruity aromas prized in many beer styles. Lager yeast metabolize sulfites during their longer, cooler fermentation process which tends to give a “rotten eggs” smell to the fermenting beer. The longer fermentation and lagering thereafter eliminate this odor and produce a brew with a clean, crisp flavor profile. KEY DIFFERENCES Ales Top fermenting yeasts, saccharomyces cervisiae, form a foam at the top of the wort during fermentation Fermented and conditioned at warm temperatures between 65° -73° F Yeast used in ales usually has a fruity aroma Many ale strains have a high alcohol tolerance and will produce strong beers After fermentation, usually conditioned for no more than a few weeks Lagers Bottom fermenting yeast , saccharomyces uvarum Longer fermentation time Fermented and conditioned at cool temperatures 35° - 55° F Very slight dimethylsulfide (DMS) aroma is acceptable in the finished beer Aged for a few months after fermentation EXPLORE BEER STYLES BELOW - CATEGORY - COLOR (SRM): LIGHT Light to Dark color slider DARK BITTERNESS (IBU): LOW Low to High bitterness (IBU) slider HIGH ALCOHOL (ABV): LOW Low to High Alcohol (ABV) slider HIGH BEER GLOSSARY LEARN MORE BREWING PROCESS LEARN MORE BEER HISTORY LEARN MORE EXTRAS ARE YOU ONE OF OUR RETAILERS? Log in and get more out of the Education & Resources section! OUR DISTRIBUTORS COVER... Connecticut Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Washington, DC Wisconsin distributors Copyright © 2021 Sheehan Family Companies. Privacy Policy Careers Contact us Admin Login Please confirm that you are over the age of 21 before entering this site: NO, I AM UNDER 21YES, I AM OVER 21