In order to fully appreciate any kind of beer, I think it is important to understand how it's made. All beer varieties are brewed as either ales or lagers. What's the difference? The classification is designated depending on how the yeast is fermented in the brewing process. I know it's hard to get excited about fermenting yeast, but trust me- it makes all the difference.
Ales have been around for over 5000 years. They are created with top fermentation yeasts. Traditionally fermented at warmer temperatures (between 12 and 21°C), ales have richer flavour profiles. The warmer temperature means that ales have a shorter maturation time, this just means we have to wait less time to enjoy them!
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| Ales, like Granville Island's IPA tend to be more flavourful. |
While it can be difficult to distinguish the difference between ales and lagers in terms of flavour, ales: - are more robust in taste
- are fruity and aromatic
- have a pronounced and complex taste and aroma
- include bitter beer
- are enjoyed at warmer temperatures
Lagers, on the other hand, have only been around for a couple hundred years. They are created with bottom fermentation yeasts at cooler temperatures (between 3-10°C). Lagers take more time to mature.The lower temperature slows down the activity of yeast and inhibits the production of fruity aromas (and other fermentation by-products) characteristic of ales. Lagers are the most popular beers brewed and served in North America and feature a cleaner taste than ales.
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| Lagers, like Molson Canadian are clean and crisp tasting. |
Lagers:
- include lighter tasting beers
- tend to be highly carbonated
- are smooth and mellow
- are enjoyed at colder temperatures
Remember that while all beers are brewed as ales or lagers there are a wide variety of the two, check out the following page for a few helpful distinctions!
Shout out to For Dummies and Bend Brewfest for the differentiation!
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