what is the difference between ale and lager in the beer world?

Answer 1

lagers are brewed with bottom fermenting yeasts, ales are brewed with top fermenting yeasts

http://fearofclowns.com/2006/04/lager-vs-ale_26.html

or more technically:

Ales are:

Beers distinguished by use of top fermenting yeast strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The top fermenting yeast perform at warmer temperatures than do yeast's used to brew lager beer, and their byproducts are more evident in taste and aroma. Fruitiness and esters are often part of an ale's character.

Lagers are:

Beers produced with bottom fermenting yeast strains, Saccharomyces uvarum (or carlsbergensis) at colder fermentation temperatures than ales. This cooler environment inhibits the natural production of esters and other byproducts, creating a crisper tasting product.

Answer 2

Ale-An ancient word for a fermented alcoholic beverage obtained chiefly from malted barley. The closest thing to traditional ale available currently is Real ale, but in Britain, "ale" is nowadays practically synonymous with "beer". At one time, the word "ale" was used for beer brewed without hops in opposition to the "biere", the beer with hops, but this has not been the case for at least 400 years.

Lager-A generic term for any beer produced by bottom fermentation, usually by decoction mashing, as opposed to top-fermented beers, usually produced by infusion mashing, called ales. Lager brewing was introduced in the 1840s and is now the predominant brewing method worldwide except in Britain where top fermentation is dominant. Lagers constitute a category including Münchener, Vienna, Pilsener, Dortmunder, Bock and Doppelbock. ...

Answer 3

Ale has more hops added to it (the buds of a plant that are added for flavor and contribute bitterness - and a mouthcleanins effect - to beer) than lager does. Lager is generally lighter than ale, in both color and flavor. Often, lager is kept chilled as it ferments. It has less of a yeasty flavor and less malt flavor.

Answer 4

Yes - C-Section-Dart-Girl is correct.

Answer 5

all you need to know csudartgirl said already

Answer 6

give it to csucdartgirl.... deff. best answer