what is the difference between beer and lager?

Answer 1

The basic answer: Ale is a subset of beer. So is lager. Both ale and lager are beer.

Beer is a generic term that includes ales and lagers. Most American beer is lager style, which means the yeast used in fermentation is a bottom-fermenting or lager yeast, which generally ferments at colder temperatures.

Answer 2

Following a comment from a fellow dooyoo-er I should like to point out the difference between beer and lager is that beers are fermented at the top, and lagers at the bottom. So there. People still mix them up, particularly when the US uses Beer to mean lager quite often. As you can probably tell from my choices, I'm not a CAMRA member, real ale lover or anything. I mean, I prefer my pint without twigs floating around in it :)

Answer 3

I think you mean the difference between ale and lager (both are beers).

Lager is brewed more slowly and at a lower temperature then other types of beer. "Lager" means "to store" and it's use in beer making comes from the fact it needs to be stored for longer because it brews more slowly.

The yeast used is called "bottom fermenting" because it sinks to the bottom at lower temperatures (rather than a special type of bottom loving yeast). Modern techniques however suspend the yeast throughout the brew to increase brewing speed.

Lager can range from the very pale drink most people are used to, to very dark beer more common in Germany.

Ale type beer is fermented quickly using brewers yeast and barley malt, making it sweeter and fruitier. Herbs or spices are often added to balance the sweetness (such as hops).

Answer 4

A beer is any of a variety of alcoholic beverages produced by the fermentation of starchy material derived from grains or other plant sources.
All beer requires yeast to produce alcohol. There are two basic categories of yeast, Larger and Ale. What is the difference? Well there are two main differences. First Larger yeast is bottom fermenting and Ale yeast is top-fermenting. Here is a basic definition of each:
Lager
A classification of beer styles made with a bottom fermenting yeast, lagers generally are smooth, elegant, crisp, and clean.
Lager Yeast
Also known as bottom-fermenting yeast, this teasy does best at temperatures between 33-50 degrees F. Has a tendency not to flocculate or form a head of yeast on the surface of the brew.


Ale
A beer style. A style made with a top-fermenting yeast. They are generally hearty, robust, and fruity.
Ale Yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Performs well at temperatures between 55-70 degrees F. Also referred to as "top-fermenting yeast". Top-fermenting yeast is anaerobic and always forms a sediment on the bottom.

So as you see the Larger is a bottom fermenting beer.

Answer 5

Beer is a generic term for a drink that is made from hops, barley, etc. The original "lager" is from the Czech republic and is known a a pilsner. There are know many types of lager and pilsner and if you ask me the stuff made on the Continent (Heineken, Starproman, Budvar) is much better than the stuff with foreign names made in the UK (e.g.Budwieser,Steela, Fosters)

Answer 6

Bear is British, Lager is continental Europe.

Answer 7

no diff.. lager is a beer.

Ale = Beer
Lager = Beer
Stout = Stout... not the same as beer as it is not brewed the same way
Porter = Stout

I would have to say that even the likes of Hoegarden or Erdinger are not really beers per se... but more a kind of hybrid...

but it is still all categoprised as beer...

anser to your question is no difference between lager and beer... lager is a beer...

Answer 8

Beer is the general name, and lager is a type.
Like animal, and then cow for example.

Answer 9

Lager is lighter in color and more highly carbonated than beer.

Answer 10

Bitter is often referred to as Beer. Lager is a lighter drink and tends not to make you as fat :O)