beer and ale?

Question

are beer and ale different words for the the same thing? is it just that ale is an old fashioned term, or is it made differently somehow or stronger or weaker than beer.

Answer 1

The true difference between ales and lagers is in the yeast. lagers are fermented with strains of yeast that are adapted from cooler climates, and take several weeks to fully ferment the beer. (lager is a german word that means "to store", like in a cellar). Ale yeasts usually ferment beer at a faster rate and like warmer temperatures (70-75 degrees). All styles of beer fall into either the ale or lager category, but there are a couple of exceptions.

Answer 2

I have heard that the name ALE was replaced by BEER, when hops were added to aid in the preservation. The distinction does now appear to have disappeared.

However, ALE does sound very similar to "OEL", the Nordic word for beer or ale. That would suggest that ALE has a historic origin, and beer is comparatively recent.

Answer 3

Originally the difference was that ale was a drink made from fermented grain, beer was made from fermented grain with hops added as a flavouring and preservative.
Today that distinction has been lost and beer is used for all drinks made from fermented grain and ale is a sub-category of that.
Ale is top-fermented beer as opposed to lager or pils which is bottom-fermented or lambic which is spontaneously fermented.

Answer 4

Beer is fermented from barley and hops.
Types of beer are - Mild, Bitter, Lager, Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, GUINNESS, Old Ale, Porter etc.

Answer 5

Beer encompasses two rather distinct types, ale and lager.
The difference between ale and lager is largely due to the type of yeast used to ferment it.

Answer 6

the true answer i think is the temperature in which the yeast ferment or something along those lines, for you and me beer comes in many forms the two most common being ale and lagar, ale is usually darker and thicker texture and more bitter and can be served either cold or near or below room temp. lager is the light coloured, and served always cold

Answer 7

Hi there the same only Real ale use to be far stronger.Check out this link http://www.realale.com

Answer 8

beer is beer----- ale was used like light ale,often used to drink beer&ale together

Answer 9

ale is more sugar beer a lager more malts

Answer 10

ale is more tart than beer. must be the aging process.