QandAs: Food

What is an Ale?

Answer:
An ale is essentially the opposite of a lager,

since brewers use a top-fermenting variety of yeast, deep malted barley and hops, and a relatively warm and short fermentation period. A finished ale is notably more bitter than a lager because of the increased proportion of hops, and an ale typically has a higher percentage of alcohol by volume.

A good ale is traditionally served warm to customers, in keeping with the warm fermentation process. Top-fermenting yeasts interact with the malted barley to create a distinctly fruity flavor, almost like a barley wine instead of a malt beverage such as lager-style beer. An ale is not as carbonated as a bottom-fermented lager, either. The hops in ale are much more present in the finished product than they are in lighter beers, which means the ale could taste bitter and fruit-sweet at the same time. An ale can be fairly pale in color, but very often the most desired varieties are very dark in color and rich in texture. An extremely dark ale may have undertones of chocolate or an earthiness not generally found in lagers.

Because ales can be much stronger than the more common lager-style malt beverages, newcomers to the world of beer may want to work their way up to them. It is important to drink an ale at the recommended temperature to appreciate all of its complex flavors and textures. Cooling an ale meant to be consumed warm can seriously affect the flavor, so make sure the server is aware of the proper way to store and serve a premium imported ale.


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