| Most of those who are "born again" into the | | | | beer.The main difference between yeasts used |
| flavorful world of ale often become bitter | | | | for lagers and ales is that ale yeast is a |
| (no pun intended) to the ale counterpart, | | | | top-fermenting yeast which means the yeast |
| lager. I experienced this first hand when a | | | | floats to the top and hangs around up there |
| close friend introduced me to home brewing, | | | | during most of the fermentation process. |
| and the rich flavors in a variety of ales. I | | | | Lager yeast is a bottom-fermenting yeast |
| decided that lagers were not worthy of my | | | | which means it hangs around the bottom of the |
| time. I began to boycott lagers and even | | | | fermenter. During both types of fermentation |
| badmouth them as lousy, tasteless beer.As I | | | | the active yeast does permeate the brew and |
| grew in my appreciation of fine beers, I | | | | eventually settles out on the bottom of the |
| started to realize that good lagers do exist | | | | fermenter when it is done.The other main |
| and I wasn't giving them a fair shot. | | | | difference in producing a lager or ale is in |
| Considering that I before I was introduced to | | | | the temperature during fermentation. Most |
| ales I was drinking some pretty | | | | ales are fermented at a controlled |
| run-of-the-mill beers, a little exploration | | | | temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, |
| wouldn't hurt.As an ale lover I must bite my | | | | although Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is |
| tongue and not be so quick to judge. I can't | | | | said to be fermented at 65 degrees. Lagers, |
| stereotype a beer without first getting to | | | | on the other hand, are fermented about 15 |
| know it. There are many pale, light lagers | | | | degrees lower, around 55 degrees.The yeast |
| that I won't bother with, but good lagers do | | | | and the fermentation temperatures play an |
| exist. But let's take a quick look at how | | | | important roll in the flavor of the beer. Ale |
| those watery lagers are made...Starches from | | | | and lagers share the benefit of a rich |
| rice can be broken down into fermentable | | | | variety of flavors and aromas due to the |
| sugars during the mash process, but there are | | | | yeast used, but ales tend to be more robust |
| no byproducts to add color or body to the | | | | and fuller flavored than lagers because of |
| beer, so many pale lager brewers use rice as | | | | the warmer fermentation. Colder fermentation |
| an adjunct to keep the beer thin, and light | | | | tends to rob the beer of flavors that may be |
| colored, while keeping the alcohol content | | | | imparted during this process because the cold |
| relatively high. Other beers tend to have | | | | temperature subdues activity. This is also |
| more body and color because all or most of | | | | why lagers tend to take longer to completely |
| the alcohol is gained using malted barley, | | | | ferment, typically a week or two longer than |
| not rice.If there are no funny tricks being | | | | common ales.The goodness of a beer's flavor |
| used to manipulate the final product, I think | | | | is relative to the person who enjoys it. |
| a good lager can certainly stand side by side | | | | Ultimately it is the craft of brewing that |
| with a good ale. But what really makes the | | | | matters, the recipes and traditions that fill |
| difference between an ale and lager?Lagers | | | | the world of beer with such a variety of |
| are made using the same basic ingredients as | | | | types and styles. There should be no battle |
| ale, but there are two major differences: | | | | over what is better. They are simply |
| yeast and fermentation temperature.First | | | | different.Drew Vics is an artist, musician |
| let's look at the yeast. Yeasts come in a | | | | and writer from Northern New Jersey. He |
| variety of styles, each developed for a | | | | writes on a variety of topics, including |
| certain style of alcoholic beverage. There | | | | society, life, music, beer, home brewing, |
| are lager yeasts, champaign yeasts; yeasts | | | | skepticism and mysteries of the unexplained. |
| used for pilsners, and several varieties of | | | | His work has appeared on many websites, in |
| yeast for ale, lambic and barley wine styles. | | | | newspapers, and has been recorded for |
| Each yeast variety has unique qualities that | | | | podcasts. |
| impact the final flavor and aroma of the | | | | |