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The Lager Debate - Lager vs. Ale: Which Is Better?

Most of those who are "born again" into thebeer.The main difference between yeasts used
flavorful world of ale often become bitterfor 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 afloats 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. ILager yeast is a bottom-fermenting yeast
decided that lagers were not worthy of mywhich means it hangs around the bottom of the
time. I began to boycott lagers and evenfermenter. During both types of fermentation
badmouth them as lousy, tasteless beer.As Ithe active yeast does permeate the brew and
grew in my appreciation of fine beers, Ieventually settles out on the bottom of the
started to realize that good lagers do existfermenter 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 tothe temperature during fermentation. Most
ales I was drinking some prettyales are fermented at a controlled
run-of-the-mill beers, a little explorationtemperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit,
wouldn't hurt.As an ale lover I must bite myalthough Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is
tongue and not be so quick to judge. I can'tsaid to be fermented at 65 degrees. Lagers,
stereotype a beer without first getting toon the other hand, are fermented about 15
know it. There are many pale, light lagersdegrees lower, around 55 degrees.The yeast
that I won't bother with, but good lagers doand the fermentation temperatures play an
exist. But let's take a quick look at howimportant roll in the flavor of the beer. Ale
those watery lagers are made...Starches fromand lagers share the benefit of a rich
rice can be broken down into fermentablevariety of flavors and aromas due to the
sugars during the mash process, but there areyeast used, but ales tend to be more robust
no byproducts to add color or body to theand fuller flavored than lagers because of
beer, so many pale lager brewers use rice asthe warmer fermentation. Colder fermentation
an adjunct to keep the beer thin, and lighttends to rob the beer of flavors that may be
colored, while keeping the alcohol contentimparted during this process because the cold
relatively high. Other beers tend to havetemperature subdues activity. This is also
more body and color because all or most ofwhy 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 beingcommon ales.The goodness of a beer's flavor
used to manipulate the final product, I thinkis relative to the person who enjoys it.
a good lager can certainly stand side by sideUltimately it is the craft of brewing that
with a good ale. But what really makes thematters, the recipes and traditions that fill
difference between an ale and lager?Lagersthe world of beer with such a variety of
are made using the same basic ingredients astypes 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.Firstdifferent.Drew Vics is an artist, musician
let's look at the yeast. Yeasts come in aand writer from Northern New Jersey. He
variety of styles, each developed for awrites on a variety of topics, including
certain style of alcoholic beverage. Theresociety, life, music, beer, home brewing,
are lager yeasts, champaign yeasts; yeastsskepticism and mysteries of the unexplained.
used for pilsners, and several varieties ofHis 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 thatpodcasts.
impact the final flavor and aroma of the



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