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