Drinking Education / Lesson 02
The useful difference is fermentation—not colour.
Lager versus ale
Why a dark beer can be a lager, a pale beer can be an ale, and temperature changes the character in your glass.
In one minute
The useful answer
Ale and lager describe two broad fermentation traditions. They do not reliably tell you the beer’s colour, strength or bitterness.
The real story
Where it came from
Ale fermentation is generally warmer and can create more obvious fruity or spicy fermentation aromas. Lager fermentation is generally cooler, followed by cold conditioning—lagering—which encourages a clean, smooth profile.
Inside the brewery
How it happens
The yeast strain, fermentation temperature and maturation matter. A brewer can make a black lager, a pale ale, a strong lager or a very delicate ale.
Use your senses
What to look for
Evidence cabinet
