Beer Styles

There are many different styles of beers but the two main categories are lagers and ales. 
Picture

Lagers

  • Lagers range in taste from the lighter-flavored to the more flavorful Creamy Dark. 
  • Many style types fall under the lager category. 
  • Ingredients play a major role in the final beer characteristics of a lager.
  • Generally, lagers take longer to brew and age than ales. 
  • Lagers are traditionally produced with a "bottom- fermenting" lager yeast: Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. 
  • Lager yeast prefers fermentation at temperatures of 60°F and lower. 
  • Lagers are characteristically clean and balanced.

Ales

  • Ales were the first beers produced in the world.
  • Ales have traditionally been distinguished by use of a "top- fermenting" ale yeast strain: Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Top-fermenting yeast prefer warmer temperatures during fermentation and rise to the top of the fermentation tank at the end of fermentation. 
  • Warmer-temperature fermentations (60-75°F) tend to ferment rapidly and produce fruity, estery qualities with a pronounced palate - the characteristic flavors of ales. 
  • Ales tend to have very pronounced fruity aromas and flavors from "esters" - by-products of fermentation - and from the hops used. 
  • Ales tend to use more specialty malts and hops to complement the flavor developed during fermentation