United Nations of Beer

Difference between ale and lager

by Shannon Wand and Sebastian Lipsett
(Beer Delegates, QC and BC, Canada)

The difference between ale and lager

Out on a recent Saturday night, a conversation began about the myriad of names our friend beer goes by. 'Round the round table the monikers went.

All fun and games until, to my surprise, the majority of the table thought that ale lager were just names without a meaning of their own. Of course, the only way to prove my point was to have a taste test. But first, let's clarify the difference between the two brews.

Ale vs. Lager

The main difference between ale and lager is the fermenting process and, subsequently, the taste. Ale is top-fermented at temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius. This process produces secondary flavours and aromas that create a slightly fruitier-tasting beer. As such, ale is often a sweeter, fuller-bodied beer than lager.

Common ales would be Alexander Keith's IPA and Sleemans.

Lager is bottom-fermented in cooler temperatures (7-12 degrees Celsius) for a longer period than ale. This process inhibits the secondary flavours from occurring, which results in a typically crisper, cleaner tasting beer. Think Foster’s and Rolling Rock.

The difference between ale and lager: taste test

We pitted a McAuslan Cream Ale against a Moosehead Lager.

No contest: the tastes are so dissimilar. McAuslan, a cloudy gold beer with a creamy head, has a sweet taste with a bitter finish. It keeps its frothy head till the last drop and has a satisfying beery flavour.

Moosehead Lager is a clear yellow beer with a clean, sharp taste that stays in your mouth and begs to be refreshed. Like McAuslan, it is also satisfying but less adventurous.


In any case, the two types of beer are different and as always, your taste is your own, so you be the judge of which is better.

The difference between ale and lager: The Brewmaster Speaks!

Brewmaster and UNOB Delegate for the BC beer guide, Sebastian Lipsett, asked extremely politely if he could add to this article. Over to you, Sebastian!

The main difference between an Ale and a Lager lies principly with the yeast (however, Ales also tend to have a higher malt quotient, which also helps produce that fuller-bodied and sweet flavour).

While it is true that Ales are top-fermented, it is because the yeast strain cannot ferment any other way (it is the opposite with Lagers). Simply put, fermentation is the cyclical act of yeast eating the sugars in the cast-out wort and pooping out alcohol and CO2... in other words, making beer.

Each yeast has its optimal operating temperatures, but as Shannon wrote, Ale yeasts ferment better at higher temperatures, whereas our Lager counterparts enjoy life in the chillier temperatures.

Another factor in the final flavour (and difference of flavours between brands and varieties) is the variation between strands of yeast, in both the Lager and Ale camps.

There are many different strains of Ale and Lager yeast used by many different breweries around the globe. Each major brewery will usually have its own unique yeasts to use. Each subsequent strand produces its own unique flavours and yadda yadda yadda.

The next time somebody asks YOU the difference between ale and lager, you can look like a right know-all!