over-beer-ing

Ever headed through the doors of a bar and suddenly find yourself confronted by a long line of beer taps which have you wondering to yourself— ”Erm…I just want a... beer?” This is usually followed with a chorus of laughter from your barmates, mocking you for not knowing the differences in beers. from your Don’t worry my friend, you aren’t alone; we have all been there as well.

Admittedly, the wide variety of beer choices our world has come to love cannot be easily numbered. From the classic lager to the more avant-guard sour beers, each style of beer spawns a myriad of subcategories that even a beer sommelier would have to take years to master. 

Nevertheless, having a little beer knowledge will certainly come in handy for any new or old beer lovers. Be it to avoid another daunting experience the next time you enter a bar, or whether you have your eyes set on becoming the next beer connoisseur—Michael Jackson (no, not the King of Pop)—this is the right place to begin your learning as we will be introducing to you an all-you-need-to-know primer on the two main categories of beer: lager and ale.

beer alcohol imports poster

Michael Jackson - Not quite who you were imagining. (Image courtesy of allaboutbeer.com)

Essentially, all beers begin their journey as either a lager or an ale—their subsequent variations and flavour profiles would continue to evolve from those phases through differing brewing processes and types of yeast. 

Lager Beers

Lager uses what is known as the bottom-fermenting yeast (or simply lager yeast) which, as its name suggests, tends to settle at the bottom of the carboy (a type of container) during fermentation. 

Lager yeasts are inherently fragile, and require fermentation under cooler conditions (7 to 10 degrees Celsius). This thus translates to a slower and longer fermentation and storage period for our beloved lager beers (hence the name lager, which means “storeroom” in German). 

Luckily for us, this process has been simplified and made convenient in the modern day thanks to the advent of refrigeration. Before, German brewers in the 19th century had to dig cellars specifically for lagering and then fill them up with ice from nearby lakes to keep the beer cool during the summer months.

On top of that, they even planted chestnut trees that have dense canopies to further shelter the cellars from the withering heat! Talk about the lengths that men would go for a good old beer… kudos!

Ale Beers

Ales, on the other hand, use top-fermenting yeast, which rises to the top of the liquid during fermentation; creating a rich and aesthetically-pleasing beer head (the airy foam on top of beer). Ale yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures (15 to 23 degrees Celsius), and they require a much shorter fermentation period than their lager counterparts. 

The consumption of ales can be traced back to the middle ages in the United Kingdom, where it was widely considered as an important source of nutrition amongst the people. In fact, it was consumed daily by almost everyone, regardless of their social class or age—yes, even the children were drinking! Of course, for those of you today who are under the legal drinking age, this is certainly not an excuse to use the next time you are caught sneaking into a bar!

Lager VS Ale Beers

Now that we have put aside the origins and fermenting process of both types of beers, we can delve right into learning the differences in their appearances and flavour profiles. And before we get into it, no, not all beers have a bitter taste. Quite the contrary, in fact. 

In general, lagers have a light and clear appearance. Its colder fermenting process—which suppresses the release of flavourful byproducts from the lager yeast, gives it its signature clean, crisp, and bittersweet taste. Additionally, this also explains its lower alcohol content as compared to the ale. 

On the other hand, ales have a darker and cloudier appearance. On top of their higher alcohol content, ales also pack a more robust flavour and smell. It is also accompanied by a more bitter note due to the higher levels of hop and malt in them. Thus, for the uninitiated, lagers are often considered the preferred choice of the two due to its mellower flavours and lower alcohol content.

As highlighted earlier, there are still many other sub-variants of lager and ale; each carrying their own nuances in terms of taste and appearance. Although it will be impossible to cover them all in this entry, here is a short-list of the more popular beer styles that are commonly seen in our local establishments: Pilsner, Dunkel, Indian Pale Ale (IPA), and Stout.

Popular Beer Characteristics & Styles

Pilsner Pale Lager

San Miguel Pale Pilsner

Pilsner is a pale lager that originated from the Czech Republic and is amongst the most popular styles of beer worldwide. The head of a pilsner is white and dense, and the body is almost always straw-colored; a signature appearance that many would expect from a lager.  Its flavour is simple, with light grain and hops bittering, while the finish is clean and invigorating. A chilled pilsner is certainly the go-to antidote for the sweltering summer heat…ahh refreshing!  

German-Style Dunkel

Dunkel, which literally translates to “dark” in German, is a dark lager style that is traditionally brewed from dark munich malt, which has an inherently toasty and slightly caramelized character. Most dunkels have colors ranging from deep reddish mahogany to full, rich brown. It has a hint of malty sweetness and an intriguing flavour profile that is characterized by notes of nuts, chocolate, and caramel. Also as one of the Germans’ favourites, this drink presents as a flawless match for any barbeque or roasted meats. Now, you should know what to do for your next BBQ party… Get an Erdinger Dunkel.

India Pale Ale

The India Pale Ale (IPA) falls into the category of a pale ale and it was developed by the British brewers back in the 19th century. IPAs strike a golden to amber color, and it carries with it strong flavours of hop with plenty of balancing malty sweetness. IPAs also have some of the highest ABV levels across the various beer styles. Legend has it that IPAs were created with a generous amount of hops (which are natural preservatives) being added into English pale ales to better preserve them through the long journey to the Indian colonies. It does not really matter if this was a true story or not, because the British certainly got their drinks right this time. IPAs account for the largest percentage of any craft beer styles in America (31.5%), and it continues to gain widespread popularity due to its versatility and robust flavour profile (bitter and hoppy) which appeals very much to the American palate.

Stout

Guinness Draught Stout

Last but certainly not least, stouts are dark and roasty ales which are best known through their world-renowned emissary: Guinness. Their creamy character and rich body come from the roasted barley or roasted malt; which also gives the drink its signature coffee-like flavor. 

Contrary to popular beliefs, stouts are neither heavy nor overpowering. Instead, they are low in alcohol content and actually carry a beautiful, rounded flavour with a tinge of caramel and chocolate sweetness. To best enjoy and appreciate these flavors, try consuming your stouts at slightly warmer temperatures (10 to 13 degrees Celsius)!

How About Buying a Beer

This introduction is brief and by no means as extensive as we would like it to be. Stay tuned by following our blog for further info-nuggets on all things alcohol-related! Now, we know some of these beer profiles definitely caught your eye. And now that you have equipped yourself with a belly full of knowledge, there’s only one logical step moving forward. Have a quick browse around our latest beer online sale and pick out a couple of cases of those that catch your eye! Welcome to the club; you’re no longer merely a beer drinker, you’re a (soon-to-be) beer aficionado.  Choose us as your preferred beer delivery service today! We offer free alcohol delivery services for all orders above $99.