Ales vs. Lagers

One of the first distinctions to make when we look at beer is the difference between ales and lagers.Within each, there are numerous styles, and most of what the average drinker will recognize will fall into one of these two categories. 

Several brewing techniques will traditionally categorize a beer as either an ale or a lager, but the main difference is the use of either Ale Yeast or Lager Yeast, respectively. 

Ales typically ferment at warmer temperatures, and flavors tend to be more forward, robust, and funky.

Lagers ferment cooler and are often characterized as being crisp, clean, and balanced. 

Ales

Withing the Ale category, you will find some of the world's most loved craft beers and some less familiar favorites.

Stouts and Porters


On the darker end, you have beers such as stouts and porter. These are beers typically brewed with darkly roasted malts that tend to be full-bodied with malt-forward flavors. These often have a higher alcohol content, but you will learn that few things about these styles are objective as you start looking at them. 

A good example of a porter is the fantastic Fat Nerd Vanilla Porter from Yulli's Brews, which is backed by a lovely chocolate & roasted malt character.

The Catchment Brewing, is offering Cow Tipper a creamy smooth stout to enjoy during winter.

Browns, Ambers, and Reds

These beers are lighter in color than stouts but still carry a leading malt presence. More often than stouts and porters, you will also find these beers will some noticeable bitterness, depending on the style. Flavors of toffee, biscuit, and caramel are common, and these beers can find a good balance between the darker, malt-heavy beers and more hop-forward brews.

Sour Beers

Sour beers are brewed with bacteria and wild yeast, which gives way to a funky, acidic beer. Sours like the Berliner Wiess are tart and often mixed with fruit, will the Gose is brewed with salt for a distinctive flavor.

Among all the sours available from our brewers, Smokey Sour from Frexi has been inspired from a mexican mezcal cocktail.

Wheat Beers

Wheat Beers have a full body and medium color. Beers like the Hefeweizen and Belgian Witbier are brewed with a distinctive yeast that has flavors of banana and clove.

The Witbier is commonly brewed with spices and orange zest.

Pale Ales/IPAs

When it comes to bitter beers, color is subjective, but the defining quality is the hop-forward bitterness. Pale Ales and Bitters are lighter in color, low-ABV beers with a strong hop flavor and aroma.

However, Imperial Pale Ales(IPAs) range from golden to black and have a much higher alcohol percentage. IPAs are also known for their hefty hop profile.


You could find a huge range among our brewers as they are one of the most common types brewed.

Lagers

Lager is both an umbrella style and a style in itself, and lager beers are the most commonly consumed beers worldwide.

American Lagers/Light Lagers

These are very light, easy-drinking beers that have a low ABV.  These are often brewed with rice for a more mild malt flavor, and they also have moderate to low bitterness.

Pilsner

One of the most common beer styles in the world is the Pilsner. It comes in several varieties but is primarily characterized by a golden color and a very even balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness.

Bocks and Other Lagers

There are several other lagers that all range in color, body, and ABV.

For example, the German Doppelbock is a strong, sometimes dark lager with low bitterness and dark fruit flavors. While the Mai Bock is a light-bodied lager with malt sweetness and moderate to low bitterness. Malt Liquor also falls into the Lager category and is known for being a high-ABV light-bodied beer with moderate-to-low hop presence and an overall mild flavor.

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  1. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Thin
    Tasting notes
    Refreshing cider, medium dry, fresh apple notes and balanced acidity,
  2. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    Tart, jammy, and utterly delicious.
  3. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
  4. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Creamy
    Tasting notes
    Bursting with bright citrus and tropical hop character, it’s sure to please even the most discerning hophead.
  5. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Creamy
    Tasting notes
    Hints of caramel and biscuit malt add body and complexity, perfectly balanced by clean bitterness and a dry finish.
  6. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Delicate
    Tasting notes
    Subtle hoppy and malt notes. This beer is a great beer for a refreshing afternoon, perfect by itself. A real classic Australian Lager
    Mash Lager
    Mash Lager
    Lager
    Mash Brewing
    Sold By Mash Brewing
    Pay as little as $74.00
    16 pack
    Special Price $74.00 Regular Price $87.00
    View Beer
  7. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Creamy
    Tasting notes
    Perfectly balanced by a creamy mouthfeel and clean, modest bitterness.
  8. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Smooth / Velvety
    Tasting notes
    Nice grass and tropical notes, balanced biscuit malt and yeasts. Clean, biscuity and resinous, drying and bitter late, everything you could want in a pale and then some. Centennial, Mosaic and Amarillo hops get the nod.
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