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
  2. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Sharp
    • Light
    Tasting notes
    Brilliant purple colour with moderate clarity. Little body and low bitterness. A moderate sweetness is present to balance the acidity presented by the beer and blackberry. A tart finish from the blackberry that dissipates quickly.
    Blackberry Sour
    Blackberry Sour
    Sour Ale
    Aether Brewing
    Sold By Aether Brewing
    Pay as little as $44.00
    8 pack
    $52.00
    16 pack
    $86.00
    4 pack
    $26.00
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  3. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    Taste the waters of the Caribbium!
    Caribbium - Pink Guava Gose
    Caribbium - Pink Guava Gose
    Sour Ale
    The Zythologist
    Sold By The Zythologist
    Pay as little as $23.00
    4 pack
    $28.00
    8 pack
    $55.00
    24 pack
    $105.00
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  4. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Astringent
    Tasting notes
    A deliciously fresh light and dry ale, with some upfront tartness, which is rounded out by the soft melon fruit flavours
  5. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    Tart, jammy, and utterly delicious.
  6. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    French flavours inspired
    Lavender & Cherry Sour
    Lavender & Cherry Sour
    Sour Ale
    Frexi Brewing
    Sold By Frexi Brewing
    Pay as little as $46.00
    8 pack
    $52.00
    16 pack
    $95.00
    4 pack
    $26.00
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  7. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    We combined mango nectar with the tartaric acid in tamarind pulp to create a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and sour.
    Mangonium
    Mangonium
    Sour Ale
    The Zythologist
    Sold By The Zythologist
    Pay as little as $23.00
    4 pack
    $28.00
    8 pack
    $55.00
    24 pack
    $105.00
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  8. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Smooth / Velvety
    Tasting notes
    Balance of tartness from kettle sour and smooth creamy lactose, bucket load os raspberries and rose distillate adds complexity
    Rubidium
    Rubidium
    Sour Ale
    The Zythologist
    Sold By The Zythologist
    Pay as little as $45.00
    8 pack
    $55.00
    24 pack
    $105.00
    4 pack
    $28.00
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  9. Flavour Profile
    Hops
    Malt
    • Fizzy
    Tasting notes
    Simple: Watermelon and Habanero
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