Key Difference: There are two main types of beers: ales and lagers. Lager is a bottom-fermented beer. In it the yeast collects at the bottom of the container as it ferments. A strong beer is any type of beer with a high alcohol content.

A beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks, and it continuous to be one of the most popular as well. Beer is the third most popularly consumed drink (alcoholic or not). The first two are water and tea. However, there is still a lot that the general public does not know about beers. For instance, while there many different types of beers found around the world, most of them can be divided into two main types of beers: ales and lagers. Each one has its unique tastes and attributes.  

Ale is top-fermented beers, which means that it is a beer that is brewed with yeast that collects at the surface of the beer as it ferments. Lager is naturally the opposite. It is a bottom-fermented beer. In it the yeast collects at the bottom of the container as it ferments. Another identifying characteristic is that lagers are generally fermented in the cold and kept refrigerated until it is served. Comparatively, ale is fermented at a warmer temperature and then refrigerated. Once refrigerated, the fermentation process of the ale ends; whereas as the lager ferments in the cold, it continues to ferment in refrigeration.

Many people mistakenly think that lager is darker in color than ale, however, that is not the case. Both can come in a variety of colors ranging from pale, golden, amber, to dark. This color comes from the ingredients used to make the beer, i.e. oats, barley, malt, etc. It has nothing to do with the yeast used.

However, lagers are described as having a ‘smooth, elegant, crisp, and clean’ taste, whereas ales are usually describes as being more ‘robusty, hearty and fruity’.