Phrase of the Day (times two)

Well you may have asked, "James, you say you're brewing an ale, but what exactly is an ale?" That's a good question, thank you. So today's phrase of the day will define ALE and its common counterpart, LAGER.

ALE - Beers distinguished by use of top fermenting yeast strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The top fermenting yeast perform at warmer temperatures than do yeast's used to brew lager beer, and their byproducts are more evident in taste and aroma. Fruitiness and esters are often part of an ale's character

LAGER - Beers produced with bottom fermenting yeast strains, Saccharomyces uvarum (or carlsbergensis) at colder fermentation temperatures than ales. This cooler environment inhibits the natural production of esters and other byproducts, creating a crisper tasting product

Most beers you will drink probably fall into one of these categories.