This doesn’t mean that either of the two is necessarily “better” than the other. In lagers, where yeast is fermented at the bottom, you won’t get the fruity characteristics that the top-fermenting beers (ales) tend to boast. Where the yeast is fermented in the container plays an essential role in the taste of a beer.
This is when the yeast is fermented at the bottom of the container.Īles, on the other hand, require warmer temperatures or brewing, and top-fermenting yeast (which ferments at the top of the container). Lagers, compared to ales, are brewed in colder temperatures, with yeasts that are bottom-fermenting. The difference between lager and ale beers is in the type of yeast used in the fermentation while brewing. For now, let’s talk about lagers and ales. There’s a good reason for it, which we’ll get into later. No, we haven’t forgotten about pilsners here. Why Pilsners Aren’t a Lager Subcategory.