Ale is a variety of beer, a fermented alcoholic grain-based beverage. While the term is sometimes used interchangably with beer, an ale was traditionally brewed in a warm, top-fermented style, and were unbittered, or bittered with gruit rather than hops. Most modern ales are now bittered with hops but the difference in fermentation styles is still commonly observed.
The United Kingdom, ale is used as a synonym for beer, whereas in the United States, the difference in styles is more widely observed. Stout and porter are typically brewed from roasted grain, while ale is made from natural grain.
Types of ale include:
- Barley Wine
- Belgian Ale
- Brown Ale
- Burton Ale
- Cask Ale
- Golden Ale
- India Pale Ale
- Mild Ale
- Old Ale
- Pale Ale
- Scotch Ale