An ale is categorized as a beer that is brewed from germinated cereal grains called malt barely. The process uses a warm fermentation, usually kept at temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees, and a strain of top-cropping/fermenting brewers’ yeasts that forms a foam at the top of the liquid during fermentation. Most ales include hops to preserve the beer and give it a bitter, tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt.

Ales got their start long ago in the medieval world. Besides bread, ale was an important nutritional aspect of the daily diet for everyone – even children. Because the alcohol volume was rather low, people would drink it to keep hydrated.

Today, brewers tend to add secondary aromas and flavors to enhance the ale experience. Many times, these additions are fruit-like compounds to give the ale tastes including apples, pears, cherries, prunes, plums or bananas.

Ales are available in an abundance of varieties. Each brewer lends his own signature on their style to meet the tastes of almost any ale enthusiast.

Use the menu on the right to learn about specific Ale styles. >>>