Ale is a traditional English beer made through top fermentation, producing a sweet, rich, and fruity taste. It typically has an alcohol content of 5-6.5%.
How it is made
Ale is brewed using top fermentation, where yeast rises to the surface during the process. It ferments for 4-7 days at warmer temperatures (up to +21°C) compared to lager beers. This method produces a fruitier taste and requires less refrigeration. The beer uses water rich in calcium sulfate and primarily barley or wheat malt, with rye sometimes used less frequently.
History
The term 'ale' has Indo-European roots related to intoxication. In England, ale has been known since at least the 12th century and was considered a staple food alongside bread. Before the 15th century, hops were not used in English brewing; instead, gruit (a mixture of herbs and spices) was used as a preservative and flavoring. After hops were introduced from the Netherlands, 'ale' specifically referred to beers brewed without hops until the 18th century when the terms changed meaning.
Types and styles
Ale varieties include pale ale, which is made from light malt and hops, resulting in a lemon-yellow beer with 5.9-8.5% alcohol. Other types include bitter (with a notably bitter taste ranging from amber to orange), mild ale (a weaker beer with little hops), and barley wine (the thickest and strongest ales). Related beers brewed with top fermentation include porter (sweeter than ale) and stout (stronger than ale).
How it is served
Ale can be served neat or used in cocktails. Cocktails on this site that use ale include the Brooklyn Sour, the Burnside Bramble, and the Urban Prairie. In recent years, ale has seen increased production and sales with the rise of craft beer.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Эль, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kinds of ale
Other styles
- Strong ale
- White House Honey Ale
- Pumpkin ale (United States)
- Chuflay (Bolivia)
- Copper ale
- Spiced ale
- El Namroud
- Sur
- Dinkelbier
Well-known brands
- London Pride (United Kingdom)
- Pliny the Younger (United States)
- Molson Export
- Delirium Tremens (Belgium)
- Budweiser American Ale
- Oland Export Ale
- Taras Boulba (Belgium)