Lager beer is the most popular style of beer in the world, and it's easy to see why. The main difference between lager and ale is how they are fermented. Ales are fermented with top-fermented yeast at warm temperatures (60° to 70° F), while lagers ferment with lower-fermented yeast at cold temperatures (35° to 50° F). This means that ales can generally ferment and age in a relatively short period of time (3-5 weeks), while lagers take much longer to ferment (up to 6 to 8 weeks).The arrival of refrigeration allowed lager beer to be brewed throughout the year, and this may have contributed to its widespread popularity.
Yeast was not even identified as the real magic behind beer and other fermented beverages until the 19th century. Lager yeast was isolated in 1883, while wild ale yeasts have been used (unknowingly at first) since the dawn of modern human civilization thousands of years ago. Today there are hundreds of known strains of ale and lager yeasts, and brewers can select them as if they were selecting a certain type of grain or hops. Lager beer is a type of beer that uses a cold fermentation process, followed by maturation in cold storage, and uses bottom-fermented lager yeast, which grows less quickly than ale yeast and settles to the bottom during fermentation. The revival of ale beers has broadened the palate of many beer drinkers and altered the course of beer history in the most positive way. While yeast has no impact on the color of beer - both ales and lagers can be light or dark - it is worth noting that lager came from Germany, but it was the United States that made lager modern, taking it out of the cellars and making it on the ground. However, in today's craft beer market, ales are generally more common among craft brewers because brewer's yeast can produce beer in as little as 7 days, making it more convenient for small breweries that may not have the fermentation space to produce lagers on a regular basis.
The word lager comes from the German word meaning “store”: lagers were first stored in cold caves to mature. In conclusion, lager is still more popular than ale worldwide. This is likely due to its longer shelf life when compared to ales, as well as its availability throughout the year due to refrigeration. However, with the revival of ale beers, many beer drinkers have broadened their palates and altered the course of beer history.
