What's the difference between Beer & Lager?

Question

Just wandering =)

Answer 1

All lager is beer, not all beer is lager.

Lager refers to beer made at cool temps with a bottom fermenting yeast.

Answer 2

If beer is the topic then we can start with the 2 categories or types of beer, ales and lagers.

The best way to discern the types of beer is to not consider just one thing but the many that shape the many styles of both.

Both ales and lagers (types of beer) have many styles. Both are either light or dark. Both can have little or a lot of alcohol. Both can be light or dark in color. Both can be thick or thin in body/mouthfeel.

So then, what is the difference between the ales and lagers (beer)?

Styles (for a of styles list)

http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.html

Click Full Guidelines

It has to do with the ingredients and how they are processed into an ale or lager.

Beer styles, whether they are ales or lagers, have been molded by the type and quality of ingredients available to the brewer. The hard water of England for example, was an influence on the beers of that nation. Wheras, the water in continental europe (CE) are generally more soft (less minerals) and lend to the development of the smooth qualiites of lager beers brewed there.

The grain (barley) was also handled in different ways. The ales of England were the beers that all brewers made in an infusion-mash method. Where the barley was steeped at a single temperature(mashing). Later developments in CE in the mash procedures developed smoother beers by reducing protein size. The process called decoction mashing involves the brewer to take a fraction of the steeping mash (barley + water) and boil it. This was added back to the main mash raising its temp. This was repeated until complete protein and carbohydrate degradation was accompolished. {NOTE: Today most all beers use a variety of two-row barley that is very low in protein rendering protein rest (decocotion mashing) obsolete}

Finally, the yeast plays a role in an ale or lager (beers) by its action in fermenting sugar to ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Although we catagorize yeast by its action upon fermentation as to aggerate to the top or bottom of a vessel. The lager yeast tend to settle to the bottom and the ales yeast to the top. Thus the designation top or bottom fermenting yeast. Yet, the main concern is the volatile chemicals that they produce. In ales the sweet esters are not desirable and it is that these top fermenting yeast do not produce them. In many lagers (bottom ferment) they are welcome and in some lagers their specific yeast strain produce phenolic compounds that are perceived as clove. So the yeast employed by the brewer has a profound effect on the beers flavor as an ale or lager. Also the temperature used to ferment the beer has profound effects on the flavors produced in the final beer. Lager are generally fermented at cool temp. (below 48 F) whereas ales use a warm temp. (52-60 F on average).

In all the styles of ales and lagers (beers) have many characteristics in common. The methods employed in their production are distinct.

Finally-finally, the flavors that define a style are influenced by the above ingredients and methods which vary from country and region.

Answer 3

I agree with 'obviously' in that all Lager being beer but not all beer being lager.

A more detailed history/definition:

Lager beers are of German origin, taking their name from the German lagern ("to store").

Brewed principally from malt (no sugar), hops and water using bottom-fermentation, it is then stored in refrigerated cellars for lagering (or maturing and clarification).

Bottom-fermented (the yeast flocculates to the bottom of the vat), lagers are stored at a low temperature for several months, clearing, acquiring mellowness, and becoming charged with carbon dioxide. Most popular beers are lagers. There are bitter and aromatic varieties (noble hops).

I recommend you try a sample of a regular beer, an ale and a lager to see which one you like better. (Barring you're underage, in which case - don't.)

I live in California so we have a delicious variety here called California Steam.

Thanks for the question. Hope I helped.

Answer 4

There are two types of beer, Lagers and Ales. Lagers are beers that are fermented at cooler temptress, for longer periods of time. Ales are fermented at warmer temps, generally for shorter periods of time. Hope that's succinct enough. Cheers!