If you walk into Little Miami Brewing and say, “I’ll have a beer,” we’ll hook you up. No question. We will, however, have a few questions — because we have a lot of beer, and each brew boasts a distinct flavor profile, alcohol level, and drinking experience. But don’t worry! We’ll have you sipping your new favorite beer in no time. Our journey begins with deciding which type of beer you want, and that leads us to the subject of this article: lager vs ale.

How Is a Lager Different From an Ale Beer?

Allow us to introduce lager and ale, the two main types of beers. Wondering what sets them apart? When it comes to lager vs ale, the key differences between the beers stem from the yeast type and brewing process.

Differences in Taste

Before we dive into details, first things first: flavor. Your tastebuds are the target audience here, and we’re sure they’d agree that lager and ale have earned their distinct categories.

Lager is the most popular type of beer in the world and a good choice for budding beer enthusiasts. It’s generally more carbonated than ale and has a thirst-quenching quality, but many fans attribute its popularity to the lager beer taste. Defined by its light and crisp flavor, lager has a mild and malty sweetness that pairs perfectly with a summer afternoon and a brick oven pizza.

Ale is the star of the craft beer universe, boasting intriguing and complex flavors with a hearty dose of hops. The ale taste can highlight herbal, citrus, or fruity notes such as pears, bananas, or even roses. Ale can be strong and bitter, spicy and dry, tangy and tart — you’ll find options all across the spectrum.

So, how do these taste differences come to be? It all starts with the fermentation process.

Variations in the Fermentation Process Temperatures

While both lager and ale will make you feel warm and fuzzy, they’re created under decidedly different temperatures. Fermentation temperature is just one factor that separates the two.

Let’s start with ale, as it’s the oldest type of beer and we respect seniority (like our ancient ancestors, who were apparently brewing barley beer as far back as 3500 BCE).

Ale fermentation requires warmer temperatures (think 68–72ºF) for a relatively short period of time. This produces greater quantities of esters, which lend that trademark fruity flavor to the finished beer.

Lager, on the other hand, prefers the opposite conditions. Lager ferments for a longer period of time at colder temperatures (somewhere between 45–55ºF) that inhibit esters production.

Temperature impacts what goes on inside the fermentation vessels, as does the type of yeast used.

Differences in Yeast Strains for Fermentation

Ale and lager use two different yeast species: top-fermenting ale yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and lager’s bottom-fermenting yeast, Saccharomyces uvarum. These main varieties of yeast encompass hundreds of yeast strains, which we won’t list here because you don’t have all day. Bottom line? The yeast strain makes a big difference in a beer’s aroma and flavor.

When yeast is heated to a certain temperature, it eats away at the sugar content of a beer’s other ingredients like malt, hops, and barley and turns it into alcohol. Ale requires lively top-fermenting yeasts that shoot to the top of the vessel thanks to toasty temperatures, whereas lager is a bottom fermented beer. The slower fermentation process prompted by lower temperatures allows lager yeasts to sink to the bottom of the vessel.

Variations in Alcohol Levels

In general, lager has a lower alcohol content than ale. Lagers typically range from 4% to 6% ABV (alcohol by volume), whereas ales range from 3% ABV to 21% ABV. The reason for this goes back to that fermentation process — the more delicate type of yeast used in lager simply can’t survive in a high-alcohol environment as well as your tougher ale yeast.

Examples of Popular Cincinnati Lagers and Ale Beers

As we said, lager and beer are only the two main types of beer — you’ll find many contenders within these broad categories.

Popular types of lager:

• Pilsner. This balanced, light-colored lager has a mellow hoppy bitterness and malty aroma. Think Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, or Little Miami’s Bohemian Pilsner: Bike Path.
• Bock. Step aside, hops — malt is the star of this sweet, nutty, dark brown lager. A few commercial examples: Troegs Troegenator, Rogue Dead Guy, and Great Lakes Rockefeller Bock.
• Amber. Medium-bodied with a toasted caramel character, amber lager highlights both hops and malt. Think Schell’s Oktoberfest, Dos Equis Amber, or Little Miami’s German Amber: And God Said, Let the Hippies Dance.

Popular types of ale:

• Porter. A complex, silky, malty ale with an almost-burnt toffee/coffee finish and dark appearance. A few commercial examples: Deschutes Black Butte Porter, DuClaw Sweet Baby Jesus!, and Founders Porter.
• India Pale Ale (IPA). High levels of bitter hops take center stage in citrusy, fruity, piney IPAs. Think Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing, Lagunitas IPA, or Little Miami’s West Coast IPA: Grateful.
• Belgian. Belgian ale leans into malt, spice, and fruity florals to achieve a light body with low bitterness. Think Left Coast Brewing Company Asylum, Perennial Southside Blonde, and Little Miami’s Belgian Saison: Belgian Pear.

Since you’ve read this far, we’ll let you in on a bonus category: hybrid beer. We’re talking wheat beers, sour beers, and fruit or spiced beers that use unique ingredients and brewing techniques while encompassing elements of both lager and ale. Try our tart and tasty Sour Cherry Creek! 

We’ve also got some good news. When it comes to lager vs ale, you don’t have to pick a side — your beer style can be as ever-evolving and multi-dimensional as beer itself.

Enjoy the Best Lagers and Ales at Little Miami Brewing Company

Little Miami Brewing Company is a Cincinnati destination for beer lovers. Located in Downtown Old Milford and run by brothers-in-law Dan and Joe with brewing expertise by Jim and his team, Little Miami Brewing is the culmination of a dream to bring killer craft beer to the Milford area. We currently offer up to 16 different types of beer with special and seasonal options on regular rotation. Stop by and try one (or two, or five) while you bask in unbeatable views of the Little Miami River from our lush patio.

Questions about upcoming events, our beer, or our menu? Reach out anytime. We’d love to hear from you!