Home/Blogs/What Are Ales? Your Complete Guide to Beer’s Oldest Style
Who’s up for an ale? A type of beer popular across the UK with a history spanning back thousands of years, ale comes in a range of types with unique flavours to quench anyone’s thirst. So what exactly is it, how is ale made and why is it so popular after all this time?
We know a thing or two about ale here at Birmingham Brewing Company, and this will be your full guide on ale, covering how it’s made, the different types available and where one of England’s most iconic beverages came to be.
Ale is a type of beer that’s brewed using a top fermentation process and warm temperatures, crafted with malted barley, yeast, water and hops. The result is a distinctive flavour that’s bold, sweet and fruity. Unlike lager, ale is a beer that is usually dark in colour.
Ale dates all the way back to medieval England, where it was part of the daily diet. Ale back then contained one of three main sources of grain, and had enough alcohol to act as a preservative but without any intoxicating effects. This ale was known as small or table beer, similar to low-alcohol beers today, where everyone drank it as part of their diet. Brewers in medieval England also developed high-alcohol ales for recreational purposes, but generally, drinking ale back then was the norm, and not for getting drunk.
Modern ale is brewed using four main ingredients, which are water, malted grains (usually barley), hops and yeast. The process begins by mashing the malt with hot water to extract sugars, creating a liquid called wort. The wort is then boiled and hops are added for bitterness and aroma. After cooling, yeast is introduced, triggering fermentation. During this stage, yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide at relatively warm temperatures (15-24°C), giving ale its distinctive fruity and robust character.
Ale is unique in the sense of the fermentation process. Known as top fermentation, which uses a specific yeast strain called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast rises to the surface of the brew at warm temperatures, resulting in a faster process and more intense flavours, compared to other beers like lager, which uses cooler, bottom fermentation.
The bottom fermentation process allows for bolder, more intense and fruity flavours, meaning there really is an ale for all kinds of taste. Generally speaking though, ales have a more heavily bodied taste, and popular aromas concentrate on fruits like apple, pear and banana.
Depending on the style, an ale can taste fruity and spicy, have malty hints of sweetness, give off more bitterness thanks to the hops, and can be heavier on the tongue.
Pale ale is a well-balanced beer known for its light copper to golden colour and moderate bitterness. It uses pale malts and a noticeable amount of hops, giving it a crisp, slightly fruity and refreshing flavour profile that’s easy to drink.
Looking for a delicious pale ale? Explore the Pale Brummie, a citrus pale ale that’s hopped with Citra and Amarillo hops for a refreshing, crisp taste.
Often referred to as an IPA, an India pale ale is a hoppier and more robust version of pale ale. It’s characterised by strong bitterness, bold hop aromas and higher alcohol content. IPAs often feature citrus, pine or tropical fruit notes depending on the hops used, just like our Gold Brummie.
Stout is a dark, rich ale made with roasted malts or barley, giving it deep flavours of coffee, chocolate and caramel. It typically has a creamy texture and can range from mildly sweet to quite bitter, depending on the style.
We brew our range of stout ales using the finest oatmeal and carefully selected hops, resulting in earthy and floral aromas.
Porter is another dark ale but is generally lighter in body and slightly less intense than stout. It offers nutty and caramel flavours, and provides a smooth body that balances sweetness and is low on the bitterness.
Generally, low-alcohol beers have fewer calories, and are rich in several vitamins and minerals after fermentation, such as B vitamins and polyphenols, both of which provide several health benefits. Health trends, like dry January, see a spike in sales of low-alcohol beers, as those looking to cut down on booze can still enjoy the same taste without worry.
Beers labelled with 0.0% ABV, making them completely free of alcohol, are perfect for designated drivers, and even with up to 1.2% ABV, you won’t suffer from intoxication or a hangover the next day.
Another one for people with a sweet tooth, brown ale is a malty, medium-bodied beer with a brown to dark amber colour. Caramel, nuts and mild chocolate are flavours that are most present, and the gentle amount of hops make it an ale that’s easy to drink.
Belgian ales are a diverse group of beers known for their complex flavours and fruity, spicy characteristics. They are often brewed with unique yeast strains that produce distinctive aromas, ranging from sweet and light to strong and rich.
The ABV (Alcohol By Volume) content of an ale can vary drastically, depending on the type and brewer. Generally, the ABV of most ales range from 3-6%, but types like IPAs, Belgian ales and stouts can range from 6-10%, or sometimes even higher.
But ale doesn’t have to be high in alcohol. There are options for session ales, where the ABV is typically below 3%, as well as zero alcohol ales, for those who want the taste without the hangover. Many ales fall within the same ABV range as lagers, so strength depends more on the specific style than whether it is an ale.
With people in England, the rest of the UK and across the world drinking different ales daily, and with ale having been brewed for over a thousand years in Britain, it must taste pretty damn good, right?
Ales have surged in popularity over the past few decades largely due to the craft beer movement, which has embraced creativity and experimentation. The wide variety of ale styles means there’s something for nearly every taste, from light and hoppy to dark and rich. Compared to many mass-produced lagers, ales often offer more complex and pronounced flavours, making them appealing to those looking for a more distinctive drinking experience.
Choosing the right ale depends on your taste preferences and experience level. If you’re new to the world of ale, approachable styles like pale or brown ales are your best bet, as they offer balanced flavours. Those looking for bold tastes, try IPAs or stouts. Consider whether you enjoy fruity, malty or bitter notes, and don’t be afraid to explore different styles to discover what suits your palate best.
Congratulations on completing our full guide on what is ale. Now’s the time to reward yourself with tantalising ale from Birmingham Brewing Company. We have a dynamic range of beers, brewed in Stirchley to suit all kinds of tastes. Explore our beers for yourself and discover a new favourite among our ales and lagers.
