What is the difference between lager and ale?
Because of the cooler temperatures at which lagers ferment and condition, they take much longer to develop. Homebrewers can make drinkable ales at cellar temperatures in as little as six weeks, but lagers take months to craft and usually require some sort of refrigeration. The novice homebrewer should always start out with an ale, such as pale ale, porter, or stout, which all use ale yeasts for fermentation.
