Ales

Brewed with top fermenting yeast at cellar temperature, ales are fuller-bodied, with nuances of fruit or spice and a pleasantly hoppy finish.

Ales are often darker than lagers, ranging from rich gold to reddish amber. Top fermenting, and more hops in the wort gives these beers a distinctive fruitfulness, acidity and pleasantly bitter seasoning. Ales have a more assertive, individual personality than lager, though their alcoholic strength is the same. 

Ales are 30% of all beer sold in Canada.

Here are some of the most popular types of ales:

Bitter Ale

A British-style dry ale, with a rich, copper colour, a mellow balance of bittersweet hops for aroma and a full, smooth flavour, often served on draught. Some breweries have two degrees of Bitter: the "ordinary" may be simply called "Bitter" and the premium "Best Bitter".

Cream Ale

A very mild, sweetish, golden style of ale.

Dark Ale

A British type combining hops and yeast and a blend of malts to produce a medium chestnut brown colour, delicate fruity bouquet and a robust, malty character.

Pale Ale

A fruity copper-coloured style of ale with origins in England.

Wheat Beer

A blend of malted barley, water and wheat, which produces a characteristically light and delicately flavoured summer beer.