Ale
Meaning: A type of beer fermented at warm temperatures; traditional British beer.
Ale is the broader category that includes bitter, mild, porter, and stout. Unlike lager, ales ferment warm and quickly, giving them fuller, fruitier flavours. 'Real ale' specifically means cask-conditioned ale that continues fermenting in the barrel. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) has championed these traditional brews.
Examples
- What ales have you got on? 你们有什么艾尔?¿Qué ales tenéis?どんなエールがありますか?어떤 에일이 있어요?
- I prefer ale to lager. 比起拉格我更喜欢艾尔Prefiero la ale a la lagerラガーよりエールの方が好きだな라거보다 에일이 더 좋아
- They've got six real ales on tap. 他们有六种真正的艾尔扎啤Tienen seis real ales de grifoリアルエールが6種類生で出てるよ리얼 에일이 6종류 생맥으로 나와
Pronunciation
/eɪl/
Usage Guide
Context: pub, beer, craft
Tone: traditional, appreciative
✓ Do Say
- Real ale真正的艾尔real aleリアルエール리얼 에일
- Cask ale桶装艾尔ale de barrilカスクエール캐스크 에일
- What ales are on?有哪些艾尔?¿qué ales hay?どのエールがある?에일 뭐 있어요?
Common Mistakes
- Ale is a category, not a single beer style
- 'Real ale' specifically means cask-conditioned
Origin & History
Ale predates lager in Britain by centuries—it was the standard drink before hops were widely used. The distinction between ale and beer (hopped vs. unhopped) blurred over time. Today 'ale' typically means any top-fermented beer, especially traditional British styles.
Etymology: From Old English 'ealu,' ancient Germanic brewing
First recorded: Ancient, continuous usage
Cultural Context
Era: Ancient to present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: CAMRA; Craft beer movement
Regional notes: British tradition, now global through craft brewing.
Variations
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