Ale vs Lager

http://www.camra.org.uk/page.php?id=231 For what it's worth CAMRA recognizes porter as an ale. More to the OPs point. Lagers are lovely, don't write them off

 

The Germans, who know quite a lot about lagers, disagree. Lagering of course translates as "storing"
A lager is defined as either

1. - beer which has undergone lagering, i.e. a long period of cold storage where the temperature is gradually reduced to around 0º C.
2. - a bottom-fermenting beer of around 12º Plato. Any top fermented beer qualifies which is why they are classed as Obergäriges Lagerbier which means "top fermented lager beer" (see my label in an earlier post) Of course a bunch of amateur homebrewers getting things round their neck know better then they do.

 

CAMRA's beer style guides are a source of embarrassment. Both Ron Pattinson and Martyn Cornell have taken it to task over the continued howlers.
http://zythophile.wordpress.com/201...ill-getting-beer-history-so-very-badly-wrong/
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/why-i-dont-read-beer-magazines.html
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/oh-dear.html
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/oh-dear-again.html
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/oh-dear-once-more.html

 

I should have made it clear that I meant I don't consider Britain as the ultimate authority or standard on all things beer, not Marquis himself. Despite our disagreement on this issue, I have lots of respect for his knowledge of and passion for the subject.

 

I don't think that they disagree at all. And that definition does not encompass the German understanding of lager.

 

I think it is safe to say that the term Baltic porter originated outside of the Baltic countries where porter was brewed, and that the brewers of porter in those countries wanted to play up the English heritage of the style (just as they later played up the Bavarian/German heritage when lager beer was introduced, whether or not the brewery had a German owner/brewmaster) rather than make a point of it being from or made in the Baltic region. There didn't exist a common identity under the heading of baltic states, the ethnic ties at the time would have clustered the Scandinavian countries together whilst Russia would have been considered a hostile foreign land, with a unique bond between Sweden and Finland, but not between Finland and the other Scandinavian countries.





These labels were intended for the domestic market, but they still promote the English heritage of the style.

 

It doesn't seem like you get out much. It's been said many times by many people here, but complexity of flavor does not always mean intensity of flavor.

Drink a great Altbier, like one from Uerige, and tell me lagers aren't worth drinking.

 

...and by mentioning an altbier as a lager (intentionally or mistakenly) you have inadvertently stepped right into the Obergäriges Lagerbier debate. I love it

 

The guy you replied to is not an amateur. Studied brewing in Germany, too.

I am an amateur.

How about beers having hops, but not ales. There is a definition that is no longer recognized.

 

I look like an amateur now, I thought it was matured and stored at colder temperatures. I was not aware there was a debate, could you summarize for me?

 

Wow. Double "brown" indeed!

 

It's actually in this thread a few posts up.
Is an altbier an ale because it's using warm/top fermentation or is it a lager because it's cold stored and mellowed?
Opinions (even from those who know what they're talking about) tend to vary.

 

Now now!

 

I guess all I can conclude is that altbiers taste good?

 

How can something have more flavor?

 

Convenience trumps accuracy. Spoken like a true American.

 

Tend to agree!

 

What's the beer in the 1st picture?

 

Uerige Sticke. Went up to Düsseldorf for a Sticke release (I hit Füchshen first, both pics are from the same day) and Uerige quickly became my favorite place ever to drink a beer. Their regular alt is out of this world as well.

 

This is the first time that I have ever seen a swastika on a beer label.

Cheers!