The two most common types of alcoholic drinks are beer and lager. Though both have a similar origin and are of the same type, there are distinct differences between beer and lager.
Beer vs Lager
The difference between beer and lager is that beer can have a fruity, floral, and mouthful taste while lager has a clean and crisp taste. Beer is manufactured by brewing and fermentation while lager is fermented for a longer period which can range from months to even years.
The main step in the manufacturing process is the presence of yeast. The yeast used in the beer processing is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Lager was initially derived from the idea where the brewers of Bavaria kept beer in cold areas and caves to make it refreshing during the hotter months.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Beer | Lager |
|---|---|---|
| Word derivation | Word is derived from Old English ‘bēor’, and from Dutch and German ‘bier’ | Word is derived from a German word called “lagern” which means “to store” |
| Yeast used | Saccharomyces cerevisiae | Saccharomyces pastorianus |
| Characteristics | Beer can have a specific aroma, appearance, mouthfeel, flavor, bitterness, alcohol content, and color | Crisp, light and refreshing |
| Types | Ale, Porter, Stout, Lager, Brown Ales and Blonde Ale | Helles, pilsner, märzen, bock, viennna lager, dunkel, schwarzbier, doppelbock |
| Period of production | Shorter | Longer |
What is Beer?
Beer is an alcoholic drink that is made by the process of brewing and fermentation of starches. The starches are mainly of cereal grains like malted barley, rice, wheat, oats, maize, and other common cereals.
Flavors of herbs, gruit, and fruits are also added and loved by consumers. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of yeast, is used in the industrial fermentation of beer.
In large commercial production, there are forced carbonation procedures to make the processing faster. The best beer types in local style have been together written in a book called ‘The World Guide To Beer’ by Michael Jackson.
The freezing temperature of the beer is 27 °F. Beer even has a cultural association and is used in various festivals like beer festivals, pub games, pub quizzes, crawling, etc.
What is Lager?
Lager is a type of beer. It is a cool fermented version of the beer. Lager is derived from a German word called “lager” which means “to store”.
It is also called the lagering phase. Esters are produced which caters to a clean and crisp taste to the beer.
The pale lager is the most common and widely preferred type among lagers. Lagers are lighter and crisper than beer and are refreshing in taste.
Common types of lager are helles, pilsner, märzen, bock, viennna lager, dunkel, schwarzbier, doppelbock and various other types.
Main Differences Between Beer and Lager
- Beers are not necessarily served cold but lager is always served cold.
- The brewing process of beer is shorter while the brewing process of lager is longer.
References
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