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There are three basic styles of beer: good ones, bad ones, and the ones your relatives buy that you can't stand. Seriously, though, there are two, lagers and ales.  Americans are familiar with the lager-style brewed by most major North American breweries, and visitors to England probably have tasted their famous ales. Specialty beers are those that contain unusual flavorings or raw materials but are still based on classic brewing methods. There is a palette of subtle differences among these classic styles, crafted over centuries of beermaking.

What's the difference you might ask?  Basically, the yeast in lager beer ferments it and then sinks to the bottom of the barrel, while the yeast in ale ferments it and then floats to the top. Also, lagers tend to have a cleaner, crisper flavor because of faster fermentation and longer aging. Ales tend to be more flavorful and have a taste that lingers on the tongue.

However, there are many types of beers and related beverages. For instance, Lagers include Bock and Pilsner while Ales include Wheat Beers, Porter, Stout,  Sake, Mead, Pale Ales, Golden Ale, Bitter Beers, and Brown Ale.

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