master-cooks | What Is Real Ale, And How Is It Different From Craft Beer

Real ale is a type of beer that is brewed from traditional ingredients and matured through the secondary fermentation process in the cask from which it is served. This maturation process occurs without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide, resulting in a naturally carbonated beverage. Real ale is often synonymous with cask ale, which is served directly from the cask without additional processing or pasteurization. This method preserves the complex flavors and aromas, offering a fresh and unique drinking experience. Craft beer, on the other hand, is a broader category that refers to beers produced by small, independent breweries with an emphasis on quality, flavor, and innovative brewing techniques. While craft beer can include real ale, it also encompasses a wide range of other styles and methods, including kegged beers, which may be force carbonated. Craft breweries often experiment with diverse ingredients and brewing processes, creating a variety of beer styles that may not adhere to traditional practices. The primary difference lies in the production and serving method: real ale emphasizes traditional, natural fermentation processes, while craft beer encompasses a broader spectrum of brewing styles and techniques. Both aim to deliver high-quality, flavorful beer, but they are rooted in different brewing philosophies.

Craft beer has tons of variety

Craft beer encompasses a somewhat broader concept: it refers to beer produced by smaller, independent breweries that utilize traditional brewing techniques, as opposed to widely recognized mass-market brands like Corona or Heineken. This definition can still be somewhat ambiguous, and the Brewer's Association prefers to focus on "craft brewers" rather than "craft beer" when discussing the often unique and flavorful offerings from these smaller establishments (strong IPAs are particularly linked to craft brewers). The term remains complex, as many so-called craft beers are owned by Anheuser-Busch after acquisitions, such as Goose Island and Elysian Brewing. Anheuser-Busch refers to them as its "craft partners," and they are frequently labeled as craft beer due to their distinctive styles. This distinction can sometimes become unclear.

While most real ale would undoubtedly qualify as craft beer, not all craft beer can be classified as real ale. Real ale not only employs traditional ingredients but also specifically mandates the cask-conditioning method and avoids additional carbonation, resulting in a gentle, natural carbonation derived from fermentable sugars. If an ale—or particularly a lager—is carefully crafted by a small, independent brewer without adhering to these methods, it will be a delightful craft beer, but it will not be considered real ale. There is nothing inherently wrong with modern beer; however, real ale reflects a deeper connection to the rich history of brewing.

What Is Real Ale, And How Is It Different From Craft Beer

Craft beer has tons of variety

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