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Many people are confused by the difference between lager and beer. To the outsider there may look alike and even taste similar, but to lovers of the brew there is a world of difference.

The difference between what is labelled a beer and what is labelled a lager is due to the techniques used during brewing and which type of yeast is used. A beer is brewed using top fermenting yeast, whereas lager is brewed using a bottom fermenting yeast. Overall this produces a totally difference taste and composition. Generally speaking lagers are paler in colour and lighter in body and the taste is often distinctively sharper than that of the ale.

The lager beer first originated in Germany, where pilsner is still by far the most popular drink sold. It is thought to have been brewed there as far back as the 16th century. However this was thought to be very different as what we regard as lager beers today. In the beginning it would have been much darker in appearance, possibly more harsh in tone. The name "lager" is thought to derive from earlier Germanic languages originally meaning "to store" due to it been stored in barrels. Incidentally, this is where the term "larder" is derived from, being a place of storage.

The Pilsner has many derivatives in style as European markets were quick to latch on to the idea of appealing to both the lager and beer drinker in a bid for more profits. Budweiser is the most famous of this type of drink. It is brewed by the company Anheuser-Busch who took the name from a traditional pilsner Budweiser Budvar, named after the Bohemian town Budweis.

In today's competitive drinking market the lager beer big business and cleverly marketed to appeal to both beer and lager drinkers alike. Drinks such as Budweiser and Coors make the most of its duality, and alongside heavy advertising, such lager beers have found prominence throughout the world. There can't be many places in the world in which Budweiser is not available in a bottle. Critics of this type of drink argue that the ingredients used are not as high a quality as the original pilsners and they employ ingredients such as rice in their brewing.

There is a massive world of choice out there with many exciting variations to be found. Often a great majority of people have the tendency to stick with one particular brand which seems a shame considering the vast array of choice on offer. One thing that most lager beer drinkers agree on though is that it is a drink that is best served cold, especially on a hot summer day. On such a day any cool crisp lager goes down a treat.

Learn more about this author, John Gray.
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