ale

noun

ˈāl 

1

: a beer that is brewed by fast fermentation with a quick-acting yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at relatively high temperatures

Note: Ales tend to have a complex, slightly fruity or spicy flavor with a usually darker appearance than lagers and usually with a more intense, bitter flavor of hops. The yeast used to ferment ale is often referred to as "top-fermenting" since it tends to rise to the top of the brewing vessel during fermentation. This yeast also has a tolerance to higher alcohol concentrations, resulting in a beer with a usually higher alcohol content than a lager.

… ale can be produced more quickly because it is fermented at higher temperatures—from 60 to 70 degrees.

—Frank J. Prial

compare pale ale, porter, stout

2

: an English country festival at which ale is the principal beverage

Examples of ale in a Sentence

The bar serves two very different ales.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the back is a manual 10-barrel brewing system responsible for beer like Pop Art – a low-ABV ale with Oregon fruits – and Lost in the Stratus, a hazy IPA with late-harvest Nelson Sauvin hops. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

As a vegetarian, my go-to is a classic pretzel paired with our house blonde ale. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Cover traditional barbecue wings in a strawberry chipotle sauce and serve alongside a sweet and salty dark ale. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2025

Amazon to post recalls and product safety alerts on its website Learn More Amazon to post recalls and product safety ale... —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ealu; akin to Old Norse ǫl ale, Lithuanian alus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ale

• cream ale
• ginger ale
• India pale ale
• pale ale
• pot ale

Rhymes for ale

• ail
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail
• jail

Kids Definition

ale

noun

ˈā(ə)l 

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops that is usually more bitter than beer