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

The El Dorado Hills taproom quickly earned a trove of accolades for its famed fruit sours, Belgian-style ales and more, starting with two gold medals at the 2014 California State Fair. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Dec. 2025

Eggnog dates back to medieval England's posset, a milky, alcoholic beverage served hot, and composed of milk or cream, spices and ale or wine, with eggs and brandy or fortified wines eventually added, according to Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025

Irish ale yeast that was pioneered at the Guinness brewery in Dublin, is our house yeast strain. —Eric Blumer, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

When you’re done eating, head over to the property’s craft brewery to try an artisanal ale that includes water sourced from the springs of the cloud forest. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 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