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

Meanwhile, the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) has projected that non-alcoholic beer will overtake ale to become the second-largest beer category by volume worldwide this year. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 5 July 2025

BrewDog, founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, produces bottled and canned beers in a variety of styles, such as ales, stouts, India pale ales (IPA) and lagers, some of which are also available in keg containers. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

The brewery has planned a menu to complement its ales and lagers. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025

Those beers are five regular offerings ranging from blonde ale to stout, available on draught and in cans for takeaway. —Don Tse, Forbes.com, 10 June 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