The term used for a brew made with a top-fermenting or "ale" yeast. A beer is either an ale or a lager and it depends solely on the yeast used during fermentation.

Ale is a very generic and loosely used term that can describe many different styles like brown ales, best bitters, india pale ale, pale ale, porters, strong ales and more.

There are a few uneducated states where this name is determined by law to indicate a brew of more than 4% to 5% content. These are usually the same states with lame antiquated laws prohibiting alcohol sales on certain days, in certain counties and those that have stupid shipping laws. If you are unlucky enough to live in one of these states, we feel for you.