Family Genes

Ales have the longest family tree of any beers made today. The reason is the yeast used in top fermentation can survive in most day to day temperatures. As long as the beer doesn't reach into the high 70s, most strains of ale yeast can survive. This made it easy throughout most of Europe in prior centuries to make their beer in the winter and then it was ready to serve and drink in the summer. There are ale recipes found as far back as the Sumerians and Egyptians. Of course, during that time beer was consumed not only for its taste and 'exaltations when consumed' but also as a way to make a consistent source of potable water. By producing the water into beer, the water was made safe to consume and would store for long periods of time.

Ales in the World

A lot of beer aficionados believe ale is the purest form of beer because of the huge variety of flavors and complexities brewers can create. Ale is produced all over the world with insane differences in the result. Belgium, a nation the size of Maryland, has more breweries than the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined. Yet, even they have a huge variety of results within each style of ale they produce. Brewing ale allows small changes to the quantity of malt and hops used, or the addition of honey, fruit, herbs, etc. to make a large impact on the taste of the final product. The ease of variation also makes ale hard for the craft or microbrewery because the reproduction of exact brewing environments is essential to making quality ale.

So whether you love the high hop content of a Pale Ale or the rich, creamy taste of a Brown Ale, odds are an ale can be found to your liking. The variety of ales produced by Stabbing Goat is by no means all encompassing for the many styles of ale produced in the world, but we think the world is represented and reflected by our tastes.

Enjoy!