Water

• The majority of beer is water, over 90 percent, in fact. Ales are no different and beer makers must carefully choose the water used, as minerals in water from different places can change the taste of the final ale.

Barley

• Barley is malted and then used in ale in order to create sugars and the various fermentable parts of a brew. There are a few different types, with the most popular being two-row and six-row barley.

Hops

• Hops are flowers, usually dried, that help alter the taste and aroma of ale. Each hop has its different aroma/taste combination and is added to an ale mixture at the discretion of the brewmaster.

Yeast

• Yeasts are fungi that convert sugar into carbonation and alcohol during the fermentation process. Ale uses top-fermenting yeast, which ferment at a higher relative temperature at a higher rate than other yeasts.

Flavorings

• The various flavoring ingredients used in ale depend on the taste of the brewmaster. These can be anything from honey and orange peels to wood chips and whiskey.