Distributors Login Directions Beer 101 Mug Club Valued Diner Club Two Classifications of Beer: Lager and Ale There are two primary classifications for beer under which all styles... fall. Ale is one and lager is the other. The difference between the two categories has nothing to do with alcohol content, bitterness, or color. In order to understand... the difference between them we will have to get a little bit beer geeky and look at the brewing processes involved. The difference between an ale and a lager comes down to three main...