# ale

/ˈeɪɫ/ (US) · /ˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ale
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. type of beer

noun · CEFR B2

a type of beer that is brewed quickly at warm temperatures, often tasting fruity or bitter.

For teachers: a fermented malt beverage produced through warm fermentation with top-fermenting yeast.

- The pub serves several local ales that are very popular with the villagers.
- While lagers dominate the global market, traditional ales remain a staple of British pub culture due to their diverse range of flavours and textures.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun when referring to a specific variety or glass of the drink.

### 2. historical festival

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

a country festival or party in old England where people drank a lot of beer.

For teachers: a rural festival or merrymaking event in historical England, named after the primary beverage consumed there.

- The village held a church ale every spring to raise money for repairs.
- Historical records suggest that the 'Whitsun ale' was a vital social event for the medieval peasantry, combining religious observance with communal celebration.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter 'ale' as a type of beverage.

## Examples

- He ordered a pint of local ale at the pub.
- The brewery specializes in traditional English ale, using local hops to create a distinctively bitter finish.
- While the industrial revolution favored the consistent production of lagers, many small-scale breweries have revived ancient ale recipes to satisfy a growing consumer interest in artisanal craft products.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.