1-2. What are ales?

     Ales are brewed with "top-fermenting" yeasts at close to room
     temperatures, 50-70F (10-21C). Ales encompass the broadest range of
     beer styles including bitters, pale ales, porters, stouts, barley
     wines, trappist, lambic, and alt. The British Isles are famous for
     their ales and it is a popular style with homebrewers and
     micro-breweries.