lagering vs aleing?

[BrosBrew]

So I know top fermenting vs bottom fermenting and the temperature difference but what is the difference in lagering vs fermenting? What does a lager bring to the table that an ale cannot and vice versa?

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

You're right, a big difference is the yeast...top fermented vs. bottom fermented. However, to "lager" something means to store it...and in this case it means to store it at cold temperatures for a prolonged period of time. This could be just 6 weeks or as much as a few months, depending on the style. This prolonged storage results in more separation of sediment and yeast from the beer, and a cleaner taste. Ales, since they are only aged for a few weeks at fairly warm temperatures still have a good bit of yeast in suspension. That's just a quick synopsis...if you get a good brew book like Palmer's How To Brew, you'll find a lot more information.

Here's a link to the book online: How to Brew (lager section)
And of course, an obligatory link to wikipedia: Wiki on Lagers
Hey, that reminds me of the HBT Wiki on this: HBT Lager Wiki