One of the first decisions that a brewer must make about any given batch of beer is whether they are creating a batch of ale or lager. Although they are both styles of beer, lager and ale differ considerably from one another, and because of this, there are strong differences in fermentation approaches between the two types. Most beginner brewers are going to opt for an ale because the process is a lot simpler, you need less equipment, and the styles of beer often allow more elbow room for mistakes.