Ale! What is it?

[good4whatAlesU]

It is a matter of opinion, some think that the original definition should be upheld.

 

[barls]

It is a matter of opinion, some think that the original definition should be upheld.

well good for you and good luck brewing with things that have now found to be more toxic to the human body than whats currently in use.
you aren't an engineer are you?

 

[good4whatAlesU]

Anything to do with style is a matter of opinion. MC hammer parachute pants for example
There are many bittering agents that are not hops and non-toxic.

 

[Bribie G]

Is that you Darren?

 

[GalBrew]

The newnewDarren??

 

[Bribie G]

Much pishab

 

[jphowman]

Anything to do with style is a matter of opinion. MC hammer parachute pants for example
There are many bittering agents that are not hops and non-toxic.

You and TimT should talk

 

[manticle]

It is a matter of opinion, some think that the original definition should be upheld.

For opinion to carry weight rather than be airy bluster, it needs something more than 'well that's what I think, so nah'.

You are correct in that the historical differentiation between ale and beer was hops vs other bittering herbs but it's not so relevant to current definitions. History is not stagnant.
It evolves.

MC hammer pants? Long bow drawn with no arrow.

 

[good4whatAlesU]

Traditionally Ale was brewed without hops wasn't it? Beer used hops.

isn't that what i said to begin with?

 

[Yob]

Yup, then everybody M over on into the current age and definitions

 

[MHB]

Actually that's a "middle aged" definition. the two words come from different language roots and were imported into English with one of the many invasions of Britain.
Some time around Henry VIII the distinction between the older unhopped and the newer hopped beers was needed and a word with a Norse origin and one with a Latin root was picked for the job.
There was no original definition that had any real meaning, except when applied in retrospect.
Mark

 

[good4whatAlesU]

i read it is from the word 'Alu' which meant unhopped malt liquor.

The OP asked what an 'Ale was so it is beneficial to provide a historical context.

This is a good article:

http://zythophile.co.uk/tag/linguistics/