The alcohol content in ale can vary depending on the style and brewing process. On average, ales typically have an alcohol by volume (ABV) ranging from 4% to 7%. However, stronger ales like barleywine or imperial stout can have higher ABVs, often exceeding 10% or even reaching up to 15%.

The main categories of ale can be broadly classified into two primary categories: top-fermented ales and bottom-fermented lagers. Ales fall under the category of top-fermented beers, which means they are brewed using yeast strains that ferment at warmer temperatures.

For example, stout and pale ale.

Ale has a rich history and is believed to have originated in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 4,000 BCE. The Sumerians, who inhabited the region, were among the earliest known civilisation to brew beer, including ale.