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"Andrew":13u26twg wrote: No more or less useful than any other arbitrary definers.[/quote:13u26twg]I'd go with "Beer That Is Nice To Drink" and "Beer That Is Not Nice To Drink".

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:13u26twg wrote: The world is made up of 2 types of people: Those who think that the world is made up of 2 types of people; and those that don't.[/quote:13u26twg] <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:30jw8t8v wrote:

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:30jw8t8v wrote:

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:30jw8t8v wrote: Ale and Lager[/quote:30jw8t8v]But only if you decide in advance that Ale and Lager are two different things. I don't think it's possible to get something like this 100% right. Beer is just too diverse and the terms used to classify it have long and complex histories.[/quote:30jw8t8v]

well, top-ferment and bottom-ferment. I think that differentiates that enough.[/quote:30jw8t8v]

Only problem with that is the yeast fermenting characteristics are largely driven by temperature (fermentation rate and co2 generation), ale temps = big head so looks like its top fermenting, lager temps = small head so it looks like its bottom fermenting, in reality nearly all the fermentation is being done by the yeast neither at the top or on the bottom but in suspension. Top and bottom fermenting aren't really helpful terms at all when you actual look at whats happening.
I've a lager on the go at the moment, its has the characteristic small head, however with the same yeast and wort i also fermented it at room temps (to ascertain terminal gravity), the head looks just like an ale fermentation. Take an ale yeast like nottingham that can ferment at low temps and you'll see the head formation is greatly reduced at these temps.
The one think that does seperate them is their ability to metabolise certain sugars, lagers for instance can break down raffinose where as ale yeasts can't.

BTW i like the idea of a tree of beers i think that would be visually much better than the chart which is just way to busy. I'd start at the bottom with beer and have it branching off upwards like some sort of evolutionary tree.

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:5slf7wub wrote: But the problem there is, some people think that Budweiser is nice to drink.[/quote:5slf7wub]If differences of opinion are a problem then your chart won't get very far. There's bound to be an element of subjectivity sooner or later.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:49zq909c wrote:

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:49zq909c wrote: But the problem there is, some people think that Budweiser is nice to drink.[/quote:49zq909c]If differences of opinion are a problem then your chart won't get very far. There's bound to be an element of subjectivity sooner or later.[/quote:49zq909c]

you started it <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: -->