What really makes a beer an ale or a lager?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: The yeast and fermentation temperature
The yeast and fermentation temperature ✓ — Correct! The split isn't color or strength, it's the yeast and how cold it ferments. Ales use a top-fermenting yeast kept warm (about 15-25C), which makes fruity, rich flavors. Lagers use a bottom-fermenting yeast kept cold (about 8-13C) and stored for weeks, giving a cleaner, crisper taste.
The color of the beer — Wrong. Color comes from how much the malt is roasted, not from the ale/lager split. There are pale ales and dark lagers alike.
The alcohol content — Wrong. Both ales and lagers span a wide range of strengths. Alcohol depends on the recipe, not on which family the beer belongs to.