What is the definition of real ale?

Real ale is defined as a natural beer brewed using traditional ingredients that undergoes secondary fermentation in the cask or container from which it is served. This definition reflects a commitment to traditional brewing techniques and emphasizes the importance of live yeast in the beer, allowing it to mature and develop flavors naturally within the cask.

The real ale movement, particularly in the UK, promotes serving beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurized, thus preserving the character and complexity often lost in more industrial brewing methods. This ensures that the beer maintains its authentic flavors and aromas that develop during the fermentation process.

In this context, the other choices do not align with the essence of real ale. Options discussing carbonation methods, pasteurization, or artificial flavors do not reflect the characteristics that classify a beer as real ale, which emphasizes natural ingredients and minimal intervention.