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Having been a member of CAMRA since before I could legally drink, I can assure you both that bitter is an ale.
Pale ale might not be an ale, if it's an American pale ale, in which case it's a lager.
If the beer is pulled with a hand-pump, with a genuine pumping action (i.e. it's not just a very big tap), then you are buying real ale and it is worth giving some attention to when tasting.
If your workmates are drinking lager in a UK pub then you might want to move desks...

BTW @revisesociology - good post - I don't think I ever got through all of your 8-fold-path posts back in the day, but they did make me think very hard about my attitude tot he universe, as does this.
Thank you!

Thanks for the clarification about the categories - I think most bitters wld be milds right?

Also good life advice....

If your workmates are drinking lager in a UK pub then you might want to move desks...

That n8p fold path was heavy | if you like philosophical spiritual stuff - you just missed a great discord show with @orlev - pt 2 next week 10.00 pm Thursday gmt!

Mild and Bitter are on a continuum of strength; in the very old days it would be one recipe at different levels of percentage %.
Mild < Bitter < Porter (< Stout, but that is probably a different recipe).
A good mild is hard to find these days in the south. Black Cat Mild is personal favourite.

I'll make a point of trying a mild next beer festival I'm at!

In the meantime have a

!BEER


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