In fact, it's possible they mean a completely unique style of beer. While the style of ale itself is hundreds of years old, the term "real ale" is much more recent. The term was coined in 1970 by ...

Given the increasing quality of non-alcoholic wines, beers and spirits ... the final taste is tantalizingly close to the real thing. Moderato Cuvée Révolutionnaire Pétillant Sparkling: This ...