Style: American Lager

All Styles

Style Profile based on 646 recipes

BU:GU

0.40

Hops

3.1 g/L

Mash pH

5.51

Style Guidelines BJCP 2015 Beer
OG
1.04 1.05
1.048
FG
1.004 1.01
1.01
IBU
8 18
19
ABV
4.3% 5.3%
5%
SRM
2 4
Description

Overall Impression: A very pale, highly-carbonated, light-bodied, well-attenuated lager with a very neutral flavor profile and low bitterness. Served very cold, it can be a very refreshing and thirst quenching drink. History: Although German immigrants had brewed traditional Pilsner-inspired lager beer in the United States since the mid-late 1800s, the modern American lager style was heavily influenced by Prohibition and World War II. Surviving breweries consolidated, expanded distribution, and heavily promoted a beer style that was appealing to a broad range of the population. Became the dominant beer style for many decades, and spawning many international rivals who would develop similarly bland products for the mass market supported by heavy advertising. Style Comparison: Stronger, more flavor and body than a Light American Lager. Less bitterness and flavor than an International Lager. Significantly less flavor, hops, and bitterness than traditional European Pilsners.

Examples: Budweiser, Coors Original, Grain Belt Premium Lager, Miller High Life, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Special Export

Typical Grain Bill

% of total grain weight across all recipes · sums to ~100%

Common Additions

% of American Lager recipes using each malt category (addition % in brackets)

Hop Usage by Addition Type

g/L · median with IQR range

Bittering
0.27 g/L 1.32 g/L
0.67 g/L
Flavour
0.28 g/L 1.07 g/L
0.69 g/L
Aroma
0.27 g/L 1.37 g/L
0.73 g/L
Whirlpool
0.36 g/L 1.37 g/L
0.85 g/L
Dry Hop
0.72 g/L 2.73 g/L
1.37 g/L

Common Hops

% of American Lager recipes using each hop

Common Fermentables

Colour = malt category · bar = % of recipes

Typical Water Profile

Ca²⁺ 60 ppm
Mg²⁺ 5 ppm
Na⁺ 10 ppm
Cl⁻ 51 ppm
SO₄²⁻ 55 ppm
HCO₃⁻ 11 ppm

median across recipes with a declared water profile

Similar Styles

Ranked by similarity across OG, IBU, ABV, hop rate, and grist composition.