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Styles · American Lager

Beer style · BJCP 2021 1B

American Lager

Standard American Beer

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.040–1.050
Final gravity
1.004–1.010
Bitterness
8–18 IBU
Color
2–4 SRM (4–8 EBC)
Alcohol
4.2–5.3 % ABV

What it is

The mainstream American lager: a little more malt and body than the light version, still built on maize or rice to keep it pale and crisp. High carbonation and low bitterness push it firmly towards refreshment. Anything roasty, fruity or sulfury reads as a fault.

Flavor

What a American Lager should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Room for floral, herbal or spice.

Malt

Grainy, with room for sweet/honey.

Fermentation

Clean, with room for sulfur.

Hops that suit it

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 5 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.