Lagers
Here
are a few of the more popular lagers. Most of these types
can be faithfully reproduced in your own home.
American
Lager – This is basically the main style of
beer in America. It is a mass produced, inexpensive product
that’s aimed at the broadest possible demographic. Since
it is very watery and has little flavor characteristics, it
is the least likely to offend a large number of consumers.
In the health craze of the 70’s brewers started offering
Light Beer. Light Beer is simply an American Lager with an
even lower gravity. American Lagers achieve a low gravity
by adding corn or rice syrup which is highly fermentable.
This means that a higher percentage of sugars ferment into
alcohol leaving behind less flavor.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.040–1.046
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.006–1.010
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 5-17
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 2-4
Alcohol (% by volume): 3.5-4.5
Examples: Anheuser Busch’s Budweiser, Coors Brewing
Co’s Coors Light
Homebrew
recipe for American Lager
Pilsner
– Pilsner style beer originated in Plzen, Czechoslovakia
in 1842. It was the very first light colored beer. Today,
it is the world’s most popular style of beer. The original
Pilsners’ defining elements were the extremely soft
water that was pumped locally and the unique aromatic hops
that were also grown nearby. Pilsners are malty sweet, and
well hopped. Caramel flavors are often noticed accompanied
by medium to high bitterness. Pilsners have a good amount
of carbonation and are clean and crisp.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.044–1.056
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.014–1.020
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 35-45
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 3-5
Alcohol (% by volume): 4.0-5.0
Examples: Plzensky Prazdroj’s Pilsner Urquell, Pivovar
Velke Popovice’s Kozel Pilsner
Homebrew
recipe for Pilsner
Bock
– Originating in Germany, Bock beer is a hearty beer
with high alcohol content. Contrary to the rumor, bock beer
is not what’s cleaned out of the bottom of the vats
at the end of the year! Bock beer has a pronounced malt flavor
with just enough hop bitterness to tame the sweetness. The
German word for lager “lagern” means to store.
This being said, Bock beer is a well lagered. In other words,
the beer is matured for a long period of time during the second
fermentation. A variation on Bock beer is the Doppelbock.
A Doppelbock has a higher gravity and slightly higher alcohol
content. Traditionally, most all breweries end the names of
their Doppelbocks in “ator” (such as Optimator
or Salvator) which makes them easy to find.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.066–1.074
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.018–1.024
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 35-45
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 3-5
Alcohol (% by volume): 4.0-5.0
Examples: Pennsylvania Brewing Co.’s St. Nick Bock,
Spaten-Franziskaner’s Optimator
Homebrew
recipe for Bock
Oktoberfest (Marzen) – Marz, the German
word for March, is when the last batch of beer was brewed
before the warm summer months (before refrigeration). This
beer was stored in Alpine caves to keep cool and consumed
throughout the summer. At harvest time and the beginning of
the new brewing season (around October), the remaining beer
in storage was taken from the caves and consumed during a
celebration. This celebration still takes place in Munich
for 16 days and ends on the first Sunday in October. This
beer is amber in color and is slightly heavy. It is malty
sweet as typical with beer from southern Germany and Austria.
There is low to medium bitterness but enough to offset the
sweet. This is a favorite of many homebrewers because it’s
fairly easy to make.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.050–1.056
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.012–1.020
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 18-25
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 35-15
Alcohol (% by volume): 5.0-6.0
Examples: Paulaner-Salvator’s Paulaner Oktoberfest-Bier,
Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Eliot Ness
Homebrew
recipe for Octoberfest
Helles
– The main beer consumed in Bavaria. Helles is a pale
lager that is light in color, not taste or calories. It is
low in alcohol and intended to be an everyday or session beer.
The main quality that separates a Helles from a Pilsner or
Pale Lager is a less potent hop aroma and flavor. Only a mild,
short lived bitterness should be expected.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.044–1.050
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.008–1.012
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 18-25
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 3-5
Alcohol (% by volume): 3.8-5.0
Examples: Brauerei Weihenstephaner’s Weihenstephaner
Original, Hofbrauhaus’ Hofbrau Original
Homebrew
recipe for Helles
Dunkel
– Commonly known as German dark beer. It’s basically
a Helles with additional roasted malt added for color and
a toasty, chocolate-like taste. Contrary to its reputation,
it is really not as heavy or strong as many would think. It
is slightly more bitter than a Helles, but the bitterness
is a result of the roasted barley rather than from hops.
OG
(Original Gravity): 1.052–1.056
FG (Finished Gravity): 1.014–1.018
IBU’s (International Bittering Units): 15-25
SRM (Standard Reference Method): 17-20
Alcohol (% by volume): 4.5-5.4
Examples: Hacker-Pschorr Brau’s Munchner Dunkel, Pennsylvania
Brewing Co.’s Penn Dark
Homebrew
recipe for Dunkel
Looking
for a Particular Lager?
Are
you looking for a particular type of lager? Try a search in
the box below. If you don't remember the name, just type in
the word "lager".
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