Aroma: Little to no malt aroma,
although it can be grainy, sweet or corn-like if present. Hop aroma may range from none to a light, spicy
or floral hop presence. Low levels of
yeast character (green apples, DMS, or fruitiness) are optional but
acceptable. No diacetyl.
Appearance: Very pale straw to pale yellow
color. White, frothy head seldom
persists. Very clear.
Flavor: Crisp and dry flavor
with some low levels of sweetness. Hop
flavor ranges from none to low levels.
Hop bitterness at low level.
Balance may vary from slightly malty to slightly bitter, but is
relatively close to even. High levels of
carbonation may provide a slight acidity or dry "sting." No diacetyl.
No fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Very light body from use
of a high percentage of adjuncts such as rice or corn. Very highly carbonated with
slight carbonic bite on the tongue.
May seem watery.
Overall Impression: Very refreshing and
thirst quenching.
Comments: A lower gravity and lower
calorie beer than standard international lagers. Strong flavors are a fault. Designed to appeal to the broadest range of the general public as
possible.
Ingredients: Two- or six-row barley
with high percentage (up to 40%) of rice or corn as adjuncts.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.030 – 1.040
IBUs: 8 – 12 FG: 0.998 – 1.008
SRM: 2 – 3 ABV: 3.2 – 4.2%
Commercial Examples: Miller Lite, Bud Light, Coors
Light, Amstel Light
Aroma: Little to no malt aroma,
although it can be grainy, sweet or corn-like if present. Hop aroma may range from none to a light,
spicy or floral hop presence. Low levels
of yeast character (green apples, DMS, or fruitiness) are optional but
acceptable. No diacetyl.
Appearance: Very pale straw to medium
yellow color. White, frothy head seldom
persists. Very clear.
Flavor: Crisp and dry flavor
with some low levels of sweetness. Hop
flavor ranges from none to low levels.
Hop bitterness at low to medium-low level. Balance may vary from slightly malty to
slightly bitter, but is relatively close to even. High levels of carbonation may provide a
slight acidity or dry "sting."
No diacetyl. No fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Light body from use of a
high percentage of adjuncts such as rice or corn. Very highly carbonated with
slight carbonic bite on the tongue.
Overall Impression: Very refreshing and
thirst quenching.
Comments: Strong flavors are a
fault. An
international style including the standard mass-market lager from most
countries.
Ingredients: Two- or six-row barley
with high percentage (up to 40%) of rice or corn as adjuncts.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.040 – 1.050
IBUs: 8 – 15 FG: 1.004 – 1.010
SRM: 2 – 4 ABV: 4.2 – 5.1%
Commercial Examples: Miller High Life,
Budweiser, Kirin Lager, Molson Golden, Corona Extra, Foster’s Lager
Aroma: Low to medium-low malt
aroma, which can be grainy, sweet or corn-like. Hop aroma may range from very low to a medium-low,
spicy or floral hop presence. Low levels
of yeast character (green apples, DMS, or fruitiness) are optional but
acceptable. No diacetyl.
Appearance: Pale straw to gold
color. White, frothy head may not be
long lasting. Very
clear.
Flavor: Crisp and dry flavor
with some low levels of sweetness. Hop
flavor ranges from none to low levels.
Hop bitterness at low to medium level.
Balance may vary from slightly malty to slightly bitter, but is
relatively close to even. High levels of
carbonation may provide a slight acidity or dry "sting." No diacetyl.
No fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body from
use of adjuncts such as rice or corn. Highly carbonated with slight carbonic bite on the tongue.
Overall Impression: Refreshing and thirst
quenching, although generally more filling than
standard/lite versions.
Comments: Premium beers tend to
have fewer adjuncts than standard/lite lagers, and can be all-malt. Strong
flavors are a fault, but premium lagers have more flavor than standard/lite
lagers. A broad category of
international mass-market lagers ranging from up-scale American lagers to the
typical “import” or “green bottle” international beers found in
Ingredients: Two- or six-row barley
with up to 25% rice or corn as adjuncts.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.046 – 1.056
IBUs: 15 – 25 FG: 1.008 – 1.012
SRM: 2 – 6 ABV: 4.7 – 6%
Commercial Examples: Miller Genuine Draft, Michelob,
Coors Extra Gold, Heineken, Beck’s, Stella
Aroma: Grain and sweet, clean
malt aromas predominate. May also have a very light noble hop
aroma, and a low background note of DMS (from pils malt). No esters or diacetyl.
Appearance:
Medium yellow to pale gold, clear, with a creamy white head.
Flavor: Slightly sweet, malty
profile. Grain and malt flavors predominate, with a low to medium-low hop
bitterness that partially offsets the malty palate. Very
slight hop flavor acceptable.
Finish and aftertaste remain malty.
Clean, no fruity esters, no diacetyl.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium
carbonation, smooth maltiness with no trace of astringency.
Overall Impression: Malty but fully attenuated.
History: Created in
Comments: Unlike Pilsner but like
its cousin, Munich Dunkel, Helles is a malt-accentuated beer that is not overly
sweet, but rather focuses on malt flavor with underlying hop bitterness in a
supporting role.
Ingredients: Moderate carbonate
water, Pilsner malt, German noble hop varieties.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.045 – 1.051
IBUs: 16 – 22 FG: 1.008 – 1.012
SRM: 3 – 5 ABV: 4.7 – 5.4%
Commercial Examples: Hacker-Pschorr Münchner
Helles, Paulaner Premium Lager, Spaten Premium Lager, Andechser
Hell, Augustiner Lagerbier
Hell, Weihenstephaner Original, Stoudt’s
Gold Lager
Aroma: Low to medium noble
(German or Czech) hop aroma. Moderate
malt aroma; can be grainy to somewhat sweet. May have an
initial sulfury aroma (from water and/or yeast) and a low background note of
DMS (from pils malt). No
diacetyl.
Appearance: Light gold to deep gold,
clear with a persistent white head.
Flavor: Neither malt nor hops
dominate, but both are in good balance with a touch of sweetness, providing a
smooth yet crisply refreshing beer. Balance continues through the finish and
the hop bitterness lingers in aftertaste (although some examples may finish
slightly sweet). Clean,
no fruity esters, no diacetyl.
Some mineral character might be noted from the water.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium
carbonation.
Overall Impression: Balance is the hallmark
of this style. It has the malt profile of
a Helles, the hop character of a Pils, and is slightly stronger than both. Hard, minerally water can often be tasted.
History: A style indigenous to
the
Comments: Brewed to a slightly
higher starting gravity than other light lagers, providing a firm malty body
and underlying maltiness to complement the sulfate-accentuated hop bitterness. The term “Export” is a beer strength category
under German beer tax law, and is not strictly synonymous with the “Dortmunder”
style. Beer from other cities or regions
can be brewed to Export strength, and labeled as such.
Ingredients: Minerally water with
high levels of sulfates, carbonates and chlorides, German or Czech noble hops,
Pilsner malt, German lager yeast.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.048 – 1.056
IBUs: 23 – 30 FG: 1.010 – 1.015
SRM: 4 – 6 ABV: 4.8 – 6.0%
Commercial
Examples: