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BJCP 2021 / 1A

American Light Lager

A crisp, very light refresher served ice cold that stays out of the way.

  • Drink fresh
  • session strength
  • pale color
  • bottom fermented
  • lagered

Serve: 36 to 40F, Pilsner glass or pint

OG1.120
1.028 to 1.040
FG1.030
0.998 to 1.008
IBU120
8 to 12
SRM40
2 to 3
ABV14%
2.8 to 4.2%

Taste it in order

Aroma

12 pts
  • Faint grain, like a saltine or a corn flake
  • Hops at a whisper if present at all
  • Clean fermentation with no fruit
Vague
Light
Better
Faint cracker aroma
Best
Very low clean cracker and corn grain aroma, hop barely there, no fermentation character

Appearance

3 pts
  • Very pale straw to light yellow
  • Brilliant clarity
  • White head that fades fast
Vague
Pale
Better
Pale straw and clear
Best
Pale straw, brilliantly clear, small white head that collapses within a minute

Flavor

20 pts
  • A touch of grain sweetness up front
  • Bitterness so low it only shows in the finish
  • Dry, quick finish with no aftertaste
Vague
Bland
Better
Light grain flavor, dry finish
Best
Very low cracker and corn sweetness, hop and bitterness nearly absent, crisp dry finish

Mouthfeel

5 pts
  • Very light body
  • High carbonation
  • A thin, watery texture fits this style
Vague
Thin
Better
Light body and fizzy
Best
Very light body, high carbonation with a prickly lift, no warmth or astringency

Overall Impression

10 pts

Lifts it

  • Spotless cleanliness
  • Lively, cold carbonation

Drops it

  • Stale paper or skunky notes
  • Sweet corn above a whisper
  • Any fruity yeast character

Writing tip

Little to find, so say what you did detect and that it was clean. Example: 'Crisp and clean with a faint corn note. Chill the wort faster to cut the corn.'

Pour these

  • Miller LiteMolson CoorsThe benchmark for dry, clean and light
  • Coors LightMolson CoorsA touch more grain sweetness in the nose
  • Bud LightAnheuser-BuschVery low flavor, high drinkability
  • Michelob UltraAnheuser-BuschLowest-calorie end of the style

Often confused with

Fine here

  • DMS: A whisper of sweet corn is common with light malt

Ruinous here

  • Light-struck: Clear or green bottles turn this skunky quickly
  • Oxidized: Cardboard shows fast because there is little flavor to hide it
  • Diacetyl: Butter has no place in a clean lager
  • Estery: Any fruit points to a warm fermentation

Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.