BJCP 2021 / 1B
American Lager
An easy, cold, clean lager with just enough malt and hop to register.
- Drink fresh
- standard strength
- pale color
- bottom fermented
- lagered
Serve: 38 to 42F, Pint, pilsner glass or can
OG1.120
1.040 to 1.050FG1.030
1.004 to 1.010IBU120
8 to 18SRM40
2 to 3.5ABV14%
4.2 to 5.3%Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Low grain sweetness like crackers or corn
- Hops at a low floral or spicy level at most
- Clean, no esters
- Vague
- Malty
- Better
- Light grain and corn aroma
- Best
- Low clean grain aroma with a hint of corn sweetness and a trace of floral hop, no fruit
Appearance
3 pts- Pale straw to gold
- Brilliant clarity
- White head with moderate staying power
- Vague
- Yellow
- Better
- Straw gold and clear
- Best
- Pale gold, brilliantly clear, white head of fine bubbles that lasts a minute or two
Flavor
20 pts- Light grain sweetness
- Low bitterness that balances without showing
- Dry, clean finish
- Vague
- Mild
- Better
- Light grain flavor, low bitterness, dry finish
- Best
- Low cracker and corn sweetness, low hop flavor, bitterness just enough to balance, crisp finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Light to medium-light body
- Medium-high to high carbonation
- Vague
- Light
- Better
- Light body, fizzy
- Best
- Light body, high carbonation with a gentle prickle, smooth finish
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Balance
- Clean finish
- Bright carbonation
Drops it
- Sweetness that lingers
- Skunk
- Cardboard
Writing tip
Judge cleanliness and balance. Example: 'Clean grain sweetness with low bitterness, nicely balanced. A bit more hop aroma would add interest.'
Pour these
- BudweiserAnheuser-BuschLight fruitiness is not expected, clean grain throughout
- Miller High LifeMolson CoorsA touch more sweetness and corn
- Pabst Blue RibbonPabst BrewingSlightly fuller malt, still very clean
Often confused with
- 1A American Light LagerLight Lager is thinner, lower in alcohol and flavor
- 2A International Pale LagerInternational Pale Lager shows more hop and malt, and often a hint of skunk-prone hops
Fine here
- DMS: A trace of sweet corn is traditional
Ruinous here
- Light-struck: Skunk from clear glass
- Oxidized: Papery and stale
- Acetaldehyde: Green apple means the beer left the yeast too soon
- Diacetyl: Butter or slickness
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.