BJCP 2021 / 2A
International Pale Lager
A clean, widely exported lager with a bit more malt and hop than its American cousins.
- Drink fresh
- standard strength
- pale color
- bottom fermented
- lagered
Serve: 38 to 42F, Pilsner glass or pint
OG1.120
1.042 to 1.050FG1.030
1.008 to 1.012IBU120
18 to 25SRM40
2 to 6ABV14%
4.5 to 6.0%Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Light grain and bread
- Low floral or herbal hop
- Clean, with a hint of sweet corn tolerated
- Vague
- Malty
- Better
- Light bread and floral hop
- Best
- Low bready malt aroma with low floral and herbal hop, clean lager character, faint corn at most
Appearance
3 pts- Pale yellow to deep gold
- Brilliant clarity
- White head, medium retention
- Vague
- Yellow
- Better
- Gold and clear
- Best
- Gold, brilliantly clear, white head that holds for a minute or two
Flavor
20 pts- Light malt sweetness
- Low to moderate hop flavor
- Low to medium bitterness with a dry finish
- Vague
- Crisp
- Better
- Light malt, low hop, dry finish
- Best
- Low bready malt sweetness, low herbal hop flavor, moderate bitterness, crisp dry finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Medium-light to medium body
- Medium to high carbonation
- Vague
- Light
- Better
- Light body and lively
- Best
- Medium-light body, medium-high carbonation, clean and crisp
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Clean fermentation
- Fresh hop character
Drops it
- Skunk from clear or green glass
- Stale cardboard
Writing tip
Note freshness. Example: 'Clean malt and low floral hop, slightly stale at the finish. Check bottle age and storage light.'
Pour these
- HeinekenHeinekenOften shows a light skunk edge from its green bottle
- Corona ExtraGrupo ModeloVery light malt and gentle hop, served with lime
- Peroni Nastro AzzurroBirra PeroniCrisp with a slightly floral hop
Often confused with
- 1B American LagerAmerican Lager is lighter in flavor and often uses adjunct grain
- 5D German PilsGerman Pils is drier and clearly more bitter
Fine here
- DMS: A trace of corn is tolerated
- Light-struck: Common in green bottles, but a flaw if clear
Ruinous here
- Oxidized: Stale cardboard from long shipping
- Diacetyl: Butter
- Acetaldehyde: Apple from a short lager rest
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.