Lagers: Styles, Profiles, and Key Variations

Lagers are bottom‑fermented with Saccharomyces pastorianus at cool temperatures and are typically cold‑conditioned (lagered) to develop clean, crisp profiles with high clarity. This article covers major lager families and what defines them.

Pale Lagers

German Pils (Pils)

• ABV: ~4.4–5.2% | IBU: ~25–45 | Color: Straw to light gold
• Profile: Snappy bitterness, floral/herbal hops, high attenuation; very crisp and dry.

Czech Pale Lager (Světlé, inc. Pilsner)

• ABV: ~4–5.5% | IBU: ~25–45 | Color: Straw to gold
• Profile: Softer bitterness, rounder malt, rich foam; decoction character common.

Helles (Munich Helles)

• ABV: ~4.7–5.4% | IBU: ~16–22 | Color: Pale gold
• Profile: Malt‑forward and soft; gentle hops; highly drinkable; less bitter than Pils.

American Lager / Light Lager

• ABV: ~4–5% (standard), ~3–4.2% (light) | IBU: low | Color: Very pale
• Profile: High attenuation; neutral flavor; adjuncts (corn/rice) common for dryness.

Japanese Rice Lager

• ABV: ~4.5–5.2% | IBU: low to moderate | Color: Very pale
• Profile: Very dry, crisp; subtle floral hop; rice adjunct for light body.

Italian‑Style Pilsner

• ABV: ~4.8–5.4% | IBU: ~25–40 | Color: Pale gold
• Profile: German‑like base, but with pronounced late/dry hopping for aromatic lift.

Amber and Copper Lagers

Vienna Lager

• ABV: ~4.7–5.5% | IBU: ~18–30 | Color: Amber to copper
• Profile: Toasty Vienna malt; balanced bitterness; clean finish.

Märzen / Oktoberfest

• ABV: ~5.2–6.3% | IBU: ~18–30 | Color: Amber to copper
• Profile: Malty, smooth, and clean with moderate bitterness; traditional fest beer.

California Common (Steam Beer; hybrid)

• ABV: ~4.5–5.5% | IBU: ~30–45 | Color: Amber
• Profile: Lager yeast fermented warm; firm Northern Brewer hop; toasty caramel malt.

Dark Lagers

Dunkel (Munich Dunkel)

• ABV: ~4.5–5.6% | IBU: ~18–28 | Color: Copper‑brown to dark brown
• Profile: Smooth Munich malt, bread crust, light chocolate; restrained bitterness.

Schwarzbier

• ABV: ~4.4–5.4% | IBU: ~20–35 | Color: Dark brown to black
• Profile: Clean lager with gentle roast; light chocolate/coffee; finishes dry.

Strong Lagers

Bock Family

• Maibock/Helles Bock: ~6–7.5% ABV; pale‑gold to light amber; firm malt with noticeable bitterness
• Traditional Bock: ~6.3–7.5% ABV; amber to brown; rich malt, low hop presence
• Doppelbock: ~7–10%+ ABV; deep amber to dark; intense malt, dark fruit, smooth warming
• Eisbock: ~9–14% ABV; produced by freeze concentration; very rich and warming

Baltic Porter (often lager‑fermented)

• ABV: ~7–9.5% | IBU: ~30–50 | Color: Dark brown to black
• Profile: Smooth, clean fermentation; cocoa, dark fruit; less acrid roast than imperial stouts.

Technical Notes and Traditions

• Water Profiles: Pilsen’s soft water suits delicate Pilsners; Munich’s carbonate levels complement malty Helles/Dunkel.
• Decoction Mashing: Historically common in Czech/German lagers; adds malt depth and foam stability.
• Lagering: Extended cold conditioning clarifies and smooths flavor; timing varies by strength.
• Clarity: Most lagers are bright; unfiltered kellerbier/zwickel are rustic exceptions with fresh hop/malt expression.