American-style lager
Encyclopedia
American lager or North American lager is pale lager
which is made and consumed in North America. Pale lager originated in Europe in the mid-19th century, and moved to America with German immigrants. As a general trend outside of Bavaria
and Czechia where the beers may be firmly hopped, pale lager developed as a modestly hopped beer, and sometimes used adjuncts
such as rice or maize - and this was also true in America.
Worldwide, the best-known American lager is likely Anheuser-Busch
's Budweiser
, though prominent brands are also made by MillerCoors
(South Africa/United States/United Kingdom). Pale lager is the predominant choice among America's largest brewing companies, however it is usually not found in microbreweries throughout the USA.
This beer style is defined by inclusion in categories like "American-Style Light Lager", "American-Style Low-Carbohydrate Light Lager", "American-Style Lager", and "American-Style Premium Lager" at the World Beer Cup
or "North American Style Lager", "North American Style Premium Lager" at the Canadian Beer Awards.
was introduced to the United States in the 19th century by German immigrants. These German brewers developed their beers from the American six-row barley
which has a higher tannic acid
and protein content and had greater husk per weight than the continental European barleys. In addition, the Tettnanger and Saaz hops
of Europe were not available. Therefore, the grain mixture was adjusted by adding up to 30% corn
to the barley malt mash. However, the beer was brewed to full-fledged European strength and to the practices of a pale lager
style. After Prohibition
, when beer production resumed, brewers used up to 50% corn or rice
.
Currently, the only large-scale representative of the pre-Prohibition lager style in the United States is D.G. Yuengling & Son with its Traditional Lager, Genesee Brewing Company with its Genesee Beer and August Schell Brewing Company
with its Original. In recent years a number of smaller American breweries have also reintroduced it, such as Victory Brewing Company
and Scrimshaw Pilsner North Coast Brewing Company
from northern California. (Throwback Lager) and Full Sail Brewing Company
(Session Lager).
Rice gained popularity in the domestic brewing market during World War II due to grain rationing on the home-front. Most breweries were unable to afford the necessary amounts of barley required for production and so began using rice as a filler. This also had the added benefit of lightening the flavor of beer, making it more appealing to the new female workforce. After the war, the process was not changed.
Some "premium" beers made in this style use only barley malt, with no corn or rice at all, though they are considered more or less the same style.
Pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
which is made and consumed in North America. Pale lager originated in Europe in the mid-19th century, and moved to America with German immigrants. As a general trend outside of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and Czechia where the beers may be firmly hopped, pale lager developed as a modestly hopped beer, and sometimes used adjuncts
Adjuncts
Adjuncts are unmalted grains used in brewing beer which supplement the main mash ingredient , often with the intention of cutting costs, but sometimes to create an additional feature, such as better foam retention.- Definition :Ingredients which are standard for certain beers, such as wheat in a...
such as rice or maize - and this was also true in America.
Worldwide, the best-known American lager is likely Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
's Budweiser
Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)
Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
, though prominent brands are also made by MillerCoors
MillerCoors
MillerCoors is a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Company, announced on October 9, 2007. The joint venture has the responsibility of selling brands such as Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Blue Moon in the United...
(South Africa/United States/United Kingdom). Pale lager is the predominant choice among America's largest brewing companies, however it is usually not found in microbreweries throughout the USA.
This beer style is defined by inclusion in categories like "American-Style Light Lager", "American-Style Low-Carbohydrate Light Lager", "American-Style Lager", and "American-Style Premium Lager" at the World Beer Cup
World Beer Cup
The World Beer Cup, known as "The Olympics of Beer Competition", is one of several major international beer competitions. It was founded by Association of Brewers President Charlie Papazian....
or "North American Style Lager", "North American Style Premium Lager" at the Canadian Beer Awards.
History
Pale lagerPale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
was introduced to the United States in the 19th century by German immigrants. These German brewers developed their beers from the American six-row barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
which has a higher tannic acid
Tannic acid
Tannic acid is a specific commercial form of tannin, a type of polyphenol. Its weak acidity is due to the numerous phenol groups in the structure...
and protein content and had greater husk per weight than the continental European barleys. In addition, the Tettnanger and Saaz hops
Saaz hops
Saaz is a "noble" variety of hops.It was named after the Czech city of Žatec . This hop is used extensively in Bohemia to flavor beer styles such as the Czech pilsener.Saaz hops accounted for more than 2/3 of total 2009 hop production in the Czech Republic....
of Europe were not available. Therefore, the grain mixture was adjusted by adding up to 30% corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
to the barley malt mash. However, the beer was brewed to full-fledged European strength and to the practices of a pale lager
Pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
style. After Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, when beer production resumed, brewers used up to 50% corn or rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
.
Currently, the only large-scale representative of the pre-Prohibition lager style in the United States is D.G. Yuengling & Son with its Traditional Lager, Genesee Brewing Company with its Genesee Beer and August Schell Brewing Company
August Schell Brewing Company
The August Schell Brewing Company is a brewing company in New Ulm, Minnesota. It was founded by German immigrant August Schell in 1860 and passed into the possession of the Schell family in 1866. It is the second oldest family-owned brewery in America and became the oldest and largest brewery in...
with its Original. In recent years a number of smaller American breweries have also reintroduced it, such as Victory Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company is a brewery founded in 1996 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA. The main brands are HopDevil, Prima Pils, Headwaters Pale Ale, Golden Monkey and Storm King, which are distributed in 30 states. Victory Brewing is located at 420 Acorn Lane Downingtown, Pennsylvania 19335...
and Scrimshaw Pilsner North Coast Brewing Company
North Coast Brewing Company
The North Coast Brewing Company is a microbrewery and pub located in Fort Bragg, California.- External links :*...
from northern California. (Throwback Lager) and Full Sail Brewing Company
Full Sail Brewing Company
Full Sail Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Hood River, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1987, Full Sail was the first commercially successful craft brewery to bottle beer in the Pacific Northwest for retail sale, and one of Oregon's early microbreweries...
(Session Lager).
Rice gained popularity in the domestic brewing market during World War II due to grain rationing on the home-front. Most breweries were unable to afford the necessary amounts of barley required for production and so began using rice as a filler. This also had the added benefit of lightening the flavor of beer, making it more appealing to the new female workforce. After the war, the process was not changed.
Some "premium" beers made in this style use only barley malt, with no corn or rice at all, though they are considered more or less the same style.
External links
- Reviving the Classic American Pilsner
- Hop Heaven - Philadelphia Citypaper article about Victory Brewing developing a pre-Prohibition style lager
- a recipe of a pre-Prohibition-style American lager using corn as an adjunct