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How To Brew American Light Lager: Master the Art of Light, Crisp, and Refreshing Lager

When American Light Lager is discussed in beer circles these days, the macro beer companies are front and center in our minds. Who can blame us?

Mass marketing, low prices, and our own perceived dogmas of what beer was years ago play into our beer consciousness.

Also true with our friends to the North in Canada, with the newly popular Puppers Beer.

You Can’t Hide

Jeff Alworth from the popular beer blog, Beervana, posed an interesting poll question on social media some time ago.

He began by saying, “It’s much harder to make a pilsner than an IPA. Pilsners are so simple you can’t hide anything, but you can always just add more hops to an IPA. So let’s put ‘em to a poll.

Personally, I agree with the statement that Pilsners/Lagers are harder to make than IPAs. Out of 220 participants, 194 people agreed with this statement as well.

I don’t need to know the P- value of this survey to know this is significant. With a grain bill and hop schedule usually fairly simple, there is really nothing to hide behind.

The Germans to the Rescue

Until the mid-1800s, Americans enjoyed many of the same beers that were popular In Europe. These were usually higher strength and dark in color.

The early colonies did not allow Americans to grow barley as well as the Germans. As a result, using a combination of 2-Row and 6-Row was more economically sound than the high import prices.

Also, up to 40% of flaked rice or corn as an adjunct.

Due to political and religious freedoms being sought, America saw a rather large influx of German migrants. One of these brewers was David G. Yuengling.

Like many immigrants who are looking to recreate the tastes of their motherland, these German brewers, like Yuengling, were interested in recreating the Bavarian lagers of their homeland.

With barley slowly becoming available in the states, it was not of the same quality the Germans knew back home. The addition of adjuncts, such as rice and corn, were added to their recipes.

Like many times throughout Europe, these beers were brewed with the working class in mind. It was common for many to have a beer or two at lunch in a saloon.

The low alcohol provided in this beer allowed men to not be overly intoxicated when they went back to work. Handling heavy machinery and alcohol just does not mix, even back then.

Americans were left with a vague recollection of what this American Light Lager should taste like by the end of prohibition. Breweries were left with the task of trying to brew what their customers remembered.

Bottom line here is breweries would do anything to brew what their customers wanted.

Women also began drinking more beer during prohibition in speakeasies. At the end of prohibition, breweries had a whole new market sector. This paved the way for light beers to dominate the American drinking culture.

Craft Version of an American Light Lager

Werk Force Brewing Company in Plainfield, IL brews an American Light Lager they call Ol’ Pile . Many breweries are brewing their light lagers with a higher original gravity and then diluting the wort with filtered water.

Brandon Wright, co-owner of Werk Force told me that they brew their wort in the upper 1.090s and then liquor back.

The finished beer is at 4.5% ABV. I must say it is an incredible beer. If you are around the Plainfield, IL, make sure to check them out and order yourself an Ol’ Pile.

Style Profile for American Light Lager

Appearance

Straw yellow to pale golden yellow in color. Head will be extremely white and foamy but will not have good retention.

Aroma

Aroma is rather subtle. If present at all, it will lean more toward grainy with slight sweetness and possibly some corn quality.

If hops are present at all, they tend to be lightly floral or spicy. Clean fermentation, but may have some traces of green apple and light DMS is not a fault.

Mouthfeel

Body is very light, almost watery. High carbonation.

Taste

Quite neutral in flavor, tending to be more grainy or corn-like flavor. Crisp and dry finish.

With a low to medium hop presence, hop flavor tends to be more floral, spicy, or herbal. Low hop bitterness. The taste tends to side more with the malt and a sweet corn-like presence.

Food Pairing

American lagers pair well with salty snacks such as pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, and tortilla chips.

Also, grilled fish, fish tacos, light summer salads, buttered crab. Marinated chicken, steak, pizza, and brats also pair well. Young fresh cheeses and pepper jack go well together.

Image Source: PintsandPanels

Tips for Brewing your own American Light Lager

Grain

The grain bill for an American lager is pretty simple and straightforward. The base malt is usually 2-row or 6-row or a blend of the two.

This will make up around 60 percent of your grain bill. Corn or rice adjuncts should make up the remaining 40% of the grain bill.

Hops

The IBU range is fairly light with an American lager. Keep the IBU range at around 8-18. This can be achieved by a bittering hops at 60 minutes and that’s it.

There is really no need for aroma or flavoring hops with this style of beer. The hop variety for this style includes: Cascade, Chinook, Magnum, Cluster, Liberty, or Crystal.

Yeast

Wyeast: American Lager 2035, Pilsner Lager 2007

White Labs: Pilsner Lager WLP800, American Pilsner WLP840, California Ale WLP001

Imperial Yeast: Harvest L17

Dry Yeast Safale: S-23 and W34/70.

Fermentation:

Fermentation temperatures should be in the neighborhood of 50°F (10°C).You can also lager it at 32°F(0°C) for four weeks.

This is a beer style that should be consumed fairly quickly, so drink fresh.

American Light Lager By the Numbers

  • Color Range: 2 – 3 SRM
  • Original Gravity: 1.028 – 1.040 OG
  • Final Gravity: 0.998 – 1.008 FG
  • IBU Range: 8 – 12
  • ABV Range: 2.2 – 4.2%

American Light Lager Recipe

Grain

  • 38% 4 lbs 2-Row American Pale Malt
  • 38% 4 lb Pilsner Malt German
  • 24% 2 lb 8 ozs Flaked Rice

Hops

  • 1.00 oz Hallertauer Pellets – Boil 60.0 min

Yeast

  • 1.0 pkg American Lager Yeast (WLP840)

Directions

  1. Mash at 152°F (66°C) for 60 mins
  2. Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the American Light Lager Recipe differ from regular lager recipes?

The American Light Lager Recipe is tailored to produce a beer with a lighter body and less pronounced flavor compared to traditional lagers.

By utilizing specific ingredients and brewing techniques, this recipe aims to achieve a brew that is highly refreshing and crisp, which are characteristic traits of an American Light Lager.

The use of adjuncts like rice or corn, in particular, is what sets this recipe apart from others, contributing to the beer’s lightness and easy drinkability.

What are the key ingredients in the American Light Lager Recipe?

The key ingredients in the American Light Lager Recipe include a blend of 2-row barley malt, rice or corn (as adjuncts), and a mild hop variety. The use of adjuncts is crucial in achieving the light and crisp characteristics associated with this type of beer.

The mild hop variety contributes to the beer’s light bitterness and aroma, aligning with the traditional flavor profile of an American Light Lager.

How can one adjust the American Light Lager Recipe to mimic commercial beers like Bud Light or Busch Light?

To emulate commercial light beers such as Bud Light or Busch Light, adjustments may need to be made to the American Light Lager Recipe.

This could involve tweaking the ratio of barley malt to adjuncts, or experimenting with different hop varieties to achieve a taste profile that closely resembles these commercial beers.

It might also be beneficial to research and possibly replicate the water chemistry and yeast strains used by these commercial breweries, as these factors significantly impact the final taste and appearance of the beer.

For brewing an American Light Lager, mild hop varieties are generally recommended to achieve a subtle hop bitterness and aroma. Hops such as Saaz, Hallertau, or Liberty are commonly used in light lager brewing.

These hops contribute to the beer’s delicate hop character without overpowering the light malt and adjunct flavors.

In terms of brewing equipment, what is needed to follow the American Light Lager Recipe for an all-grain brew?

For an all-grain brew following the American Light Lager Recipe, you’ll need typical homebrewing equipment including a mash tun for mashing the grains, a boiling kettle for boiling the wort with hops, and fermentation vessels for fermenting the beer.

Additionally, precise temperature control during fermentation is crucial to achieve the clean and crisp profile characteristic of an American Light Lager.

Hence, a fermentation chamber or a temperature-controlled environment is highly recommended. Utilizing a lagering vessel for an extended cold storage period will also help in achieving a more refined and clear beer.

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