American lager

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.

History

Pale lager 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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).^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Beer in the United States

References

• Fix, G. 1994. Pre-prohibition lagers. Brewing Techniques. May/June
• Jankowski, B. 1994. Bushwick pilsners. Brewing Techniques. Jan/Feb

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