Beer Style: Pale Lager Family
Gordon Strong’s Italian Pilsner
Compared to a German Pils, the late hops are the first thing to notice. The flavor and aroma hops are more prominent and the aroma can have a freshly dry-hopped character. The hops don’t need to be at the IPA level; just more noticeable than in a German Pils.
Kellerbier
Kellerbier is the beer of choice throughout much of Germany’s Franconia region. Yet, it is difficult to define kellerbier as there are hundreds of examples that may be pale or quite dark, and taste equally unique. Learn about the history of these young, unfiltered lagers from a brewer who spent a decade at the source, plus tips on brewing your own at home.
Bierkeller Columbia’s Kellerbier clone
An unfiltered Franconian lager with a bready malt character that is balanced by soft carbonation and clean Perle hops.
Rebel Queen
I like to think of this as a transatlantic lager, using a U.S.-inspired malt profile with a single British hop variety (Boadicea). I’ve often thought British hops would be well-suited to lager brewing and I think this proves it. Light and refreshing, this is perfect for summer barbecues.
Gordon Strong’s Pre-Prohibition Lager
I’m presenting a modern homebrew version of this recipe that uses flaked maize rather than a cereal mash, and has some upgraded malt and hops.
Pre-Prohibition Lager: A classic American Pilsner-type beer
A style still often called classic American Pilsner, or CAP, the pre-Prohibition lager has several distinctions that separate it from modern American light lagers. Learn the history of the style and some guidelines to crafting your own CAP.
Easy Lagers
Most brewers would regard lagers as more difficult to brew than ales, but there are some tricks to simplify the process.
Gordon Strong’s German Helles Exportbier
This beer is bolder than your typical lawnmower beer, but it is meant to reward a hard day’s work. So go cross something off your to-do list, then grab a cold one, like life was meant to be.
Helles Exportbier: Dortmunder export, for those of you who aren’t German
Here in the U.S., it is often known as Dortmunder export beer, but in Germany a better name is helles exportbier. Learn the historical context for the style as well as possible techniques and ingredients to brew a classic interpretation.
Confluence Brewing Co.’s Blue Corn Lager clone
“Blue Corn Lager is made like a classic American Pilsner with a twist. Blue corn makes a sweet wort, with a little bit of that corn chip flavor.” — John Martin
Mow the Damn Lawn
When a summer thirst quencher is what you are looking for . . . look no further. This is the recipe that made Annie Johnson the 2013 Homebrewer of the Year.
Gordon Strong’s Leichtbier
When I first thought about giving a recipe for this style, I was going to say, “just take your favorite Pilsner or helles recipe, but use more water” – and I wouldn’t be too far from the mark. But there is a little more to it than that.
