Beer Style: Pale Lager Family
Mexican Lager
A sub-style of the International Pale Lager, Gordon Strong provides a nice example of the way a Mexican Lager could and should be brewed.
Horst’s Helles
Author and frequent contributor, Horst Dornbusch provides readers with a classic Munich Helles recipe, restrained in hop character with a sweet-grainy malt finish and just enough hop bite to keep it nicely balanced.
Euro Pale Lager
Author Terry Foster offers a European pale lager recipes for readers with a simple grain bill and clean lager yeast to allow the beer to focus on the Tettnang and Saaz hop profile.
Dort the Export
The midwestern part of the United States has become chock-a-block with incredible breweries, but Great Lakes Brewing Company is easily near the top of that list in my opinion. Here was my attempt to re-create their Dortmunder Gold, a true standard in the field.
Theodore Hamm’s Brewing Company’s Hamm’s clone
Hamm’s is crisp, refreshing and very light in color and body. It typically has very high carbonation levels that cover any sweetness that might be present. This beer is brewed with a double mash and is diluted upon packaging as all American-style Pilsners are.
Latrobe Brewing Company: Rolling Rock Extra Pale clone
Rolling Rock Extra Pale is the United States leader in a beer using an “off-flavor” to differentiate itself from all of the other American pale lagers. Rolling Rock has made a name for itself by brewing a pale lager with a significant amount of DMS (Dimethyl Sulfide) in its flavor profile.
Indeed Brewing Company: Mexican Honey Imperial Lager clone
This golden-yellow lager with a subtle malt backbone is packed with floral notes of orange blossom and citrus thanks to the use of Mexican orange blossom honey. It has a bright hop flavor and features notes of graham cracker and honeycomb.
Heileman’s: Old Style Light clone
Old Style Light has been around for over 100 years, featuring a crisp freshness of a classic American lager. Still a mainstay in the Midwest and at Chicago Cubs games.
Flying Dog Brewery: Numero Uno clone
Numero Uno is Flying Dog’s summer seasonal release. Flaked maize makes up one-third of the malt bill and highlights the distinctive corn and cracker flavor traditionally found in Mexican lagers.
Epic Brewing Company: Los Locos clone
Inspired by the Mexican cuisine at chef Troy Guard’s Los Chingones restaurant in Denver, Colorado, Los Locos is a sessionable, refreshing lager brewed with corn, natural lime juice, and just a hint of salt. An excellent pairing with any spicy Mexican dish. “Los Locos is the spirit of summer in a can. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for enjoying on the hammock or with your friends at a raging pachanga,” said Kevin Crompton, Epic’s Brewmaster.
Mexican Lager
When I recently wrote about grisette being a type of saison, I hadn’t expected to write a similar column about lagers but I keep getting questions that spark my interest. This time,
Anchor Brewing Company: Anchor California Lager clone
California Lager is Anchor’s re-creation of a lager brewed in California way back in 1876 at a brewey named Boca. It features a golden color, creamy head, and a smooth finish.
