Lager

What is Lager?

Lager is a type of beer brewed at a cool temperature (around 5-12 °C) using slow fermentation and bottom-fermenting yeast. The word "lager" comes from the German "lagern" and refers to the storage or ageing of beer at cool temperatures to enhance its flavour. 

The main difference between ale and lager lies in the yeast: lagers are brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast, which thrives at lower temperatures and settles at the bottom of the fermentation vessel towards the end of the process.

Lagers typically have a clean, crisp, and refreshing taste with a balanced flavour profile, featuring the characteristic bitterness of hops and the delicate sweetness of malt.

Compared to ale, the history of lager is relatively brief. While its brewing origins can be traced to medieval Germany, its widespread adoption occurred primarily in the 19th century.

Today, it has become the most prevalent beer style globally.

Origin Story

The history of bottom-fermented beers dates to medieval Germany, where beer was stored in cold caves and brewed only during cool weather to prevent spoilage.

According to a beer regulation from 1553, brewing beer in Bavaria was prohibited between 23 April and 29 September as fermenting beer in the high summer temperatures posed a high risk of spoilage.

Due to the lack of scientific understanding of yeast at the time, beer became either an ale or a lager based on the surrounding temperature. Only lager yeasts remained active during fermentation in cooler climates, leading to the emergence of lager beer.

However, the widespread production of lager beer began only in the 19th century. Between 1820 and 1830, Bavarian brewer Gabriel Sedlmayr travelled across Europe to improve his brewing skills. Upon his return to Bavaria, he created a more stable, complete and lighter-coloured lager beer, which he named märzenbier.

Around the same time in Plzeň, Bavarian brewer Josef Groll crafted a golden-coloured beer using even lighter malt and local soft water. This beer became known as pilsner.

Yet, the triumph of lager beer was still to come. The introduction of refrigeration equipment enabled the production of lager beer worldwide. Today, it reigns as the most widespread beer style globally.