Pale Lager

What is Pale Lager?

Pale lager is a broad term encompassing various yellow-coloured lagers that are generally light-bodied, refreshing, balanced in taste, and easily drinkable. 

The hop flavour can range from almost imperceptible (American pale lager) to a very noticeable dry bitterness (some pilsners). Pale lager is typically brewed with pale malt (such as pilsner malt), but in several countries such as the USA, Mexico and Japan, corn and rice are used as fillers.

Origin Story

Lager beer has been brewed in Germany since the Middle Ages. However, until the mid-19th century, it always meant dark beer because malt was roasted by direct heat, resulting in a brown colour.

In the 1830s, German brewer Gabriel Sedlmayr and Viennese brewer Anton Dreher visited Britain and learned the method of producing pale malt used by the British to brew pale ale. Back home, they combined pale(r) malts with bottom fermentation, giving rise to märzenbier and Vienna lager. However, neither of these styles was traditionally light and both had a reddish colour.

The first traditional light lager is considered pilsner, born in 1842 in the city of Plzeň (nowadays in the Czech Republic). A German brewmaster was instrumental in its creation, blending Bavarian lager beer techniques with local ingredients. The outcome was a crisp, light golden beer that swiftly captivated drinkers and rapidly gained popularity worldwide.

Over time, pale lager evolved into the world’s most popular beer type, with various substyles being brewed worldwide.