What is Lager?

Lager is a type of beer which makes use of bottom fermenting yeast for the fermentation process. This type of beer is fermented at temperatures lower than the normal ale yeast and is kept for longer period of time. One can recognize lager beer by its high carbon dioxide level and the light color. It was in 19^th century that this type of beer was invented in Bavaria. The brewers in Bavaria matured their beers by storing them in cool places for a longer period of time. To make the fermentation process easier, they came up with yeast that helped in the maturation process of beer. The yeast os now called bottom fermenting yeast.

There are two major types of lager available

• Dark lager
• Pale lager

Most of the people in the world prefer drinking pale lager beer. In America, lager dominates over many other types of beer and the amazing fact is that it was not even around till the year 1840. The first brewery in America that made lager beers was set up by John Wagner in Philadelphia on St John Street. He made beer after obtaining yeast strains from Bavaria. Mass production of lager became possible only after Morton W. Coutts came out with a process known as continuous fermentation in the year 1953. With the technology becoming common, light lager beer too became popular.

Pale lager is the most selling type of beer in United Kingdom, India, Australia, China, United States, Russia, France and Italy.

Basic Characteristics of Lager Beer

Lager beer produced and sold universally is light in color and has a mild flavor. The manufacturers of these beers often recommend that the beer should be served after being refrigerated.

When it comes to color, helles and pale lager are the ones to have the lightest color. The darkest lagers are Baltic porters. Lagers from Germany that are darker in color are called Dunkel Lagers.

Fermentation of lager beer takes place at lower temperatures and collects on the bottom of the container. Lager brewing takes place with the help of the organism named Saccharomyces Pastorianus.

Lagers that have simple flavors are available in light colors while the ones with complex flavors come in dark colors. In some of the lagers, strong flavors of hops are introduced.

The touch of fruitiness is lesser in lagers as compared to ales. This is because of the fact that lager is fermented on a lower temperature and thus the production of esters and phenols in it is much less, leading to a bitter flavor.

Lager beers are one of the most alcoholic beers available in the world. Here are the types of lager that you would find.

• Schwarzbier
• Vienna lager
• Bock
• Märzen
• Dunkel lager
• Pale lager
• Kellerbier

Ale beer was the first one to come to the market but lager beer has quickly made its place in the hearts of people due to its distinct taste. Ales were considered unstable till the time the yeast had sunk to the bottom of the container when stored in cool temperatures. Lager beer uses bottom fermentation process only and is thus the best quality beer you can have.