About Lager
Lagers are fermented at a much cooler temperature of about 45 degrees for about two weeks with yeast strains that fall to the bottom of the fermenting tank. Lagers are aged for longer periods of time, typically weeks or months in a cool environment. Some differences can be noted in flavor between ales and lagers. Ale yeasts produce esters, which are “flowery” and “fruity” aromas.
Lager yeasts produce fewer flavor characteristics, which allows the flavor of the malts and hops to dominate, often resulting in a mild crisp taste. Some examples of popular Lager styles are American-Style Premium Lagers, Pilsners, and Bocks. American-style premium lagers are the light straw to golden in color and have low malt sweetness, a light to medium body, and little to no hop aroma or flavor. Pilsners are somewhat similar to the American-Style Premium Lager in that they are both similarly colored and have a light to medium body, but Pilsners have a medium to high hop bitterness, flavor, and aroma. Bocks are traditionally a color of light copper to brown, sweet, lightly hopped with a rich toasty and slightly caramel taste.
