Malt aroma & flavor
Malt sweetness and aroma are very low to low
North American Origin Lager Styles
Contemporary American-Style Lager
Lager · Straw to gold
What to expect
Malt sweetness and aroma are very low to low. Hop character: Very low to low.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
2–4
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.1–5.1%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
5–16
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 40 · PDF page 49. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Very low to low
Perceived bitterness
Very low to low
Body & mouthfeel
Low
Clarity
Chill haze should not be present
Color
Straw to gold
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters are usually absent but may be present at very low levels. Diacetyl, acetaldehyde, and DMS should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Corn, rice, or other grain or sugar adjuncts are often used, but all-malt formulations are also made. Contemporary American Lagers typically exhibit increased hop aroma and flavor compared to traditional versions, are clean and crisp, and aggressively carbonated.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.040-1.048 (10-11.9 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.006- 1.012 (1.5-3 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.2%-4.0% (4.1%-5.1%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 5-16 • Color SRM (EBC) 2-4 (4-8 EBC)