Malt aroma & flavor
Very low but present
North American Origin Lager Styles
Contemporary American-Style Light Lager
Lager · Very light to medium amber. The word ‘Light’ refers to light body and reduced calories rather than color.
What to expect
Malt character: Very low but present. Hop character: Low to medium-low and can exhibit wide range of hop profiles.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
1.5–12
Pale / strawBlack
Very light to medium amber. The word ‘Light’ refers to light body and reduced calories rather than color. · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
3.5–4.4%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
5–20
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 41 · PDF page 50. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Low to medium-low and can exhibit wide range of hop profiles
Perceived bitterness
Very low to low
Body & mouthfeel
Low to medium-low, often with dry mouthfeel
Clarity
Chill haze should not be present
Color
Very light to medium amber. The word ‘Light’ refers to light body and reduced calories rather than color.
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters are usually absent but may be present at very low levels. Diacetyl, acetaldehyde, and DMS should not be present. These beers are characterized by an extremely high degree of attenuation. Final gravity is often less than 1.000 (0.0 oPlato).
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Corn, rice, or other grain or sugar adjuncts are often used but all-malt formulations are also made. These beers are high in carbonation. Hop attributes, though subtle, are more evident than in traditional American-Style Light Lager. Calories should not exceed 125 per 12-ounce serving. Low carb beers should have a maximum carbohydrate level of 3.0 gm per 12 oz. (355 ml)
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.024-1.040 (6.1-10 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 0.992- 1.008 (minus 2.1-2.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 2.8%-3.5% (3.5%-4.4%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 5-20 • Color SRM (EBC) 1.5-12 (3-24 EBC)