Malt aroma & flavor
Medium-low to medium
North American Origin Lager Styles
Contemporary American-Style Pilsener
Lager · Straw to gold
What to expect
Malt character: Medium-low to medium. Hop character: Medium to high. While traditional versions exhibit attributes typical of noble-type hops, contemporary versions will exhibit attributes typical of a wide range of hop varieties.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
3–6
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.9–6.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
25–50
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 42 · PDF page 51. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Medium to high. While traditional versions exhibit attributes typical of noble-type hops, contemporary versions will exhibit attributes typical of a wide range of hop varieties.
Perceived bitterness
Medium to medium-high
Body & mouthfeel
Medium-low to medium
Clarity
Appearance should be clear. Chill haze should not be present
Color
Straw to gold
Fermentation characteristics
DMS, acetaldehyde, fruity esters, and diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
All-malt grists are commonly used; up to 25% corn or rice may be incorporated in the grist. Beers in this category diverge from American-style lagers typical of the pre-Prohibition era by virtue of a wide range of hop aroma and flavor attributes.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.045-1.053 (11.2-13 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.010- 1.018 (2.5-4.6 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.9%-4.7% (4.9%-6.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 25-50 • Color SRM (EBC) 3-6 (6-12 EBC)