European Origin Lager Styles
Lager · Pale to reddish-brown
Bready or biscuity malt aroma and flavor should be present.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.4–15
Pale to reddish-brown · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color range5.1–6.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
18–25
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 37 · PDF page 46. Color graphics are illustrative.
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Bready or biscuity malt aroma and flavor should be present. Sweet maltiness is medium-low to medium and leads to a muted clean hop bitterness. Malt flavors should be of light toast rather than strong caramel. Low level caramel character is acceptable.
Low with attributes typical of noble hop varieties
Medium-low to medium
Medium
Appearance should be clear. Chill haze should not be present
Pale to reddish-brown
Fruity esters and diacetyl should not be present.
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.052-1.057 (11.4-13.8 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.012-1.020 (3.1-5.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 4.0%-4.7% (5.1%-6.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 18-25 • Color SRM (EBC) 4 -15 (8-30 EBC)