Malt aroma & flavor
Low to medium-low pale malt sweetness and aroma may be present. May have adjunct flavors from corn and/or rice.
North American Origin Lager Styles
Mexican-Style Pale Lager
Lager · Pale to deep gold
What to expect
Low to medium-low pale malt sweetness and aroma may be present.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
3–5
Pale / strawBlack
Pale to deep gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.5–5.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
15–22
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 44 · PDF page 53. 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 with attributes typical of noble-type hops.
Perceived bitterness
Low to medium-low
Body & mouthfeel
Low to medium-low with dry finish
Clarity
Appearance should be clear. Chill haze should not be present.
Color
Pale to deep gold
Fermentation characteristics
Clean fermentation profile; low fruity esters may be present; sulfur may be present in very low levels. Diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Pale lagers often made with 2-row pilsener malt may contain corn and/or rice to lighten body. Head retention may be medium-low to medium. Low noble-hop character is slightly more noticeable than that of its light counterpart.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.045-1.050 (11.1-12.4 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.008-1.012 (2-3.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.5%-4.0% (4.5%-5.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 15-22 • Color SRM (EBC) 3-5 (6-10 EBC)