Regarding Lager Beers

From day one, I always preferred ales to lagers.  I guess you could even say that I was somewhat of an "Ale Snob" at one point, but as I mentioned in a previous post, a lot has changed over the last 9 months...most notably, my deeper appreciation of Lager Style Beers.  Maybe it is my German heritage shining through?

I very recently posted a few Lager Beer Reviews, and there are more to come, but I wanted to briefly touch on some of the finer points of Lager Beers before posting them.  Without delving into the complete history of Lager Beers, here are the cliff notes.

For centuries, it was well known that beers that were cave-aged were more stable.  In the 1400's brewers in Munich started building their own caves and they used huge ice blocks that they cut from the lakes and rivers (artificial refrigeration was not invented yet).  Eventually they started fermenting the beer in these caves as well.  In 1553, the brewing of beer was was banned during warm weather (except for wheat beers).

Different types of yeasts that were cold tolerant eventually replaced the yeasts that fermented at warmer temperatures, and the native bacteria died out.  These new strains of yeast didn't float on top like ale yeast, and they also took longer to ferment (up to 2 weeks instead of a few days).  After fermentation, the beers would then be aged for a few months to get rid of the strong sulfur aromas produced by the yeast.  Once aged, the resulting beers were very malty, smooth and clear.

In 1842, this special yeast was brought to the town of Pilsen in Czech Bohemia, giving birth to Pilsner, which eventfully became the most popular beer style in the world, and that it still the case.  The special combination of Moravian barley malt, soft water, and native Saaz hops created a beer unlike anything prior.  It was remarkably clear, with a bright golden color. The aromatics were flowery and malty, and it had huge pillowy head.  It's little wonder why it swept across Europe and eventually the world.

Today, with the aid of refrigeration, Lagers are are stored for months at near freezing. The flavor profile is typically soft, smooth, linear and delicious!  While ales are fruity and complex, lagers are clean, delicate and sophisticated.

There are many types of Lagers, from Munich Helles (very light) to Scwarzbier (black), and everything in between.  Some are filtered, and some are not.  Regardless of style, Lagers are not about flash, but rather quality, simplicity and smoothness.  In fact, quality became an obsession in Germany, and as a result the "Beer Purity Law" (Reinheitsgebot) in 1516 was enacted.

Lager yeasts do not impart much in the way of flavor, so it's really all about the water, malt and hops. It takes great skill to craft a superior lager. Some would even say it is the highest form of brewing.

If you are of the "Ale Only" mentality, or a Newbee, explore the various styles of Lager, and see how wonderful they are on their own...year round, and how they pair up with food.

PROST!

-- Rick S.