Fast delivery
Get in as fast as 1 hour
It’s all local
Shop your favorites
Direct chat
Connect with shoppers
Pale Lager Beers for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to pale lager
When it comes to beer consumption, pale lager is the undisputed No. 1 beer style worldwide. The reason could be its mild and light flavor with low alcohol content. Data shows a steep rise in the consumption of pale lager, which increased from 4.5-7% between 2010 and 2019. Among young adults, pale lager is very popular.
In the mid-18th century, Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied them to existing lager brewing methods. Although his decision raised quite a furor at the time, that day is still celebrated as the dawn of pale lager. Several other brewers jumped on the bandwagon, such as Josef Groll, who brewed in Bohemia the first Pilsner beer, Pilsner Urquell. This beer was a pale-colored, lean, and stable beer that gradually became the most consumed beer worldwide. Later, in 1895, Spatenbräu became the first brewery in Munich to start brewing pale lager.Â
About pale lager
Pale lagers are dry, lean, and clean-tasting. Because of the acidity from the forced carbonation, they are very crisp in flavor. No one ingredient is overpowering. The bitterness, flavor, and aroma of this beer vary from negligible to a dry bitterness from noble hops. Lager beer contains water, noble hops, and Pilsner malt as its main ingredients. Rice or corn is sometimes used as an adjunct to make the beer's body pale in color. One cannot detect the butterscotch flavor normally associated with diacetyl because of the slow, cold fermentation process.Â
The recipe variations for these beers are limited. Only the palest malts will brew into a golden-colored beer. The hops, while important, are subtle in flavor, of the noble variety, and mainly European in character. Lager yeast is not very flavorful because it ferments cool, which mutes yeast-specific flavors like fruity esters. Also, the bottom-fermenting yeast gave brewers a chance to get better results from the fermentation process. Because the fermentation takes a longer time, the outcome is a crisper brew, with a less obvious taste of ale.
Pale lager originated in northern Europe, specifically in Germany, and in what is now known as the Czech Republic. Germans named their light lager Helles, which in German means "light-colored" or, in beer terms, "pale." This name was meant to distinguish pale lager from Dunkelbier or Dunkles Bier (dark beer), which is darker in color and sweeter than Helles.
Types of pale lagerÂ
Many popular beer styles fall under the pale lager category. For instance:
- Bohemian Pilsener:Â Josef Groll of Pilsner Urquell developed the original pale lager recipe. The ingredients were soft water with a low mineral content, Saaz hops, Czech lager yeast, and Moravian malted barley. This Bohemian style is high in bitterness, but the German version is more bitter because of the difference in the two regions' water quality.
- Dortmunder Lager: This pale lager was highly influenced by Pilsner and has a soft texture and a refined flavor combination of light honey, corn, and sweet malt. The sulfate content in the water of that area gives it a mineral taste. Its creamy mouth-feel makes it extremely pleasant to sip while relaxing.
- American Lager: At 3.5-5% alcohol by volume, American lager is a straw-colored lager with a clean, crisp taste due to high carbonation.Â
- Pilsner:Â Pilsner is a prevalent type of lager beer known as a refreshing and thirst-quenching summery beverage. In color and taste both, this light beer is perfect for those who do not like the typical taste of beer.
- German Helles: Comparatively, this variety has more malt than the traditional pilsner and comes in a bright golden color.
Tips for picking the best beer for your taste
- If you are counting calories, then choosing a pale lager is the best option.
- If you are having spicier cuisine, pair it with a lighter beer to round out the flavors.
- If you enjoy beer but don't like a beer's typical taste, pale lagers are a great choice.
Pale Lager Near Me
Buy your favorite Pale Lager online with Instacart. Order Pale Lager from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about pale lager
Pale lagers are served colder than darker lagers. Ideally, pale lager should be served at 38 degrees.
Pale lagers go well with grilled meat or any greasy, fried food. Flavorful dips and spicier cuisines like Indian or Thai go really well with any pale lager.