To briefly recap (we know, it’s been a while) we’ve discussed “What is craft beer?” and we’ve discerned the two (main) types of beer – ale and lager.

So, on a whim, let’s discuss lager(s) for a bit. Compared to ale, lager is a baby. This baby has at least a dozen different styles, so let’s narrow it down to a select handful of categories. Why these? Well, don’t worry about it. Because beer, that’s why. (This post was written sober*)

Pale Lager

This is your typical beer style. Miller, Budweiser, Heineken etc. They’re designed to be served cold and primarily quench thirsts (for beer). Some beers in this category are affectionately called ‘water.’

Amber Lager

Surprise, this is amber in color (and sometimes red). Think Oktoberfest and Marzen-style beers as well as Vienna-style and ‘smoked’ beers. Containing more malt and more flavor than their pale counterparts, amber lager beers tend

Bock

Historically associated with Einbeck, Germany, these beers range from pale to dark in color and can be characterized by a malty sweetness. Types include the traditional bock, helles bock, Doppelbock and the not as common Eisbock.

Dark Lager

Here you’ll find Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier (think black beers), and American dark lagers attempting to recreate their European counterparts. Brown and black are the typical colors here but they are not stouts or porters.

Specialty Lager

This is kind of a mish-mash (pun intended) category of lagers that involve fruit, smoke, and herbs and spices. Most of these are typically available in the winter during the holiday season. They transcend some categories and (obviously) involve ingredients outside of the main four.

What does all of this say about lager? Well, for starters, one can see that it’s very difficult for a person to say “Oh, I don’t like [pale/dark] beers” or say the all too common “I only drink ales.” No, that’s just plain wrong. The flavors and textures between pale and dark lagers (and between ales and lagers for that matter) are so diverse that making a generalized statement like this is egregious.

Unless, of course, that person has a gluten allergy in which case it totally makes sense.

*Maybe