What is Lager?

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A lager is a type of beer that is recognized by its high carbonation level and light color, though some modern lager beers are darker in color and may even be black. The lager beer was originally developed in the 19th century. During this time, brewers in Bavaria commonly stored their beer in cool places to allow the beer to mature. In order to aid in the brewing process, the brewers created a type of yeast that was cable of helping cold beer mature properly. This yeast is still used today to make lager beer and is referred to as bottom-fermenting yeast.

The term lager is derived from the German word lagern, which means “to store.” This name hearkens back to the early methods of creating lager by storing it in places such as caves. Unlike the modern lager, however, the early lager was dark in color because the water used to make it was quite hard. Today, softer water is used to make lager. This has resulted in the beer's distinctively light color.

The process of storing lager beer in a cool area results in a clean taste, because