Beers may have been around for millennia, but lagers are a relatively recent addition, although there is some debate as to when the process was discovered. It appears to first be mentioned in the 1420’s, referred to in the statutes of the city of Munich. Other historians date it to the 1500s and place its origins in Bavaria. No matter who discovered it at what time, it seems that brewers found that beers stored in casks in the cold caves of the Alps were noticeably different from the traditional ales. The process quickly spread and was popular in areas where the cool temperatures could be maintained. Not surprisingly, until the advent of refrigeration, it wasn’t a practical process in many areas. Commercially, production of lagers was only practical for brewers with a great deal of capital, because the longer brewing times required greater storage, and obviously a longer time to get the product initially to market.
Lagers are probably the most widely known of the beers produced by the large American breweries. American lagers are certainly big sellers, but they’re generally held in rather low regard when it comes to their quality and flavor. Many of the labels include corn, rice, or other grains to produce beer at a lower cost, but at the cost of sacrificing true beer flavor. They tend to be light in color and slightly bland, with little hop aroma or flavor, and no fruity esters. Examples: Budweiser, Coors, Miller Genuine Draft
Pilseners are probably the most popular style of lager world-wide. They are named for the Bohemian town of Pilsen, where they originated, they are best defined by the brand Pilsener Urquell. Classic Pilseners, whether German or Bohemian style, range from a light straw color to a light amber. They have a definite hop bitterness and flavor, no fruity esters, and a slightly sweet, malty body. While the Bohemian and German style pilseners are all malt brews, European style pilseners may be brewed with rice, corn, wheat, or other grains. Examples: Jever, Bitburger, Pilsener Urquell
Bocks (or bochs) are European dark lagers. This category would also include the helles bock (light bocks), eisbock (intentionally frozen to remove water from the beer), and the doppelbock (or double bock). They are all malt brews, and are strong, malty, and generally full-bodied beers with a low hop aroma and flavor. They can range in color from deep copper to dark brown, and are traditionally served during the cooler months. Examples: Einbecker, Blue River Bock, Hofbrauhaus Maibock, Stoudt Brewing’s Mai Bock, Samuel Adams Doppelback
