BJCP 2008 Styles

Very refreshing and thirst quenching. A lower gravity and lower calorie beer than standard international lagers.

Very refreshing and thirst quenching. An international style including the standard mass-market lager from most countries.

Refreshing and thirst quenching, although generally more filling than standard/lite versions. Premium beers tend to have fewer adjuncts than standard/lite lagers, and can be all-malt.

Unlike Pilsner but like its cousin, Munich Dunkel, Helles is a malt-accentuated beer that is not overly sweet, but rather focuses on malt flavor with underlying hop bitterness in a supporting role.

Balance and smoothness are the hallmarks of this style. It has the malt profile of a Helles, the hop character of a Pils, and is slightly stronger than both.

Crisp, clean, refreshing beer that prominently features noble German hop bitterness accentuated by sulfates in the water.

Crisp, complex and well-rounded yet refreshing.

Refreshing, but with the underlying malt and hops that stand out when compared to other modern American light lagers. Maize lends a distinctive grainy sweetness. Rice contributes a crisper, more neutral character.

American versions can be a bit stronger, drier and more bitter, while European versions tend to be sweeter.

Smooth, clean, and rather rich, with a depth of malt character.