A Style Sheet for… American Style Light Lager
Greetings,
“This style of beer was developed to meet consumer demand for a beer that was low in both calories and carbohydrates. That market segment, the largest segment of the beer market in the United States, are less than demanding when it comes to balance of flavors, taste or aroma profiles. They want basic, mildly alcoholic refreshment, low calorie beverages. “
“The style has been described as; “a watery interpretation of the Pilsener style…”" An American term, indicating watery Pilsener-style beer… “, and “Thin stuff, the equivalent of traditional English small beer… ” “
” A “regular beer” has about 138 calories per 12-ounce bottle. Light beers have between 95-102 calories in a 12-ounce bottle. “
” Essential to “Light” beer is the fact that alcohol contributes 7.1 calories per gram, and can be made in only two ways: special enzymes to convert unfermentable dextrin (at 4.1 calories per gram) to fermentable sugars which will convert to alcohol, or just add water. “
” The United States government has yet to step in and legislate what brewers might call light beer. Canadian regulations specify that light beer, ale, stout, porter and malt liquor must have 3.2 to 4 percent alcohol by volume content. “
“The Association of Brewers’ 2004 Beer Style Guidelines states that, “These beers are extremely light straw colored, light in body, and high in carbonation. Flavor is very light/mild and very dry. Hop flavor, aroma and bitterness is negligible to very low. Alcohol by volume is between 3.5-4.4%. “
Cheers!
Peter LaFrance
( http://www.beerbasics.com/ )
The above is one of my entries to The Oxford University Companion to American Food & Drink:
http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-American-Food-Drink/dp/0195307968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201787712&sr=1-1
