Overall Impression
A gold-colored German lager with a smooth, malty flavor and a soft, dry finish. Subtle spicy, floral, or herbal hops and restrained bitterness help keep the balance malty but not sweet, which helps make this beer a refreshing, everyday drink.
Aroma
Moderate grainy-sweet malt aroma. Low to moderately-low spicy, floral, or herbal hop aroma. Pleasant, clean fermentation profile, with malt dominating the balance. The freshest examples will have more of a malty-sweet aroma.
Appearance
Pale yellow to pale gold. Clear. Persistent creamy white head.
Flavor
Moderately malty start with the suggestion of sweetness, moderate grainy-sweet malt flavor with a soft, rounded palate impression, supported by a low to medium-low bitterness. Soft and dry finish, not crisp and biting. Low to moderately-low spicy, floral, or herbal hop flavor. Malt dominates hops in the palate, finish, and aftertaste, but hops should be noticeable. No residual sweetness, simply the impression of maltiness with restrained bitterness. Clean fermentation profile.
Mouthfeel
Medium body. Medium carbonation. Smooth, well-lagered character.
Vital Statistics
- IBU
- 16 - 22
- SRM
- 3 - 5
- ABV
- 4.7% - 5.4%
Commercial Examples
- Augustiner Lagerbier Hell
- Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Gold