German Leichtbier
- Recipes:
- 112
- BJCP 2021:
- 05A
- Era:
- Traditional
- Origin:
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Fermentation:
- Bottom
- Conditioning:
- Lagered
- Color:
- Pale
- Strength:
- Low
- Taste:
- Bitter
Profile
German Leichtbier is a lighter version of traditional German pale lagers, designed to deliver the same noble hop and malt characteristics with a lower alcohol content. The style emerged as part of a broader trend towards more health-conscious beer options, appealing particularly to drinkers seeking the flavors of classic German beers without the heft.
In appearance, German Leichtbier typically presents a pale straw to gold color, boasting brilliant clarity due to its lagering process. A frothy white head is common, providing an inviting look that promises refreshment. This style offers a light bouquet that reflects its malt and hop bill – subtle malt graininess coupled with hints of noble hops imparting slight spicy or floral notes. It maintains the balance found in fuller-strength German Lagers but with subdued intensity. Malt sweetness is delicate, featuring bread-like or grainy notes without becoming cloying or heavy on the palate. Hop character is equally restrained yet should provide enough bitterness for balance and can impart gentle floral or herbal undertones. These beers are clean fermented, so esters and phenolic characters should be virtually absent.
Overall, while it shares similarities with other light lager styles such as American Light Lager or even the Munich Helles from which it takes inspiration, the German Leichtbier stands out by retaining more of the traditional flavors found in German brewing traditions at a lower strength and calorie count.
Specifications
Alcohol
Specification
2.4 – 3.6 %
In Database
2.5 < 3.3 < 3.9 %
Bitterness
Specification
15 – 28 IBU
In Database
13 < 21 < 32 IBU
Color
Specification
3 – 8 EBC
2 – 4 SRM
In Database
4 < 6 < 9 EBC
2 < 3 < 5 SRM
Original Extract
Specification
6.6 – 8.5 °P
1.026 – 1.034 OG
In Database
6.4 < 8.0 < 9.9 °P
1.025 < 1.032 < 1.040 OG
Final Gravity
Specification
1.5 – 2.6 °P
1.006 – 1.010 FG
In Database
1.0 < 1.8 < 3.1 °P
1.004 < 1.007 < 1.012 FG