BJCP 27 · Historical Beer
Pre-Prohibition Lager
The American pilsner from before Prohibition: golden, brewed with corn or rice, with more body and a lot more hops than today's lagers.
Pre-Prohibition Lager by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.5 – 6.0%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 25 – 40 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 3 – 6 SRM6–12 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.044 – 1.060on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.010 – 1.015on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Pre-Prohibition Lager is like
A pale, pilsner-style lager with grainy character and a touch of corn, with more bitterness and more flavor than modern American lagers. Clean, refreshing, with hops you can actually taste.
Appearance
Yellow to deep gold, very clear. Persistent white head.
Aroma
Grainy malt with possible corn sweetness and low to medium floral, spicy or herbal hops. Clean, no esters. A low touch of DMS is possible.
Flavor
Medium to high grainy malt with a slight corn sweetness, and medium to high bitterness that lasts into the finish. Dry and clean.
Mouthfeel
Medium body, a bit fuller than an American Lager. Moderate to high carbonation.
Where Pre-Prohibition Lager comes from
German brewers who emigrated to the United States in the 19th century adapted pilsner to the local high-protein six-row barley, adding corn or rice to lighten it. Prohibition and the years that followed turned it into today's mild lager.
Ingredients
Six-row malt, 20-30% corn or rice, Cluster hops for bittering and noble or noble-type hops for aroma. Clean lager yeast and fairly mineral-rich water.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Pre-Prohibition Lager at home
If you use corn grits, do a cereal mash before adding it to the main mash; flaked corn can go straight in. Ferment at 9-12 °C (48-54 °F), do a diacetyl rest and lager cold for several weeks. Don't skimp on bitterness: it's more bitter than a modern lager.
Food pairing
Pizza, chicken wings and hot dogs.
Glassware: Teku glass, a tasting glass that works with almost any style.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Pre-Prohibition Lager?
Between 4.5% and 6.0% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Pre-Prohibition Lager?
It has 25 to 40 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Pre-Prohibition Lager?
Straw to gold: 3 to 6 SRM (6 to 12 EBC).
What food pairs well with Pre-Prohibition Lager?
Pizza, chicken wings and hot dogs.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try American Lager, German Pils and International Pale Lager.
If you like Pre-Prohibition Lager, try these
Classification and statistics: official Pre-Prohibition Lager guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.