The Brewers Association has formally introduced seven new beer styles to its official Beer Style Guidelines, including a comprehensive definition for Mexican-Style Lager and the addition of West Coast Pilsner and Czech-style lagers. This update allows brewers to submit beers in these newly defined categories for judging at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival (GABF), providing clear criteria for competition and guiding brewers on style expectations.
Among the newly recognized styles, Mexican-Style Lager has been distinctly categorized into four substyles: Light, Pale, Amber, and Dark. Previously grouped under broader lager categories, the unique characteristics and rising popularity of these beers warranted individual recognition. Notable examples such as Corona and Modelo Negra, despite their differences in flavor and appearance, both fall under this classification, alongside others like Dos Equis Amber and Bohemia Obscura.
While the origins of Mexican lagers are somewhat complex and may not be exclusively Mexican, the Brewers Association has provided a framework for judges to evaluate these beers consistently. The use of adjuncts like corn or rice—common in many North American lagers—is acknowledged but does not exclusively define the style. The new guidelines aim to clarify the profile and expectations of these diverse beers.
In addition to Mexican-Style Lagers, the updated guidelines include Czech-Style Amber Lager and Czech-Style Dark Lager, reflecting renewed interest driven by traditional Czech dispensing methods. The former Bohemian-Style Pilsener category has been renamed Czech-Style Pale Lager to better align with brewing heritage.
Another notable addition is West Coast-Style Pilsener, a style emerging from craft brewers’ experimentation with high hop levels, combining the bold hop character of Pacific Northwest and Southern Hemisphere varieties with the drinkability of a pilsner.
Chris Williams, Competition Director for the Brewers Association, emphasized the importance of these updates: “We are proud to honor these traditional brewing styles with a home in the BA Style Guidelines in recognition of their continued and growing popularity here in the United States, as well as in the global beer market. Now these beers will have a distinct home when it comes to competitions like GABF and World Beer Cup, giving them the best opportunity to shine and showcase the artisans making world-class examples of these beers.”
Mexican-Style Lager Categories:
- Light Lager: Straw to pale gold in color, clear appearance, very light body with dry finish, low malt sweetness, subtle corn or rice adjunct flavors, and minimal hop bitterness.
- Pale Lager: Pale to deep gold, clear, low to medium-low malt sweetness, low hop bitterness, low to medium body, with corn or rice adjuncts adding lightness.
- Amber Lager: Light amber to copper, clear with white foam, medium malt caramel and bready notes, light creaminess in body, minimal hop presence.
- Dark Lager: Dark copper to brown with ruby highlights, clear with creamy foam, medium to full body, complex malt character featuring toasted, caramel, and nutty flavors, subtle adjunct influence.
These detailed style descriptions set clear expectations for brewers and judges alike, marking a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of craft beer and lager traditions.
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