lager

1 of 2

noun

la·​ger ˈlä-gər How to pronounce lager (audio)
variants or lager beer
plural lagers or lager beers
: a beer (such as a bock or pilsner) that is brewed at cool temperatures by slow fermentation with a slow-acting yeast (especially Saccharomyces pastorianus synonym S. carlsbergensis)

Note: Lagers tend to have a lighter, clearer appearance than ales with a usually lower alcohol content and slightly higher sugar content. The yeast used to ferment lager is often referred to as "bottom-fermenting" since it does not rise to the top of the brewing vessel during fermentation.

Known for being crisper, cleaner and more refreshing than ales, lagers are lighter in body and alcohol while being moderate to high in carbonation.—Kara Newman
All true lagers are aged before consumption. Lager in fact comes from the German word meaning to store.—Dave Martin
Lager beer had developed in Central Europe and probably was introduced in the United States by Philadelphia brewer John Wagner …—Donna R. Gabaccia

lager

2 of 2

verb

lagered; lagering; lagers

transitive verb

: to store (beer and especially lager) at cold temperatures during a period of aging often accompanied by a secondary fermentation to improve flavor and clarity
The basic American beer is properly described as "lager," which means that the brew has been fermented in the bottom of a tank and then stored—lagered—for two to six weeks in order to smooth and mellow its flavor.—Anthony Dias Blue
lagering noun
Minimum lagering times are in excess of 21 days, but the premium beers are matured for two to three months. —Michael Jackson

Examples of lager in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At the Mission Valley location, Puesto brews six beers that are Mexican-inspired and range from lagers and ambers to an IPA. —The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024 Mengistu's and Richard's love of ales, lagers and stouts transcended hobby-level enthusiasm to the idea to open a brewery. —George Solis, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lager 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lager.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German Lagerbier beer made for storage, from Lager storehouse + Bier beer

First Known Use

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lager was in 1852

Phrases Containing lager

Dictionary Entries Near lager

Lagenostoma

lager

Lagerkvist

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Lager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lager. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

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