What is lager beer? Common varieties on the market

Lager beer currently leads the global beer market, comprising over 90% of overall sales. The catalyst for this leadership lies in its crisp, pure, easy to drink flavor and, crucially, its product consistency. For international importers and supermarket chains, this reliability is a key factor, rendering lager the perfect offering for industrial production and international shipping.

Defining lager beer?

Lager beer is a type of beer made utilizing the bottom fermentation process with the specific yeast variant Saccharomyces pastorianus. This operation requires strict temperature control techniques. The initial fermentation takes place at low temperatures, typically ranging from 7 to 13°C.Crucially, after fermentation, lager is required to pass through a cold conditioning period known as lagering (from the German word lagern, meaning to keep). This process extends from 4 to 8 weeks at temperatures close to 0°C.This cold lagering phase enables the yeast to flocculate completely, removes unstable compounds (like esters and phenols), and stabilizes the profile. The result is a beer with a characteristically clear, pure, brisk, refreshing, and extremely stable character, ideal for export.Contrasting lager and aleTo understand the commercial worth of lager beer, importers must to fully differentiate it from the other major beer category, ale. The primary differences are found in the yeast and temperature, which result in significant variations in flavor and intended markets.

With its stable character, clean flavor, and suitability for large scale production, lager is the offering that commands the global mass market. But, lager is not a monolithic product; it is a varied category. For importers, identifying the key commercial lager types will assist partners target the right key products to meet the particular needs of your target customer segments.

Leading commercial lager beer styles

The lager beer sector is very diverse. With our research and development capabilities and state of the art factory systems, A&B Vietnam can develop, offer OEM services, and industrially manufacture all lager types that are in high request on the global market.

Pale lager

This is the best selling beer type in the globe, distinguished by its signature light yellow color and a mild, crisp, and easy drinking taste.

• ABV per volume (ABV) 4% to 6% (Can to be adjusted per OEM requirements).
• Flavor balanced, mild, approachable, clean finish.
• Hue light bright yellow.

This is a foundational product, comprising the majority of A&B Vietnam’s OEM and large quantity export orders. The thirst quenching quality of Pale Lager is ideally suited for warm climates, for example those in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Pilsner

Pilsner is a high quality lager style first from the Czech Republic. This variety is recognized for its clear gold hue, clarity, and the signature fragrance of noble hops (often Saaz).

• ABV by content (ABV) 4.4% to 5.5%.
• Profile (IBU) distinct but balanced hop character, aromatic hop fragrance.
• Tier High end.

Pilsner targets a consumer segment that seeks a more refined profile. Our research expertise allow us to develop OEM Pilsner formulas using particular hop types if requested by our B2B clients.

Dark lager

This style uses darker malts to produce a dark brown color. Unlike other dark beers (like Stout or Porter), Dark Lager retains the mellow, crisp aftertaste of a lager and is not too full bodied.

• Alcohol by volume (ABV) 4% to 6%.
• Profile toasted maltiness, toffee, hints of chocolate.
• IBU Mild.

This is an great option for importers looking to diversify their portfolios. Dark Lager is especially appealing in moderate or cold climates, where consumers want slightly more complex flavors.

Bock and doppelbock

These are robust, rich lagers coming from Germany, typically amber or dark brown in color. Both styles are characterized by a very deep and robust malt character.

• ABV by volume (ABV) high, Bock (6.3% to 7.5% ABV) and Doppelbock (7.0% to 10% ABV).
• Flavor very malty, sometimes with a slight sweetness.
• Segment high end, specialty.

These types are ideal for niche markets, premium placements, or as seasonal offerings, all of these A&B Vietnam can produce for OEM batch orders.

Non alcoholic lager

This is one of the most rapidly expanding segments in the worldwide beverage industry, addressing the wellness and wellness trend. For importers, this is no longer a niche but an essential product. This category opens up access to a vast customer audience, including people abstaining for health purposes, drivers, and critically the entire Islamic world.With A&B Vietnam’s R&D capabilities, we produce non alcoholic lager beer that keeps the complete refreshing flavor of classic lager.

• ABV by content (ABV) 0% to a maximum of 0.5%
• Taste keeps the typical lager taste but without the alcohol.
• Required certification HALAL

This product is essential when approaching Islamic markets (like the Middle East) or retail partners focused on alcohol free shoppers. A&B Vietnam’s capability to manufacture HALAL certified non alcoholic beer is a significant competitive advantage for partners.

The export lager beer production process

Grasping the production method helps importers properly evaluate a supplier’s capabilities. At A&B Vietnam, lager consistency is secured through a controlled 6 step process, operating on a industrial production system at our 40,000m² facility.

• Mashing: Malt and adjuncts are milled and combined with hot water. Natural enzymes in the malt convert carbohydrates into sugars (wort).
• Wort separation: The wort (sweet liquid) is separated from the grain solids (spent grain).
• Wort boiling: The wort is heated along with hops. This step sterilizes the wort, concentrates it, and critically, infuses bitterness and fragrance from the hops.
• Fermentation: The wort is quickly cooled to 7 to 13°C and the Saccharomyces pastorianus yeast is added. The bottom fermentation stage occurs gradually, turning sugars to alcohol and CO2.
• Maturation: This is the key step of a lager. The young beer is transferred to lagering tanks and cold stored (near 0°C) for several weeks or months. This refines the flavor, settles the yeast, and creates its signature clarity.
• Filtering and canning: The finished beer is filtered, carbonated, and fed into an automated packaging line (cans, glass, or kegs) ready for shipment.

Why import lager beer from A&B Vietnam?

Selecting an (OEM/ODM) manufacturer on the global stage is decided on something more than just the product. For importers and supermarket chains, the deciding factors are dependability, regulatory adherence, and production capacity. A&B Vietnam, with extensive international experience since 1990, is the strategic supplier that fulfills these stringent standards.

• Rigorous international standards compliance: We understand the import requirements of every region. A&B Vietnam’s facility maintains all mandatory global certifications, including ISO 22000 & HACCP, FDA (US market), and HALAL. This guarantees your import clearance process is always trouble free.
• Flexible R&D and OEM/ODM expertise: We do not just sell our own beer brands. A&B Vietnam’s expert R&D department is ready to formulate white brand lager beer formulas based on a partner’s specifications for ABV by content (ABV), hop level (IBU), color, and specific flavor profiles.
• Proven consistent supply and logistics expertise: With a major brewery and experience managing more than 1,500+ containers every month, we ensure a uninterrupted flow of lager (alcoholic and non alcoholic) and ale styles of beer for large volume orders. A&B Vietnam has deep expertise in complex customs and shipping processes, ensuring beer integrity is preserved over long distance shipping.
• Adaptable B2B canning solutions: We offer high quality packaging solutions for all styles of beer in Vietnam suitable for all your distribution channels, such as aluminum cans (in popular sizes like 250ml – 330ml – 500ml).

A&B Vietnam is actively seeking long term distribution partners, importers, and retail group partners worldwide. Contact us today to get in depth consultation on OEM solutions, a price quote for lager beer, and details on our market growth support programs.

A&B Vietnam