Beer Styles

What is an American Lager? It's a pale, bottom-fermented beer with a light body, low hop character, and a dry, clean finish. The BJCP describes it as 4.2 to 5.3 percent alcohol and 8 to 18 IBU. It's the style that Miller High Life, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schlitz serve as brands, though no single name defines the style itself.

How does it differ from a German Pilsner? Pils, at 22 to 40 IBU, is noticeably more bitter and lives on its hop character. American Lager lives on freshness and drinkability. Corn or rice is often added, giving it that lean body and a slightly sweet grain note.

Cream Ale is the second flagship style of this Midwestern landscape. It's top-fermented and often cold-conditioned. The result is pale, mild and round, with little bitterness. The BJCP lists 4.2 to 5.6 percent alcohol and 8 to 20 IBU.

Neither style aims to impress — they aim to still taste good on the second glass. That's their strength, and why they dominated the market for decades before the craft wave brought new styles. Drunk cold and fresh, they deliver exactly what Milwaukee's brewers refined over generations: a beer with no rough edges and no pretense.

Important: talking about brands like Pabst or Schlitz means talking about labels, not breweries. The recipes today belong to whichever companies hold the names, and are no longer tied to Milwaukee. The style, however, remains the same.