Name
German Leichtbier
Category
Pale Bitter European Beer
BJCP Style Code
5 A
Appearance
Straw to pale gold in color. Brilliant clarity. Moderate white head with average to below average persistence.
Aroma
Low to medium hop aroma, with a spicy, herbal, or floral character. Low to medium-low grainy-sweet or slightly crackery malt aroma. Clean fermentation profile.
Flavour
Low to medium grainy-sweet malt flavor initially. Medium hop bitterness. Low to medium hop flavor, with a spicy, herbal, or floral quality. Clean fermentation character, well-lagered. Dry finish with a light malty and hoppy aftertaste.
Mouthfeel
Light to very light body. Medium to high carbonation. Smooth, well-attenuated.
Overall Impression
A pale, highly-attenuated, light-bodied German lager with lower alcohol and calories than normal-strength beers. Moderately bitter with noticeable malt and hop flavors, the beer is still interesting to drink.
Typical Ingredients
Similar to a German Pils or Helles, continental Pils malt, German lager yeast, Saazer-type hops.
History
Traditional versions existed as drinks for physical laborers in factories or fields, but modern versions are more based on popular American products in the same class.
Comments
Marketed primarily as a diet-oriented beer with lower carbohydrates, alcohol, and calories. Pronounced LYESHT-beer. May also be known as a Diat Pils or Helles, this style is in the schankbier gravity class. Other variations of Leicht class beers can be made from Weissbier, Kölsch, and Altbier; those beers are best entered in the Mixed-Style Beer category.
Commercial Examples
Becks Light, Bitburger Light, Mahrs Leicht, Paulaner Münchner Hell Leicht, Paulaner Premium Leicht
Original Gravity
1.026 - 1.034 SG
Final Gravity
1.006 - 1.010 SG
Color
2 - 5 SRM
Alcohol
2.0 - 3.0 %vol
Bitterness
15 - 28 IBU