Brew a clean, refreshing American-style craft lager with subtle grain character and a smooth, light finish.
Makes 5 gallons of Light Craft Lager
All-grain recipe designed for brewers with an all-grain system
Ready to drink in about 4 weeks
American-style light lager
The cleanest, crispest lager here
This is the Weihenstephan 34/70 strain in dry form, the most used lager yeast in the world, and it throws very few esters. Nothing here finishes drier, which is exactly what a delicate lager wants. It is also happy at the warm end of lager temperatures, so a cool basement will hold it.
Ferment at 54-64°F
Attenuation 80-84%
Flocculation High
The classic dry lager
The maltiest lager of the five
Urkel finishes fullest here, so there is real malt sweetness in a beer that is otherwise very lean. It is a Czech strain, so expect some sulfur while it ferments, which is entirely normal and clears as the beer conditions. The most characterful version of this recipe.
Ferment at 52-58°F
Attenuation 71-75%
Flocculation Medium
Balanced, soft, Czech
Classic German lager character
The traditional German lager strain, and it brings hop character forward so the Saaz and Mt. Hood carry further than they otherwise would. It works in a narrow, genuinely cold band, which makes this the one to reach for when you have a fermentation fridge.
Ferment at 50-55°F
Attenuation 74-79%
Flocculation Medium
Crisp, clean, classic
The most forgiving lager on the list
Bayern works across the widest temperature window of any true lager strain here, so a little drift will not hurt you. It also attenuates hard for a lager, keeping the beer crisp. Low to medium flocculation, so it takes its time going bright.
Ferment at 48-64°F
Attenuation 76-82%
Flocculation Low-Medium
Clean, crisp, wide range
A crisp lager on your countertop
No fermentation fridge, no cold basement, no long wait. Pitched warm, Lutra comes out clean and crisp in a few days. It is the fastest route to a pseudo lager on this list, and on a beer this simple it holds up against the real thing.
Ferment at 54-95°F
Attenuation 74-80%
Flocculation Medium-High
Clean, fast, no fridge
✅ Advanced all-grain brewing with clear step-by-step guidance
Flavor Profile & Beer Style
The Light Craft Lager is a crisp, easy-drinking American-style lager with a light malt backbone and a clean finish. Biscuity pilsner-style malts provide subtle grain character, while restrained hopping keeps the beer balanced and refreshing. Saaz hops contribute gentle spice, and Mt. Hood hops add light floral aroma, creating a smooth lager that's flavorful without being heavy.
What’s Included in the Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Light Craft Lager at home:
Briess Pilsen Malt Base
Briess White Wheat Malt
Weyermann Vienna Malt
Saaz Hops (bittering, flavor, and aroma)
Mt. Hood Hops (flavor and aroma)
Your choice of dry or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
How the Brewing Process Works
Brewing your Light Craft Lager focuses on clean fermentation and balance:
Mash: Convert grain starches into fermentable sugars with a balanced mash profile for a light, crisp body.
Sparge: Rinse the grains to collect sweet wort.
Boil: Add Saaz hops for bittering, then Saaz and Mt. Hood hops for flavor and aroma.
Ferment: Ferment with lager yeast at cool temperatures until clean and fully attenuated.
Enjoy: Ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.
This all-grain Light Craft Lager delivers a crisp, clean lager with subtle malt character, gentle hop spice, and a refreshing finish worthy of any occasion.
New to Liquid Yeast?
Liquid yeast can deliver excellent fermentation performance and a wider range of strain options, but it’s a living, perishable product that requires a little extra care.
Liquid yeast may arrive warm. Ice packs help reduce heat exposure but do not guarantee cold arrival.
Refrigerate it when received and plan to brew as soon as possible.
We recommend adding an insulated mailer + ice pack to liquid yeast orders.
During May–September, dry yeast is strongly recommended due to higher shipping temperatures.
Liquid yeast is final sale and cannot be replaced due to heat exposure during transit.
A clean, crisp Light Craft Lager with subtle malt sweetness and gentle floral spice from classic noble-style hops. Expect a smooth, easy-drinking body with low bitterness and a refreshing finish that highlights balance over boldness. This beer delivers classic lager character without heavy alcohol or intense hop bite.
What's Inside the Light Craft Lager - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Light Craft Lager at home:
Briess Pilsen Malt Base
Briess White Wheat Malt
Weyermann Vienna Malt
Saaz Hops (bittering, flavor, and aroma)
Mt. Hood Hops (flavor and aroma)
Your choice of dry or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
Make Your Next Batch with the Light Craft Lager Beer Recipe Kit
Brewing your own Light Craft Lager at home lets you experience the process behind one of the most refreshing beer styles. This kit walks you through creating a clean, balanced lager using traditional ingredients and a forgiving fermentation approach. It’s a hands-on way to brew a beer that’s simple, satisfying, and endlessly drinkable.
Easy Steps to Making Light Craft Lager Beer
Brewing 5 gallons of your favorite Light Craft Lager is more rewarding than ever with our Light Craft Lager 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit. With high-quality ingredients and simple steps, the process is straightforward and satisfying.
Make Your Beer Look As Good As It Tastes.
You brewed something worth showing off. Starting at $4.99, give your bottles the finishing touch with our beer labels. Perfect for sharing your latest batch, gifting a few, or stocking your fridge with pride. Shop matching labels
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Looking For Instructions?
Every all-grain kit comes with instructions to guide you through the brew day, fermentation and beyond. We provide recipe-specific tips tailored to your exact recipe, including mash temperature, fermentation timelines and more.
No. This is an ingredient-only recipe kit. You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing setup including a mash tun, brew kettle, and fermentation equipment.."
Is this beer very hoppy?
No. This lager uses noble hops like Saaz and Mt. Hood for subtle spice and floral aroma rather than bold hop bitterness. The result is a clean, balanced beer with gentle hop character.
Is this beer sweet?
No. This lager finishes clean and dry with a light malt backbone. The pilsner-style malts provide subtle grain character without residual sweetness.
How long does it take to brew?
Brew day takes about 4-5 hours for mashing, sparging, boiling, and cooling. Fermentation takes about 2 weeks, and the beer is ready to drink in about 4 weeks total. Cold conditioning for an additional week or two will further improve clarity and smoothness.
Is this recipe kit beginner-friendly?
This kit is intended for experienced brewers with all-grain equipment. If you are new to brewing, we recommend starting with our extract-based Light Craft Lager Beer Recipe Kit, which uses a simpler steep-and-boil process.
Can I brew this year-round?
Yes. This Light Craft Lager recipe is available year-round. Its crisp, refreshing character makes it especially enjoyable during warmer months, but it brews well in any season.
Not an All-Grain Brewer? Try the Extract Light Craft Lager 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit
Our dry malt extract version of this recipe gives you the same classic Light Craft Lager flavor with a simpler process. Perfect if you’re just starting out or want a quicker brew.
