Understanding lager beer? Widespread varieties in the global market

Lager beer today commands the worldwide beer market, accounting for over 90% of overall consumption. The reason for this supremacy lies in its crisp, pure, approachable flavor and, critically, its product stability. For global importers and supermarket chains, this reliability is a critical consideration, rendering lager the ideal commodity for industrial production and global logistics.

This post will provide a detailed explanation to what lager beer entails, examine key commercial lager types, clarify the industrial production process, and delineate the global export requirements that A&B Vietnam implements to export compliant products to 70 countries.

Understanding lager beer?

Lager beer is a type of beer produced utilizing the bottom fermentation method with the particular yeast variant Saccharomyces pastorianus. This procedure requires strict thermal control methods. The initial fermentation takes place at low temperatures, generally spanning from 7 to 13°C.

Critically, after fermentation, lager must undergo a chilled maturation period known as lagering (from the German term lagern, which means to keep). This phase lasts from 4 to 8 weeks at temperatures approaching 0°C.

This cold lagering phase enables the yeast to flocculate fully, cleans up unstable byproducts (like esters and phenols), and stabilizes the flavor. The end product is a beer with a characteristically clear, clean, brisk, refreshing, and extremely consistent character, ideal for export.

Differentiating lager and ale

To understand the B2B value of lager beer, importers need to clearly differentiate it from the second main beer family, ale. The core differences are found in the yeast and temperature, that cause major variations in taste and target markets.

Characteristic	Lager beer (Optimal for mass export)	Ale (Appropriate for niche segments)
Yeast type	Saccharomyces pastorianus	Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Fermenting method	Bottom fermenting	Top fermenting
Temperature	Cold (7 to 13°C)	High (15 to 24°C)
Conditioning time	Long (Required cold lagering)	Usually shorter
Taste profile	Clean, brisk, light, consistent	Diverse, fruit forward (esters), nuanced
Key market	Worldwide mass sector, MT channel	Craft beer market, hospitality channel

With its consistent character, clean flavor, and aptness for large scale production, lager is the offering that rules the global mass market. Nevertheless, lager is not a singular product; it is a diverse family. For importers, understanding the key commercial lager types will enable you select the right key products to fulfill the particular needs of your target consumer segments.

Leading commercial lager beer varieties

The lager beer landscape is very varied. With our R&D expertise and state of the art factory systems, A&B Vietnam can develop, provide OEM services, and mass produce all lager types that are in high demand on the international market.

Pale lager

This is the best selling beer type in the world, characterized by its signature light yellow color and a mild, crisp, and refreshing taste.

• ABV by content (ABV) 4% to 6% (Able to be adjusted per OEM specifications).

• Flavor balanced, mild, easy to drink, clean aftertaste.

• Color pale clear yellow.

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

Pilsner

Pilsner is a high quality lager type originally from the Czech Republic. This style is known for its bright golden color, clarity, and the signature scent of noble hop varieties (often Saaz).

• ABV by volume (ABV) 4.4% to 5.5%.

• Taste (IBU) distinct but harmonious bitterness, fragrant hop fragrance.

• Segment Premium.

Pilsner caters to a consumer segment that seeks a more developed profile. Our R&D capabilities allow us to develop OEM Pilsner recipes based on particular hop types if requested by our B2B clients.

Dark lager

This type uses darker malts to achieve a deep amber hue. Unlike different stout beers (like Stout or Porter), Dark Lager retains the smooth, clean aftertaste of a lager and is not too full bodied.

• ABV per volume (ABV) 4% to 6%.

• Profile toasted malt, caramel, hints of chocolate.

• Bitterness Low.

This is an excellent choice for importers seeking to broaden their offerings. Dark Lager is especially popular in moderate or cold regions, where consumers seek slightly more richer flavors.

Bock and doppelbock

These are potent, rich lagers originating from Germany, usually amber or deep brown in appearance. Both are distinguished by a extremely deep and strong malt character.

• ABV per volume (ABV) high, Bock (6.3% to 7.5% ABV) and Doppelbock (7.0% to 10% ABV).

• Profile very malty, sometimes with a light sweetness.

• Tier premium, specialty.

These styles are ideal for niche markets, high end placements, or as limited offerings, all of which A&B Vietnam can craft for OEM special runs.

Non alcoholic lager

This is among the fastest expanding segments in the worldwide beverage market, addressing the health or well being movement. For importers, this is not just a niche but an critical product. This style grants access to a vast consumer audience, including those abstaining for health purposes, drivers, and especially the entire Islamic world.

With A&B Vietnam’s research and development capabilities, we produce non alcoholic lager beer that maintains the complete crisp taste of classic lager.

• Alcohol per volume (ABV) 0% to a limit of 0.5%

• Flavor retains the typical lager taste but without the ethanol.

• Mandatory accreditation HALAL

This offering is essential when targeting Islamic markets (like the Middle East) or sales partners focused on alcohol free shoppers. A&B Vietnam’s capability to produce HALAL compliant non alcoholic beer is a significant competitive edge for importers.

The export lager beer production process

Knowing the production process assists importers accurately evaluate a supplier’s capacity. At A&B Vietnam, lager consistency is ensured through a strict 6 step procedure, running on a industrial production system at our 40,000m² plant.

• Malt mashing: Malt and grains are ground and combined with hot water. Native enzymes in the malt convert starches into fermentable sugars (wort).

• Wort separation: The wort (sugar liquid) is filtered from the malt solids (spent grain).

• Boiling: The wort is heated along with hops. This process sanitizes the wort, concentrates it, and most importantly, releases IBUs and fragrance from the hops.

• Fermentation: The wort is rapidly chilled to 7 to 13°C and the Saccharomyces pastorianus yeast is pitched. The bottom fermentation process proceeds slowly, converting sugars to alcohol and CO2.

• Conditioning: This is the defining step of a lager. The green beer is transferred to conditioning tanks and cold aged (near 0°C) for multiple weeks or months. This refines the flavor, settles the yeast, and develops its signature clarity.

• Filtration and packaging: The final beer is filtered, charged with CO2, and sent to an automatic filling line (cans, bottles, or draft) prepared for export.

Why import lager beer from A&B Vietnam?

Choosing an (OEM/ODM) producer on the global market is decided on more than just the liquid. For importers and supermarket chains, the deciding factors are dependability, regulatory compliance, and operational capability. A&B Vietnam, with extensive international experience dating to 1990, is the ideal partner that exceeds these high requirements.

• Strict global regulatory compliance: We know the import barriers of each region. A&B Vietnam’s factory maintains all essential global accreditations, including ISO 22000 and HACCP, FDA (US market), and HALAL. This guarantees your customs entry procedure is consistently seamless.

• Agile R&D and OEM/ODM services: We do not just offer existing beer labels. A&B Vietnam’s in house R&D department is prepared to co develop private label lager beer recipes according to a partner’s specifications for alcohol per content (ABV), bitterness (IBU), hue, and unique taste notes.

• Demonstrated stable supply chain and logistics expertise: With a major brewery and expertise managing over 1,500+ containers per month, we promise a stable supply of lager (alcoholic and non alcoholic) and ale types of beer for high volume orders. A&B Vietnam has deep expertise in complicated import/export and logistics processes, maintaining beer quality is preserved during international shipping.

• Adaptable B2B packaging options: We offer high quality packaging solutions for various types of beer in our portfolio appropriate for all your distribution channels, including aluminum cans (in popular volumes like 250ml – 330ml – 500ml).

A&B Vietnam is actively seeking long term distribution partners, import partners, and supermarket group partners around the world. Connect with us now to get detailed information on OEM solutions, a price quotation for lager beer, and details on our partner growth assistance programs.

A&B Vietnam