A rice lager is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a lager that’s made with rice. Malt, one of the main beer ingredients, is any type of malted grain, usually barley or wheat. Rice lagers usually add rice to the mix, making up anywhere from 25-40% of the grain bill.
Rice lagers are light in body, clean on the finish, and a little less bitter than a more traditional barley-forward lager. Rice adds fermentable sugars but not a ton of flavor, letting the crisp flavor of beer shine without getting drowned out in malts.
Oh, and rice is incredibly cheap and easy to produce, a big reason why giant commercial brewers have been using it in their beer for decades.
What Does a Rice Lager Taste Like?
Rice lagers aren’t very complex compared to something like a Vienna lager, but that doesn’t mean they lack character. Most rice lagers are incredibly clean, lightweight, and easy to drink. You should get dryness and crispness as well, with low bitterness since the beer usually has a small hop presence.
Think of a rice lager as the polar opposite of an IPA. While an IPA will be heavy, high in ABV, and incredibly hop-forward, a rice lager is light, refreshing, and clear in color. Rice lagers are perfect for hot days and pair really well with food like pizza.
Why Are They Sometimes Called Japanese Rice Lagers?
The main reason a rice lager would be called a Japanese rice lager is that many famous rice lager brands, like Sapporo or Asahi, come from Japan. Japanese brewers had a lot of rice to work with, and they perfected the art of making a rice lager.
In the United States, a craft brewery selling a Japanese rice lager is emulating the specific style that Japanese brewers utilize. There’s even a chance that none of the ingredients in these Japanese rice lagers are from Japan! It isn’t so unlike a brewer creating a Pilsner even though they’re not making the traditional beer style from Pilsen, Czechia.
Are Rice Lagers Gluten Free?
Just because rice is gluten-free doesn’t mean rice lagers are gluten-free.
Rice lagers are rarely, if ever, brewed 100% with rice. Those other malt grains, like barley or wheat, definitely contain gluten. So no, rice lagers are not gluten-free unless listed otherwise by the brewer. Be sure to check with the brewer first before assuming any beer is gluten-free.
Best Rice Lagers to Try
If you want a great example of a good rice lager, I recommend these beers:
- Sapporo Premium: This is a standard in Japan and accessible worldwide. It’s sweet, clean, and easy to drink.
- Asahi Super Dry: Another Japanese rice lager, Asahi is drier than the other main Japanese brands.
- Harland Japanese Lager: If you’re in San Diego, I recommend looking for this excellent rice lager from Harland Brewing.
- Budweiser: Odds are that you’re already drinking rice lagers if you drink Budweiser!
Rice Lager vs Traditional Lager
How does a rice lager compare to a more traditional or regular type of lager? Well, it basically comes down to the rice. A traditional lager made with malted barley will be full-bodied, have a golden or amber color, and a sweet malt flavor. Rice lagers, being rice-forward, will be drier and crisper, and much lighter in feeling.
Both styles of lager are excellent, and neither is better; there’s just a better time to drink one option over the other.
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