Pre-Pro Lager by East Brother Beer Co. is a pre-Prohibition Lager and is being evaluated as a Historical Beer: Pre-Prohibition Lager (category 27 in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Pre-Prohibition Lagers are golden-colored lagers that were frequently brewed with corn (leading to a light corn aroma and flavor) or rice (more neutral and drier) and have a higher malt and hop levels as well as a higher bitterness than current mass-produced lagers.  East Brother Pre-Pro Lager is brewed with Cluster hops “and a bit of corn” adjunct.

Pre-Pro Lager pours light golden in color with excellent clarity and a medium, fluffy white head.  The aroma is of light crackery pils malt with a hint of corn; the hops provide a light floral and minty background.  The flavor features elements of moderate pils malt and an equal level of corn with light floral hop notes. The body is medium-light while the mouthfeel is crispy with a light creaminess. The beer finishes with a moderate-light bitterness, a light pils malt note, the corn adjunct along with light floral and minty hops.

Pre-Pro Lager is a well-brewed, accurate-to-style pre-Prohibition Lager. The level of malt, hops and bitterness are higher than mass-brewed American lagers yet lower than the levels found in traditional European pilsners, such as German Pils. The corn adjunct aroma and flavor are present and add to the complexity of the malt base. The hops may be a bit peculiar for those more accustomed to typical pilsner hop varieties, though. Pre-Prohibition Lagers are exceedingly difficult to find; be sure to seek this one out to get your history lesson while enjoying an exceptional beverage.