Why is it important to understand tradition in the production of modern lager beers? Tradition is often used as a marketing tool, which can cause it to be written off by brewers. Yet modern methods for producing characterful lager beer have their roots in centuries-old methods. Understanding the origins and applications of techniques such as decoction and natural carbonation can help brewers produce better lager beer.

Learning Objectives

• Get to know the role of tradition in modern lager beer production, including raw materials and fermentation
• Understand the methods and applications for decoction in the modern brewhouse
• Discuss capturing the fifth ingredient, using spunding and krausening for natural carbonation