Lagsporter

Lagsporter is a proposed beer style that blends features of lager and porter rather than a formally recognized category. The name combines lager with porter, suggesting a beer that aims for the crisp, clean finish of a lager while incorporating the malt backbone and roasted notes typically associated with a porter.

Typical characteristics described by proponents include a pale to amber color, a malt-forward profile with caramel, chocolate, or roasted notes, and a body that ranges from medium to medium-light. The finish is often described as relatively crisp, with a balance between malt sweetness and a refreshing, drinkable dryness. Some interpretations experiment with hybrid yeast or cooler conditioning to achieve lager-like clarity, while maintaining porter-like depth in flavor.

History and status: the concept has appeared mainly in homebrewing circles and beer-nerd discussions since the 2010s as a thought experiment about cross-style hybrids. It is not an officially recognized style by major brewing institutions such as the Beer Judge Certification Program or common style guidelines, so there is no standardized recipe or set of criteria.

Variants and reception: because there is no formal specification, individual brewers vary in mash temperatures, hop choices, and fermentation approaches. Lagsporters are largely experimental and niche, with only sporadic commercial releases and a small share of homebrewing trials.

See also: lager, porter, beer style hybridity, hybrid beer, BJCP guidelines.