24
by rharper
American Light Lager serves its purpose, and it isn't evil ...
I generally brew my own, and my house brew is a low-point American variation on an English Bitter (American because I don't jazz it up with darker malts and crystals, but keep it mostly pale 2-row, and thus it's lighter than your average bitter).
That said, I often supplement (especially this winter, when brewing was oft-delayed because of the weather), and those supplements vary depending on weather and mood. I'm currently on a Genny Cream Ale kick, and that's not too far off your average light lager ... and I'll PBR it when it gets warmer.
Corn and rice adjuncts (primarily corn) are American signatures, by the way, because we have them--they aren't traditional European crops, and thus never found their way into traditional European brewing. Regional brews in Europe often varied, traditionally, based on available grains as well. The Reinheitsgebot is not the last word, and never was outside a small region.
The only sin that the American Light Lager commits, is being too pedestrian--which is a side effect of immense popularity.