Lager Beers Take Over In The US

During the 1870s, lager beer became an increasingly powerful force in the United States brewing industry. German immigration, German-American brewing culture, and the growth of urban breweries helped shift American beer away from older ale traditions toward bottom-fermented lager. The takeover was gradual rather than instantaneous: ale breweries still mattered in 1870, but lager production continued to rise through the late 19th century and, by 1900, lager outsold ale by a significant margin. For the Beer Chronicles timeline, the 1870s mark the decade in which American lager moved from immigrant specialty toward national dominance.