Vienna Export Lager

A fuller, stronger amber lager emphasizing Vienna malt richness and smooth strength. Compared with Vienna Lager, it is more robust in body and alcohol while preserving toasted malt elegance.

Defined by higher gravity amplifying malt depth while maintaining balance.

Also known as: Vienna Export
Family: Malty Amber Beers - Smooth amber ales and lagers with gentle sweetness
Variant of Amber Lager - Within the Clean Fermentation Beers, defined by clean lager fermentation with restrained yeast expression and structural balance.
Variant influence: Raises original gravity and alcohol strength to enhance malt depth and structure compared to standard Amber Lager while preserving clean fermentation and restrained bitterness.
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ABV, IBU and colour

This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Vienna Export Lager within the GBI model.

ABV: 5,5%
IBU: 18
Colour: 10,0 SRM / 19,7 EBC

Taste profile

The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.

Colour:
Gold Amber
Clarity:
Clear
Aroma – Malt:
Medium High
Aroma – Hop:
Low Medium
Aroma – Yeast:
Low
Aroma – Special:
None Low
Sweetness:
Low Medium
Sourness:
None Low
Bitterness:
Low Medium
Body:
Medium
Astringency:
Low Medium
Carbonation:
Medium High
Alcohol Strength:
Medium
Finish Length:
Medium Long
Oxidation:
None Low

Firm, rich, and smooth with pronounced malt backbone and a longer finish, expressing depth without heaviness.

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What gives Vienna Export Lager its character

These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.

  • Filtration removes suspended material and produces a very bright appearance.
  • High attenuation converts more fermentable extract, tending to reduce residual sweetness and body while supporting alcohol formation and a drier finish.
  • Low crystal usage slightly increases colour, body, sweetness, finish length and caramel-like malt aroma.
  • Vienna malt adds warm, honey-like malt character, increases colour and strengthens malt aroma.
  • Moderate grist intensity provides more extract, supporting somewhat higher gravity, body and alcohol strength.
  • Medium toast deepens colour and increases toasted/melanoidin malt aroma.

History

Developed as a stronger export-strength expression of Vienna lager for transport and longer keeping.

How Vienna Export Lager compares to other beer styles

This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.

Vienna Export Lager vs Vienna Lager

Compared with Vienna Lager, Vienna Export Lager has:

  • a longer finish

Other differences:

  • The color range of Vienna Export Lager extends to lighter shades.
  • Vienna Lager can have a lighter body.
  • Vienna Lager can have a milder alcohol impression.
  • Vienna Lager has herbal hop notes; both styles have noble hop notes.

Vienna Export Lager vs Märzen

Compared with Märzen, Vienna Export Lager has:

  • a longer finish

Other differences:

  • The color range of Vienna Export Lager extends to lighter shades.
  • Märzen can have a fuller body.
  • Märzen can have a milder alcohol impression.
  • Märzen has herbal hop notes; both styles have noble hop notes.
  • Vienna Export Lager has biscuity malt notes, while Märzen has honey-like malt notes; both styles have toasty and melanoidin malt notes.

Compare Vienna Export Lager with another beer style

Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.

Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →

Related styles

Other variants within the same style group as Vienna Export Lager.

Best food pairings for Vienna Export Lager

These food pairings complement the dominant sensory traits of Vienna Export Lager.

  • Roast pork
  • Sausages
  • Richer malt-forward dishes

Service & Aging

Practical guidance for serving and handling Vienna Export Lager.

Serving notes
Serve cool to showcase malt richness and smooth alcohol
Pouring technique
Smooth, moderate pour
Aging potential
Short-term aging (up to 6 months) possible · Not suited for extended cellaring
Common faults
Hot alcohol · Excessive sweetness · Oxidation
Style details
  • Origin: Austria — Originating from Austria.
  • Glassware: Pilsner Glass — Tall, slender pilsner glass that accentuates clarity, carbonation, and hop brightness.
    Willibecher — German-style tumbler glass used for many lagers and ales, offering balanced aroma and drinkability.
    Tumbler — Simple straight-sided tumbler commonly used for lambic, farmhouse ales, and rustic or sour styles.
  • Serving: Draft — Served on draft.
  • Conditioning: Tank-conditioned — Conditioned in stainless or lagering tank.
  • Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
  • Packaging: Keg — Packaged in keg.

Commercial examples of Vienna Export Lager

The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Vienna Export Lager in the market.

  • Ottakringer Wiener Export
  • Schwechater Wiener Lager
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