Lagers style beers are typically given a long secondary fermentation what is referred as the ...

The name lager derives from the German lagern meaning to store. Classically, during this second stage of lageringthe brewers in the Bavarian region of Germany would store their beer in cool cellars and caves during the warm summer months. During this period, the brewers recognized that these beers needed to continue their fermentation and in the process, the slow cool fermentation prohibited the natural production of by-products. Through this lagering period, the beers also began to clarify themselves.

This cooler environment inhibits the natural production of esters, creating a crisper neutral tasting product. When stored in cool conditions, the lagering phase ultimately produces a cleaner and lighter style of beer as broadly compared to the ale category of beers.