There are many varieties of lagers out there—pilsner, helles, bock, marzen, American lager, Vienna lager, to name a few. Generally, this beer style is known for its clean, crisp, refreshing flavor profile. It’s also usually fairly low in alcohol, around 4-5% ABV. This is why it’s one of the most crushable, craveable beer styles on a hot, humid summer day.
If you’re a lager fan, nobody will fault you for drinking macro-brews like Modelo Especial, Corona Extra, Stella Artois, or Budweiser. But if you’re limiting yourself to only one or two lagers made by giant corporations, you’re missing out on some pretty tasty brews.
America’s beer industry has been absolutely booming in recent years. Gone are the days of walking into a store and finding only a few household names and nothing else. At last count, there are nearly 10,000 breweries currently operating in the US. Many of those are craft breweries, and a healthy chunk of them are making lagers. Here are a few of our favorites.
Photo via Threes Brewing
Threes Brewing Vliet
This award-winning pilsner is brewed with German Pilsner malts as well as Saaz and Spalter Select hops. The result is an easy-drinking 5.1% ABV beer that begins with a nose of bready malts, floral hops, freshly cut grass, and a hint of citrus. The palate follows suit with notes of biscuit-like malts, light citrus, wet grass, hay, and floral Noble hops. It’s crisp, refreshing, and balanced. Every sip will make you feel like you’re walking through a field in the Hallertau region of Germany.
Image via Human Robot Brewing
Human Robot Czech 10
There’s no disputing that the Czech Republic and Germany make better lagers than anyone else. The folks at Human Robot brew one of the best Czech-style lagers, using a traditional decoction process with floor malted Czech Pils malt and Bohemian-grown Saaz hops. This 4.2% ABVpilsner begins with a nose of biscuit malts, clover honey, lemon zest, and earthy hops. Sipping it reveals notes of lemon peel, fresh-cut grass, floral hops, and a pleasant, crisp, dry finish.
Photo via pFriem Family Brewers
pFriem Pilsner
Made in the Pacific northwest, pFriem Pilsner is a classic take on the Bavarian style, brewed with Gambrinus and Weyermann German Pilsner malts, Cara Foam malts, and Acidulated malts. It gets its hop presence from the use of Perle, Saphir, Tettnang, and Spalt Select. This creates a crisp, refreshing pilsner that begins with a nose of freshly cut grass, honey, lemon peels, and floral hops. The palate is a crisp, dry symphony of flavors including honey, wet grass, cracked black pepper, and floral Noble hops.
Photo via von Trapp Brewing
von Trapp Helles Golden Lager
If you’ve ever seen The Sound of Music, you know all about the von Trapp family. But you might be surprised to learn that the same family owns this Vermont-based brewery. It makes a variety of European-style beers, and one of the best is its Helles Golden Lager. This award-winning lager is made with with Pilsner malt and Perle and Tettnang hops. It begins with a nose of malt, peppery spice, honey, and floral, earthy hops. The palate continues this trend with bready malts, caramel, citrus, and a crisp, floral finish.
Photo via Jack’s Abby Brewing
Jack’s Abby House Lager
If you only purchase one beer on this list, make it Jack’s Abby House Lager. This is as classic and crushable as lagers get. This 5.2% ABV Helles-style lager is brewed with simple ingredients like malted barley, yeast, and a proprietary blend of hops. It begins with a nose of cracker-like malts, honey, citrus peels, and floral hops. The palate is a mix of caramel, crackers, honey, fresh cut grass, and a gently floral, hoppy finish that leaves you craving more.
Photo via Sacred Profane
Sacred Profane Dark Lager
To say that this 4% ABV dark lager is a complex one is a major understatement. It’s triple decocted, open fermented, naturally carbonated, and made with 100% Czech-sourced ingredients. It’s brewed with floor-malted Pilsner, Vienna, and Munich malts. It’s hopped with a mix of specially selected aromatic and bittering hops. On the nose, you’ll be greeted with aromas of roasted coffee beans, raisins, and toasted malts. The palate is all espresso, bitter chocolate, malt, and caramel.
