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Top 42 Lagers
The lager beer style is among the ubiquitous and popular in the entire world. This easy-drinking, low-ABV style encompasses a wide swathe of beer flavors with dark lagers, pale lagers, hoppy lagers and more. Explore our list of the Top 42 Lagers we've had the pleasure to review.
The humble lager. Widely imbibed and deeply misunderstood, this easy-drinking beer style is light on the palate and eminently quaffable. It is a style that a beer neophyte would likely think of when doing word association simply the word “beer.”
Once the purview of megalithic corporations the world over, the pendulum of popular taste has swung back around, and lagers and light lagers are now among the most widely produced styles by craft brewers all over the world.
However, while this style might be easy to glug down, it is actually quite exacting to brew, as it has to be precisely brewed as there are no adjuncts or extremely strong flavors present to hide any imperfections in the brew. If not made correctly, brewers (and patrons) will be able to tell immediately.
The beers on this list, of course, were all made perfectly and deliver that wonderful, smooth flavor that lagers should deliver every time.
A note: While most would think of standard American Lagers or American Light Lagers as the standard-bearers for the “lager” family of beers, there is actually a wide breadth of substyles within the macro style of “lager.” Darker styles such as Vienna Lagers, Munich Dunkels and even seasonal favorites such as Oktoberfest are present on this list, as well as other darker lagers that might make one raise an eyebrow. Just remember, lagers are popular all over the world all year round, and the American style is just one of the myriad options among hundreds. Embrace diversity and try some other lagers if you love the style, as this list has plenty of options within. Happy drinking!
#42
94
Swipe Light
Southern Tier Brewing Co.
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#41
94
Steamworks Pilsner
Steamworks Brewing Co.
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"Overall the beer is a delight of balance between pilsner-style malt and floral-herbal hop tones, where the yeast mostly stays out the way. This beer would be fantastic with a spicy meal like citrus-marinated prawns pan fried with red pepper flakes. If you like golden, hop-forward lagers, this example is definitely recommended." - Judge David Sapsis
#40
94
Festie Oktoberfest Lager
Starr Hill Brewery
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#39
94
Weekender
ZēLUS Beer Co.
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#38
94
Ahnapee Oktoberfest
Ahnapee Brewery
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"Many U.S.-made märzens miss the boat by coming off too sweet with too much caramel malt flavor. This one does not. Its hop-malt balance hits the mark and it finishes crisp and clean. The beer loses a couple points on aroma – it’s a little low – and on appearance and head retention. The brewer hits it out of the park on flavor, however." - Judge Pat Mulloy
#37
94
pFriem Japanese Lager
pFriem Family Brewers