If you haven’t paid close attention to the beer world in the last few years, you might have missed a major shift in the beer landscape. Yes, the IPA is still king, and you’ll still find countless bourbon barrel-aged stouts from coast to beer-drenched coast. But there’s a rise in beer that tastes like beer.
By that, I mean beer that tastes like the way you imagine beer in your head. Some drinkers don’t like that phrase, but it really encapsulates this new trend. Instead of over-the-top flavors, hops, or months of barrel aging, many brewers are crafting classic, crisp, refreshing lagers.
In my years of writing about (and drinking) beer, I’ve spent a lot of time drinking West Coast IPAs, sour ales, and a good number of Scotch ales. But, regardless of the trends, I’ve always known the appeal of a thirst-quenching, refreshing, no frills lager.
The best lagers, according to beer experts
Sure, you’ve always been able to find a lager at your local grocery or beer store. But this used to mean large macro brands almost exclusively. The shift in the beer landscape is that not only can you find crisp, refreshing lagers from big-name breweries, but you can also always find countless options from smaller and even craft breweries. It seems like in the last decade, regardless of the brewery you enter from Tampa to Tacoma, you are not only guaranteed to find an IPA on a beer menu, you’re also likely to find a crisp lager.
That said, I understand that there are over 9,000 breweries of all sizes currently operating in the US. I’m not going to make you sift through these seemingly countless breweries to find a great lager to add to your fridge.
Instead, I tasked the professionals with that job. I asked a handful of well-known beer experts and bartenders to tell us about the lagers they always drink. They not only listed their favorites, but they also explained what they love about them. Keep scrolling to see their picks, ranging from big names to small craft brewers. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Bierstadt Helles Lager
“Bierstadt Helles. It’s still the best Helles in Colorado, maybe the country, and it’s made just a few miles from my home. It’s a very dry beer, but delicious, with bready, grainy flavors that are balanced by a light hop bitterness. It’s right for every situation. Slow Pour Pils is also wonderful, but I tend to have that beer to cap off a session. The Helles comes in the perfect .5L serving size, and you don’t have to wait for it.” – Ryan Pachmayer, Marketing Director at New Image Brewing
Modist Supra Deluxe Japanese Lager
“Modist’s Supra Deluxe Japanese Lager is the kind of beer that doesn’t need to shout because it already knows it’s the best-dressed one at the party. It’s crisp, polished, and precise, like a samurai who also knows how to DJ. What I love about it is the restraint. It doesn’t come at your palate wearing a feather boa and screaming for attention. It arrives clean and elegant, with soft grainy malt, a crackery snap, a touch of floral character, and a finish so dry and refreshing it feels like somebody opened a window in your mouth.” – Garth E. Beyer, Certified Cicerone and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
Brooklyn Lager
“A go-to for me is Brooklyn Lager. It’s got a really balanced profile. A nice toasted malt backbone with subtle caramel sweetness, layered with a crisp, slightly citrusy hop bitterness. You also pick up a light, bready note and a clean, dry finish, making it super easy to keep drinking. I like it because it hits that sweet spot between flavorful and refreshing. It’s not too heavy, but it’s definitely not boring.” – Paul Kowalewski, Beverage Manager at Clinton Hall in New York City
Wrexham Lager
“Now that Wrexham Lager is available in the USA, I serve it at my bar in Hollywood. It was a staple in every pub in North Wales, where I grew up. It’s easy drinking: light on flavor and body, making it great for a day at the pub.” – Rhino Williams, Operating Partner at LP Vinyl Bar in Hollywood, California
Modelo Especial
“I always come back to Modelo Especial. It’s one of those beers that just never misses – clean, crisp, and easy to drink without being boring. You get a light malt sweetness up front, a little touch of corn, and just enough hop bitterness to keep it refreshing. It’s the kind of lager you can have one of or five of, whether you’re on a patio or finishing a long shift.” – Sam Yeakley, Bar Lead at The Foundry in Dayton, Ohio
Moody Tongue Toasted Rice Lager
“I like Moody Tongue Toasted Rice Lager. It is a lager brewed using rice. instead of wheat/grains. Moody Tongue is the only 2-Starred Michelin Brewery in the world. It calls Chicago home. I like how the rice gives the beer a really ‘round’ mouthfeel. It is really smooth and well-balanced. Some flavors you get from the hops include baked lychee and baked pineapple. It finishes really crisp and clean.” – Sarah Clark, Assistant GM and Beverage Director at the Dearborn in Chicago
