# Best Beer-Category: Lager **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [July 24, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948 "2014-07-24T17:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/41 "2014-07-25T14:19:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And Schlitz went back to its 1960s formula about six years ago (Old Style, too, tweaked its recipe to reincorporate kraeusening in the process.) The new old Schlitz definitely tasted different and a lot better than the Schlitz it was replacing. It’s actually a pretty decent American lager, in the same ballpark as Yuengling in terms of flavor and quality. They actually krausen instead of force-carbonate? Who knew! (don’t even know if I can get Schlitz around here or not; I’ll have to check next time I’m at the grocery) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/42 "2014-07-25T15:28:53Z")
> [@bump](#): > > They actually krausen instead of force-carbonate? Who knew! Yeah, they had a big ad campaign a few years back, and [their packaging prominently featured the word kraeusened](http://www.artzberger.com/BeerCans/newcans/canpics/old_style_12.jpg) on it. There was a thread here [last year about Old Style](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=702713) since their packaging doesn’t seem to reflect this any more, but apparently it still is kraeusened. Now, I’m not sure whether beers can be both kraeusened and force carbonated, but the new version of Old Style definitely tasted different than the old version, but the differences between the new and old Schlitzes were the most prominent. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/43 "2014-07-25T15:44:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And Schlitz went back to its 1960s formula about six years ago (Old Style, too, tweaked its recipe to reincorporate kraeusening in the process.) The new old Schlitz definitely tasted different and a lot better than the Schlitz it was replacing. It’s actually a pretty decent American lager, in the same ballpark as Yuengling in terms of flavor and quality. Same thing with our local Rainier beer, which I enjoyed back a few decades back before the company got sold and the beer got reformatted time and time again until it got turned into undrinkable swill. I was at a friend’s house recently and he handed me a glass of lager. I took a sip…it tasted delicious and brought back wonderful memories. I asked him what it was, and he showed me the can of Rainier he poured it from. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/44 "2014-07-25T17:24:22Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > LOL > > The hipsters of ten years ago, are probably ghosts of their once hip selves by now. > > My father claims that PBR and Schlitz used to be very good beers, but I’m a little doubtful of his claims. He speaks so fondly of everything in the 1960s and 1950s that I suspect him of having a biased opinion. > > That said, both of those beers did alter their recipe and brewing process in the 1970s. Your father was right, ya young punk. The old Schlitz was a great American lager. The reformulation is very good as well. I just wish it was more available around here. Although I’m not exactly lacking for choices - there are at least three microbreweries within 15 miles that were started by or are being run by homebrewer friends of mine. [Ritual Brewing](http://www.ritualbrewing.com/) [BJ’s](http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/) [Hanger 24](http://www.hangar24brewery.com/) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/45 "2014-07-26T00:59:05Z")
Pretty much anything that comes out of a Sam Adams bottle never ever disappoints me. But their Octoberfest, Winter Lager and their standard SA Lager are among my top favourites. I really couldn’t choose just a single one among them. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/46 "2014-07-26T01:12:15Z")
We usually have Sessions or Negra Modelo in the fridge. I like Dos Equis and Sam Adams, as well. One of the best I’ve had was Budweiser Budvar, which is a Czech lager. I don’t even know if you can get it in the states, but it was my first choice in Europe. Also, I never met a German lager I didn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/47 "2014-07-26T01:34:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is PBR still the cheap hipster beer of choice? It was ten years ago, I’d assume they’d have moved on by now. I do remember the reformulated Schlitz making a comeback about six years ago or so, but it didn’t seem to fully take hold. No. National Bohemian or Miller High Life. Mostly the former. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/48 "2014-07-26T01:37:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is PBR still the cheap hipster beer of choice? It was ten years ago, I’d assume they’d have moved on by now. I do remember the reformulated Schlitz making a comeback about six years ago or so, but it didn’t seem to fully take hold. Schlitz may be the first beer that ever touched my lips. My grandfather in Arkansas would let me sip a little when I was five. I made a face. I’m pretty sure that was Schlitz. But to think Schlitz or PBR could be hipster beers … Man, I’ve been away a long time. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/49 "2014-07-26T02:11:06Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The best beer is “Free Beer”! “Free Beer” sounds like a good name for a band that plays dive bars and such. 😃 For main stream beer I like Sam Adams. It can be bought anywhere in America and it’s always good. I know some of you will hold your nose at these, but let’s talk super cheap lagers: For starters I like [Stag](http://stag-beer.com/Home.aspx) but I can’t get it around here. We’re going down to St. Louie over Labor day and I’m going to buy at least 3 or 4 cases of it to bring back. Believe it or not, [Blatz](http://www.blatzbeer.com/Home.aspx) and [Old Milwaukee](http://oldmilwaukee.com/) are decent enough cheap lagers **IF** drank from glass bottles. Stay away from the canned versions. [Hamms](http://www.boozingear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/500x/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/h/a/ham-0011/Hamms-Hamms-Beer-Diversion-Can-Safe.jpg) lager is surprisingly malty and hoppy for the price. I see it for $3.89 for a sixer of pints around here. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/50 "2014-07-26T02:32:36Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Schlitz may be the first beer that ever touched my lips. My grandfather in Arkansas would let me sip a little when I was five. I made a face. I’m pretty sure that was Schlitz. > > But to think Schlitz or PBR could be hipster beers … Man, I’ve been away a long time. For me, it was Old Style. It is still the beer I choose when I’m in a neighborhood bar trying to “keep it real.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/51 "2014-07-26T03:46:47Z")
Yuengling is a good cheapish one. Can’t get it here, though. Negra Modelo. Best Mexican beer by far. I guess Bohemia is alright but I don’t see it as often. Trumer Pilsner. Anchor makes some decent ones too. Weird one: “New Belgium 1554 Black Lager” used to be called 1554 “Enlightened Black Ale” but changed. Why? [MFing Texas](http://www.newbelgium.com/community/Blog/14-02-10/Did-you-notice-the-change-to-1554.aspx) and their definitions of terms that don’t fit reality. Still tastes good. I don’t know if this technically counts as a lager. As I understand it, it’s basically lager yeast prepared in an ale manner. Kind of the opposite of Altbier and Kölsch (ale yeast+colder brewing), the main German beers that aren’t lagers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/52 "2014-07-26T11:05:58Z")
Lager yeast at ale temp would generally be what’s called California common or steam beer (as in Anchor Steam), but the rest of it (the color, flavor, etc.) doesn’t fit the style profile. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/53 "2014-07-26T13:25:21Z")
Kronenbourg 1664 ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/54 "2014-07-26T15:19:59Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > No. National Bohemian or Miller High Life. Mostly the former. Is Natty Bo widely distributed? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/55 "2014-07-27T00:50:43Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Is Natty Bo widely distributed? I don’t think so. I saw it all over New England but nowhere else. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/56 "2014-07-27T02:07:41Z")
The best lager, to me, is only marginal better than an average lager, so, while I appreciate that some of the greats are genuinely very good, I’ll almost always vote for the best price:performance ratio and keep coming back to Old Style. It’s cheap, simple, readily available in cans, tall boys, or bottles to suit my mood, and lacks the watery or skunky flavors that usually turn me off of most cheap beer. It’s just a perfect example of “just a beer” beer. When I’m looking for lager, that’s usually exactly what I want. I will also admit to being one of the fools who actually likes Heineken, so my opinion is probably invalid. It was the first beer I ever had that I was told was “good” beer, so I blame the power of suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/57 "2014-07-27T02:10:30Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Is Natty Bo widely distributed? I live in Logan Square, Chicago, which is one of the nation’s densest hipster enclaves, and I’ve never seen it. Hipster brands are High Life, PBR, and I’ve seen Hamm’s taking a run at that market. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/58 "2014-07-27T02:17:43Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I live in Logan Square, Chicago, which is one of the nation’s densest hipster enclaves, and I’ve never seen it. Hipster brands are High Life, PBR, and I’ve seen Hamm’s taking a run at that market. I don’t live anywhere hip, but I’m in Chicago and drink a lot of beer, and I’ve never heard of it neither. (ETA: Interesting point about Hamm’s. I was in Berwyn today at a bar, and saw it on tap next to the usual group of Arcadia, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, etc., craft beers. Never noticed it making inroads, but it sounds like it is. I’m an Old Style guy when it comes to cheap American light lagers. It’s what I grew up with. And I think it’s rather good, especially with the return to the old recipe, or at least some version of the old recipe. I don’t understand why that hasn’t become the hipster beer of choice here in Chicago, as it is kind of Chicago’s old school light macro lager.) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/59 "2014-07-27T02:18:27Z")
Natty Bo is actually owned by Pabst and brewed under contract by MillerCoors in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, but upwards of 90% of its sales are in Baltimore [cite](http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-26/entertainment/bs-ae-natty-boh-20110126_1_national-bohemian-historic-baltimore-brew-halethorpe-brewery). I’ve never seen it outside of Maryland, myself, not even in Pennsylvania, Virginia or the District. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948/60 "2014-07-27T03:06:58Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m an Old Style guy when it comes to cheap American light lagers. It’s what I grew up with. And I think it’s rather good, especially with the return to the old recipe, or at least some version of the old recipe. I don’t understand why that hasn’t become the hipster beer of choice here in Chicago, as it is kind of Chicago’s old school light macro lager.) PBR’s cachet isn’t an accident – they CHOSE to be hipster beer, and have reinforced it with branding and promoting hipster-y clubs and music acts. Old Style aims for a more generalist blue collar crowd (their cans here have the skyline on 'em and SAY “Chicago’s Beer”), and I think they do okay. I first noticed Hamm’s “coming back” when my local bodega started carrying it, priced cheaper than anything besides Natural Ice. Only thing I knew it from was old bar signs at my old barber, and my dad saying he liked it in the 70s. Since then, I’ve noticed at least a couple hipster/dives with Hamm’s signs in the window. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-category-lager/693948.md?page=4)