Let's Give Lagers Some Love (2025)

Well it seems a bit disingenuous to say you don't like the term but aren't offering an alternative for how you think the breweries should label these beers to accurately convey their characteristics.

You said you think they are only including the term "Pilsner" to sell their beer, but obviously the goal of any brewery is to sell their beer, that's why they are in business. As long as they aren't being misleading, I'd say more description is better than less, to allow the consumer to make an accurate guess as to whether they'd like the beer (and therefore whether or not to purchase it).

"Hoppy and Bitter Pale Lager" would be more literal, but more distinct style names usually win out.

 

To me the term "Pilsner" applies to the sorts of Pale Lagers that were historically brewed (e.g., German Pilsner, Bohemian (Czech) PIlsner, Classic American Pilsner).

Cheers!

 

I think Hoppy Lager is fair game. If it actually is lagered but contains quite a bit more hops then there you go. I see this a little bit and usually use it as an indication to avoid as I do not particularly care for my lagers to be overly hoppy.

 

I’m just having fun now, isn’t a pilsner by definition a hoppy lager?

I get people not liking the “made up” styles and I tend to agree but “west coast pilsner” actually tells me what I should, at least expect, to get; made up or not; I think it is an apt descriptive name that actually is quite informative.

Whether that beer matches to one’s expectations; that’s another story and can happen with any beer style.

 

Enjoying Crispy, a 10 IBU rice lager from The Shop Beer Co in Tempe, AZ. Surprised that i got a slightly more than balancing black pepper bitter finish on top of the malt base. Would have again when in PHX.
Cheers!
Tom

 

But "Classic American Pilsner" is already named by adding a qualifier to the historical beers from Pilsen/Plzeň. Unless you want to take the stance that beer sub-styles need to be frozen in time a hundred years ago - how is "West Coast Pilsner" any different?

Same with other commonly used sub-style names (either by breweries, or formally by Brewers Association or BCJP). The words "India Pale Ale" had some historical meaning, but that doesn't mean that calling a beer an "American IPA", "West Coast IPA", "New England IPA", etc. is being misleading just because it doesn't have the same characteristics of beers that were brewed in the UK in the 19th century. Beer language evolves over time, so it has to start sometime.

 

ok

 

Having Essential, a pale Czech lager from Burial Brewing.

 

Browar Okocim (Poland) - O.K. Beer

apt name - it's okay, better than expected but sweeter than I'd prefer

 

O’so Brewing Co - King Louis XIII

An imperial lager barrel-aged in second-use bourbon barrels with terpenes added.

This sounds weird but holy shit does it work. Lots of pine, resin and dank weed as well as citrusy fruits. Doesn’t really drink like a lager nor smell or taste like one but this was awesome. I’ve actually been to this brewery and had a good sample from a barrel-aged imperial porter to sour beer to lager. Kind of wondering if @GreenBayBA has ever dabbled in O’so or been there? Cheers!!

 

That looks like an interesting beer! I actually stayed where they are located in Steven's Point, Wisconsin, this weekend for Central Waters Brewing's anniversary party, but have never been to O'so Brewing. I met the owner at a craft beer festival. He was very nice. They make good beers, but it has been a long time since I purchased anything from them. I should make it a point to stop in there, especially since I visit Central Waters Brewing near there frequently.

 

Up near Rochester, NY, there is a bowling alley brewery that is lots of fun and more than ok beer too.
https://www.drinkokaybeer.com/
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63739/

 

Having a couple of lagers this afternoon, the first from Halfway Crooks in ATL, Whole Cone Fest Marzen. Just bought it last night, taking a calculated risk on the age and concept, i wanted to give this a shot and found that this was pear and apple forward instead of a toasted malt domination. Interesting beer and definitely enjoyable.

Round 2 is the last of a friend's gift, Founders Ultimate Oktoberfest. Definitely way outside the boundaries of normal Fest biers, this is a fun one just to sip away at.
Cheers!
Tom

 

First time having Yuengling Traditional Lager on tap. Much better, I feel .

 

F*ckin’ FINALLY in IL!!

 

Canadian Molson! Cheers!!

 

"Canadian"!?!

As clearly indicated on this 'new' can's labeling "Brewed in the USA".

In the recent past this beer was labeled as "Canadian Pilsner" vs. "Pristine Pilsner".


Cheers!

 

It’s just what my brother and I call this beer lol. We’re just stupid dumb idiots who enjoy 3, 4 beer.

 

Well, that is something I can get behind!

Cheers to you two fine fellows!!