New England Lagers

Fox Farm makes my favorite lagers, but I am going to add to the CT lager list with Counter Weight's Workhorse and basically anything East Rock puts out. And also, duh, NEBCO's Elm City pils.

 

A lot of good breweries already mentioned... I'll toss out Von Trapp and Schilling. I really enjoy almost every lager they produce.

 

Von Trapp and East rock are in my fridge constantly

 

Buttonwoods Brewery makes the best in my neighborhood. They always have lager stock along with their IPAs and bottled "industrial" ales. Currently at the brewery they have Kolsch, Bohemian Pilsener, and Baltic Porter which are sold in 12 oz cans; then Monkeys on a Typewriter, a Lichtenhainer (smoked sour lager) sold in 16 oz cans. You can just hook those first 2 options into my veins, great examples of the styles and very satisfying.

They have limited distribution to MA I believe, but am not sure what beers are sent out.

 

Yeah, those Hill Farmstead oak aged lagers are something special. But, what’s in my fridge lately is all things Schilling.

 

I had a surprisingly appreciation of Night Shifts’ Nite Heavy. Inexpensive, came in 12 packs.

I’ll lobby another vote for Von Trapp. I currently have the mixed 12 in my fridge and I am, as usual, happy. I need to do that more often.

Schilling is great. Oxbow has been upping their lager game. Fox Farm isn’t on shelves, but they’re worth getting if you can get there.

 

Both the lagers I've had from Zero Gravity were excellent: Green State Lager (a German style pilsner) and Oktoberfest (a fantastic marzen). I wish I could get other lagers from them locally.

I also really enjoy Lawson's Scrag Mountain Pils. Unfortunately most stores near me seem to have dropped it in favor of the session IPA series Lawson's is putting out.

 

Here's my power rankings:

1) Notch

2/3) Jack's Abby and Schilling

Then a huge drop off to the point that I would likely just try to find some fresh(ish) imports if I can't find anything from the breweries above (which is rare these days).

I'm talking overall portfolio's here, there's definitely a beer or two (or three) from other breweries in New England that are good lagers.

Yup, really dug this one too. I don't buy it because I don't really go for that style often, but it was definitely enjoyable.

 

That lagers that are regulars in my fridge are from, Jack’s Abby, Notch, Schilling, and Oxbows Luppolo.

 

Idle Hands and Silvaticus also deserve to be mentioned here

 

I'll second Silvaticus. That black lager is very drinkable and perfect for this time of year. Austin Street released a schwarzbier recently too that was excellent.

 

I am noticing that most people do not mention East rock. Is that not available in Massachusetts?

 

There have been a couple limited drops, but it’s normally not available. I’m hoping they start a more consistent distribution to the state because their pilsner and Vienna lager are killer.

 

Another East Rock nod here. Love to see their stuff more widely available around here now. Their Vienna is up there with Von Trapp.

 

As mentioned above Schilling and Oxbow are obvious adds to your list. OEC's coolship lager is amazing as well, it still seems to be floating around out there. There are so many good ones in New England these days.

 

I'm a fan of Jack's Abby, especially their dark (Smoke & Dagger, Framinghammer) and malt-forward (Shipping out of Boston, Red Tape) varieties.

 

Von Trapp and Schilling of course. Lost Nation Vermont Pilsener is very good too.

 

Notch, Von Trapp, Schilling, Jacks Abby are already mentioned and rightly so.

I’ll add zero gravity to the conversation, although they are a step down from the other 4 to my palate. I’ll also mention Sam Adam’s, which I sometimes mentally lump in with macro when in fact they still make good lagers IMO. Haven’t cracked this year’s alpine lager, but will in the next couple of weeks for sure.