The 12 Best American Lagers of 2022
This weekend we celebrate Labor Day, a holiday honoring the contributions and achievements of the American worker.
In the United States, union leader Peter J. McGuire generally receives credit for suggesting the idea of a day honoring American workers in 1881. The next year, 10,000 workers held a parade in New York City to unofficially recognize the day. But it wasn't until 1894 that President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day an official federal holiday.
Culturally, Labor Day signifies the end of summer, giving Americans a final three-day weekend to enjoy the season.
Accordingly, it seems fitting that an American lager makes a perfect beer style to drink one, two, three, or more of this Labor Day holiday.
With a light body, little to no bitterness, and low ABV, American lagers are the easy-drinking beers you want at your picnic, pool party, or barbecue to give summer one last hurrah!
Plus, it's one of only a handful of styles American's can claim as their own (read: California common, Kentucky common, cream ale, American amber, American IPA, American pale ale, American brown ale, and American barleywine).
A Short History of the American Lager
We're greatly simplifying things here, but the general origin of the American lager comes from German immigrants, who brought recipes for European lagers over when they immigrated in the eighteenth century.
European lagers used a combination of corn and barley malt. But during World War II, the government rationed both of those grains, so American brewers started using rice instead.
Today, American lagers are characterized as being crisp, clean, light, and effervescent. Typically pouring out a straw to gold color, this beer style has little to no hop character and a fairly high carbonation.
American lagers are your beach crushers, party pounders, and crowd pleasers.
In other words, they're perfect for Labor Day.
Untappd's 12 Highest-Rated American Lagers of 2022
1. Party Cup - North Park Beer Company
5% ABV
6 IBU
1,788 Ratings
2. Uno Mas - Crooked Crab Brewing Company
4.8% ABV
N/A IBU
1,008 Ratings
3. Lime Snaps - Other Half Brewing Co.
4.5% ABV
N/A IBU
4,101 Ratings
4. Gotham Gold - Other Half Brewing Co.
5.2% ABV
N/A IBU
1,904 Ratings
5. Pilsner - Trillium Brewing Company
4.7% ABV
N/A IBU
6,753 Ratings
6. Lager Village - Other Half Brewing Co.
4.8% ABV
N/A IBU
1,022 Ratings
7. Valley Beer - Wren House Brewing Company
4.6% ABV
N/A IBU
3,242 Ratings
8. The Essential: Torch - Trillium Brewing Company
4.3% ABV
N/A IBU
1,024 Ratings
9. Ivy City Lager - Other Half Brewing Co.
4.6% ABV
N/A IBU
4,128 Ratings
10. Lagers of the World: Destination Australia - Jack's Abby Craft Lagers
5% ABV
N/A IBU
937 Ratings
4.7% ABV
12 IBU
5,003 Ratings
12. Broken Skull American Lager - El Segundo Brewing Company
4.8% ABV
N/A IBU
8,651 Ratings
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