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Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #1

I was never much of a lager drinker, even before I got into craft beer I steered clear of the Bud / Miller / Heineken / Carlsberg taps. I do drink the odd bottle of Budvar or Staropramen, but usually that's only because there is nothing better to drink at the time. Tried a load of pilsners while in the Czech Republic, drinkable but all very similar. I find most lagers quite bland when compared to a nice stout or hoppy pale ale. Nothing wrong with them, just not much flavour.

On saturday I picked up a BrewDog 77 lager, was quite underwhelmed. I think Brooklyn and Sam Adams are quite drinkable though, they taste different to other lagers, are they rally the same style?

So which lager would you say is the best example of the style, and is it worth drinking?

Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #2

Not all lagers are yellow fizzy stuff.
If that is all you are looking for in this request then by the sounds of things you will not be happy. You already drink the good ones <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

If you want a lager that is packed full of flavour like an ale but has the refreshing bite of lager then try some of the dark lagers.

Pop in to the Czech inn (Dublin) and try Herold Dark. It has quickly become one of my favourite beers of all time. There is no harm in trying any of the other Herold beers while you are at it.

Vienna Lagers can also be very flavoursome.

Messrs haus lager is like Brooklyn these days. Fantastic stuff.

For the most part I am like you though, very suspicious of lagers and find it hard to get an interesting one.

Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #3

Brooklyn Lager
Brooklyn Pilsner
PH Hersbrucker

All yellow, fizzy and tasty IMO

Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #4

I'm the opposite to yourself, I've lived in Germany for a few years and got to love Pilseners.

Koenig Pils was perhaps the nicest of them in my opinion, warsteiner is another well regarded one as is Veltins.
They are kinda the large scale commercials, there are a lot of breweries in Germany and there are many many different pils from town to town and from bar to bar.

You should try something like a Jever of Bitburger pils if you reckon they are low on flavour, they're both well hopped North German pils. Another good one is Tannen Zaepfle, very tasty stuff.

If you don't do subtlety and mild flavours then it is possible that the style is just not for you.
That said, I personally find the German interpretation of the Czech style to be far superior to the original, but then it could be just what I got used to.

A Munich Helles for me, while not a pils is a very close relative and possibly the nicest beer style for me.

I can't imagine that you would spend much time in Germany and not find a pils you wouldn't like.

Schwarzbier is another lager avenue to try and Koestritzer is a phenomenal example of the style if you can get your hands on it here.

To me it's the ultimate style, and where I won't drink the crappy interpretations in Ireland/UK, I love a nice continental lager.

I tried the Belfast Lager and didn't get on with it at all, it had the wrong hop types in my opinion and the earthiness of the British hops was just not right in the style, but as said it's horses for courses.
Boston is a good example and a pretty nice lager IMO, that surprised me.

Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #5

Keesman Herren Pils is the best pale lager -- and one of the best overall beers -- that I've ever tasted. Bitter and herbal, and slightly creamy: absolutely stunning. I'm partial to the occasional Schlenkerla Märzen now and again too.

Good lagers - myth or reality? 15 years 1 month ago #6

Victory Prima Pils.

That is all.
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