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Brewers’ Beers: Pros Pick Their Five Fave Lagers

Many brewers will say that lager is their go-to style. It’s the refreshing beer they need after a long day brewing and the perfect session companion to days at the bar with friends and coworkers. We asked five brewers to share their lager picks.

John Holl Aug 14, 2018 - 3 min read

Brewers’ Beers: Pros Pick Their Five Fave Lagers Primary Image

Social Kitchen & Brewery SKB Pilsner

Arne Johnson, Brewmaster at Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur, California
“SKB Pils stands out among the lagers produced in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is squeaky clean and impeccably balanced and has great flavor. A few sips in, you can tell that high-quality imported raw materials, refined technique, and attention to detail are applied in the production of this brew.”

Metropolitan Brewing Magnetron Schwarzbier

Wil Turner, Head Brewer at the Revolution Brewpub in Chicago
“Here in Chicago, the Metropolitan crew has been specializing in lagers for almost a decade now. Their beers, from the Flywheel Pilsner to the Generator Doppelbock, are all clean and true to style—a lovely departure from the American hops-dominant styles that get most of the buzz these days. I’ve always been a supporter. Give me Magnetron Schwarzbier for an entire evening, and I’m a happy man!!”

Tröegs Brewing Sunshine Pils

Steve Frazier, Brewer at The Brewer’s Art in Baltimore, Maryland
“Tröegs Sunshine Pils is absolutely top-notch, subtle but complex. The seamless balance between the crisp malt character—lightly sweet and bready—and the clean pure-note hopping with Saaz makes Sunshine Pils a year-round staple in any discerning refrigerator.”

Firestone Walker Pivo Pils

Jim Matt, Chief Science Officer at Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio
“Firestone Walker is world-renowned for their beers. One of my absolute “go-to” beers from them is Pivo Pils. Pivo is brilliantly clear with a yellow color and a rocky white head. Notes of lemongrass and spice come off in the flavor and aroma, with a strong base of crackery Pilsner malt. This beer is delicious, consistent, and one of the best Pilsners around.”

Camba Bavaria Helles

Greg Zeschuck, Owner and Assistant Brewer at Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company in Edmonton, Alberta
“The brewhouse maker, BrauKon, built Camba Bavaria as a brewery pilot plant. When we were building our brewery, we visited the factory and then went to the brewpub for beers. They have this helles that’s unreal. It’s aggressively dry hopped, so not what you’d expect in Germany, but still super clean. It’s tradition and innovation at once, and drinking it at the source is amazing.”

John Holl is the author of Drink Beer, Think Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Every Pint, and has worked for both Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® and All About Beer Magazine.

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