Pale lagers have a dull reputation—ironic, considering the most-copied type of beer in the world (pilsner) is a pale lager, and a revolutionary one at that. When it comes to American standard and light lagers, that reputation goes from “dull” to “bad” among many craft-beer enthusiasts, as folks conjure up images of rapidly produced, mass-market beers with little craft in them and less flavor to support them.
However, in recent years, we’ve all witnessed the tide turning with these styles, as more independent breweries have picked them up as traditions and produced versions that balance flavor with high drinkability. A great American lager offers a crisp, easygoing frame with more than enough flavor to keep us entertained.
One such is Classic City Lager from Creature Comforts in Athens, Georgia. It’s not only popular locally—a jury of peers at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival awarded it a gold medal in the American Pilsner category. So, I reached out to the team at Creature Comforts, to find out more about what makes Classic City shine amid the pale lager crowd.