With the back to school advertisements in full swing, and most schools starting, I thought it would be a great time to return to the style of beverage most of us had during our time between hitting the books. Lagers! While thoughts of Natty Light, PBR, and Rolling Rock make my stomach do a flip, lagers still remain one of my favorite styles of beer. Newer iterations like the WC Pilsner offer a much needed respite from the barrage of IPA this and Hazy that while still scratching that piny hoppy note itch. More traditional styles like Dunkels present more of a malty bitter chocolate option. This variety within the style has led me to believe that, while there is certainly a beer for everyone, lagers too, can fit into almost any niche.
For this month, we are avoiding any extravagances and sticking to clean and classic lagers. I was able to find 6 different lagers, from 6 different breweries, all putting their own spin on the blueprint while not ascribing to a hitherto named convention. Sticking with the theme of college era beers, they are all 12 oz cans; which, despite seeming to fit right into the current zeitgeist of drinking less, appear less popular these days than their 16 oz siblings.
From Washington, Brooklyn, both Portlands, California, and even Mexico, these six breweries are all coming at this in their own local accent. All this is to say, the variety of flavors contained within each of these 12oz cans is enough to knock the socks off any snob, or at least offer a crisp refreshing beverage to sip on while stewing over said snobberies.
Cheers,
Daniel Ruppert
Beer Buyer
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Coolwater Lager |
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Brewery: Sunriver Brewing Co. |
Tasting Notes: This cool, crispy, small batch, handmade beer defines the light lager style. Coolwater is born in the Upper Deschutes watershed and brewed with premium malted barley, flaked corn, and a kiss of hops. Extended cold conditioning creates a brilliant straw colored, light bodied lager that is 100% crushable. |
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Locale: Portland, OR |
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ABV: 4.5% |
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Price: $3.99 per can |
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Light and Tight |
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Brewery: Sunday Beer |
Tasting Notes: Sunday Beer is your go-to, easy drinking lager. Brewed with hallertau hops and fine pilsner malt, Sunday is a perfectly balanced, refreshing beer with crisp flavor and a clean finish. Pairs well with your next rooftop bbq or beach day. |
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Locale: Brooklyn, NY |
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ABV: 3.9% |
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Price: $2.99 per can |
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Mexican Dark Lager |
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Brewery: Chuckanut Brewery |
Tasting Notes: An updated version of the 2 Amigos Mexican-Style Dark Lager this is the new rendition. Following a traditional Mexican-Style dark lager recipe this easy drinking beer has smooth flavors and an effervescent light body despite its dark color. Great for a dark beer choice on a hot, beachy day! |
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Locale: Bellingham, WA |
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ABV: 5.0% |
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Price: $3.99 per can |
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Hayabusa |
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Brewery: Beachwood Brewing |
Tasting Notes: Hayabusa is an ultra-crisp and refreshing Japanese-style lager made with American barley, Canadian pilsner, toasted flaked rice and German Hallertau Mittelfruh hops. |
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Locale: Los Angeles, CA |
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ABV: 5.3% |
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Price: $3.99 per can |
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Colimita |
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Brewery: Cerveceria de Colima |
Tasting Notes: Colimita tastes like Colima; it's a golden, crystal-clear German-style lager, inspired by tropical life. This multi-award-winning beer has a smooth, slightly creamy body, with a noticeable bitterness that's enjoyed in balance with its herbal notes. |
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Locale: Colima, Colima, Mexico |
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ABV: 4.4% |
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Price: $3.99 per can |
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Northern Lager |
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Brewery: Oxbow Brewing |
Tasting Notes: Northern Lager is brewed with 100% malted barley and select hops. Malty nose, leading to a woodsy palate. Would pair well with a summer backpacking trip to figure out what your graduate thesis will cover. |
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Locale: Portland, ME |
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ABV: 4.5% |
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Price: $4.99 per can |
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