Trend-O-Meter Says: Craft Lager Is In (9/21/09)

Published on Monday, September 21, 2009, by Roxanne Webber / Edit Post

Until now, craft brewers were more likely to be producing ales than lagers—the kind of light, golden beer that Coors, Miller, Anheuser-Busch, etc. make. But recently they’ve been playing with more flavorful, playful versions of the style.

Spotted: Shmaltz Brewing’s Freaktoberfest beer, which pours red and may or may not contain zombie blood; Moonlight Brewing’s Death & Taxes, a superdark, chocolaty, coffee-tasting beer that’s light-bodied and lower in alcohol than you might think; Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, featured as a top pick in CHOW’s Summer Beers with Brains story. We called it “the type of light, crisp pilsner you’re used to from Budweiser and Tecate, but classed up with a malty backbone and low-key spice from the hops.”

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POST A COMMENT |3 Comments

COMMENT

  • I could be wrong, but I believe making lager takes longer and because it requires a lower fermenting temperature, requires better equipment and leaves less room for error than does making ale.

    So riskier and slower turnover = less likely for craft brewers to try, at least when they're starting up.

    Nonetheless, Brooklyn Lager has been one of my favorites for years and years.

  • Craft lagers are new? Try Victory Brewing Company's Prima Pils (Downington, PA) and Sly Fox's Pikeland Pils (Phoenixville, PA). Both have been in production for years.

  • I'm not sure I agree with the premise - no craft beer has ever been 'out'.
    The challenge is the competition with the Big Boys. I'm amused and depressed by everyone I see buying Coors Light or Bud Light, what we used to call in college 'water'.