Animation by Eric DeFreitas
A great lager starts to reveal itself at the end of the first glass, and again at the start of the second. This ubiquitous style of beer is dominant around the world. There’s a reason why we reach for them with regularity at ballparks, bars, backyard barbecues or beaches.
Refreshing and crisp, lagers rely heavily on malts for body and flavor, but they count on hops for a touch of spice or whimsy. The style has dominated the America beer scene since at least the 1870s, says Tom Acitelli, author of
Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World (Chicago Review Press, 2020).