Lagers

Spring is full swing, so fire up the grill and break out the lagers. These three tasty dishes—honey-helles shrimp skewers, dunkel-braised bratwurst, and grilled bock pizza—are designed for cooking over fire and for sharing.

Brewers have warm hearts for cold-fermented beers, and we asked these five brewers to share the objects of their greatest affection.

Pale, hoppy, smoked, or strong—brewers’ favorite lagers run the gamut. Yet drinkability and balance are primary traits that tie them all together.

It’s hard not to smile at a proper slow pour. A thick head of foam rises above the rim of the glass like a cloud trying to escape its liquid world. A number of breweries and beer bars are pushing the practice and creating converts with each new glass.

One of the great challenges brewers will have to tackle in the coming years is how will they honor tradition with lagers and pilsners while also forging new paths forward, as they’ve done with styles such as India pale ale.