Five Lagers Worth Cracking in 2025
For the better part of a decade, craft beer has leaned into intensity. IPAs got hoppier and adjuncts got a little out of control. Somewhere in the middle of that chaos, lager quietly stayed the course… until now, and the numbers back it up. Light lager cracked Untappd’s global top three in 2024. Almost half of craft beer enthusiasts said it was their style of choice. But stats only tell part of the story. Lager is hard to brew. It doesn’t tolerate shortcuts. There’s no haze to hide behind. No pastry sweetness to distract from fermentation flaws. If a lager shows up clean and crisp, it tells you everything you need to know about the people behind it. So if you’ve overlooked lagers lately, it’s time to fix that. Here are five craft lagers worth seeking out:
Human Robot – Tmavy 13°|Czech Dark Lager
Tmavy 13° is without a doubt one of the most dialed-in dark lagers being brewed in the U.S. right now. It leads with roasted grain, dark cocoa, and just enough hop bitterness to make your palate say “Good Morning”, but then it finishes like a proper lager should: clean, dry, no weight left behind. It gives you depth without asking for attention, and that’s exactly what makes it stick with you.
Human Robot’s lager program is serious, and this beer feels like the centerpiece. There’s intention in every part of it, from the soft carbonation to the crisp cut at the end. You drink it, you pause, and then you go back for another. That’s the magic. No additives, no distractions, just clarity of purpose from first pour to last sip.
Gezellig Brewing – Liquid Hug | American Lager
Liquid Hug is exactly what it sounds like… a warm, comforting lager that wraps you in a familiar embrace. Brewed with German malts and yeast along with a dose of American flaked corn, it channels the spirit of a classic easy-drinking American lager but with craft beer influence. A touch of Azacca hops adds a whisper of brightness (think a hint of citrus) to keep things interesting. It’s crisp, ultra-smooth, and it genuinely tastes like home, wherever that may be.
Gezellig nails the vibe here: no frills, just good beer and good vibes. This is the kind of anytime, anywhere lager that you can crack open after mowing the lawn, or unwinding on the couch watching your favorite sports team. In a landscape full of extreme, Liquid Hug proves that a beer doesn’t have to punch you in the face to leave an impression. Sometimes a gentle, well-made lager is all you need!
Goldfinger’s Vienna Lager shines with a rich copper hue and an old-world soul. One whiff and you’re greeted by toasty malt aromas that hint at freshly baked bread crust, a drizzle of honey, and maybe a whisper of nuttiness. Thanks to a painstaking brewing method (a double decoction mash for the beer geeks playing along at home), this lager packs a depth of malt flavor that few others achieve. It’s full-bodied flavorwise, you get a smooth wave of caramelized malt and subtle spice, yet it never tips over into sweetness overload. A sturdy hand of noble hops balances things out, so after all that malt complexity, the beer finishes dry and clean, inviting the next sip.
Lagers are literally the only thing Goldfinger does, and their dedication shows in every pint. Their Vienna is both a nod to brewing history and proof that classic styles still have plenty of wow-factor when executed right. It’s robust enough to satisfy drinkers craving real flavor, but it’s also incredibly easy to drink… a true “have your cake and eat it too” beer, without any actual cake. In 2025, as craft fans rediscover that nuance can trump novelty, Goldfinger’s Vienna is poised to be a go-to: a beer with timeless character that still feels right at home in the modern craft lineup.
Image Courtesy of Arbeiter Brewing Company
Rice lagers are having a moment, and Tokki is proof that subtlety and finesse can steal the show. Tokki is a Japanese/Korean-style rice lager that hops into your heart with a soft, refreshing touch. Pouring a pale straw color, it’s almost translucent, a hint at how light and delicate this beer drinks. The flavor is a gentle mingling of crackery pilsner malt and steamed rice, giving it a clean, crisp profile with a slightly silky texture. There’s a suggestion of floral grassiness from a blend of noble hops, but it’s whisper-light… just enough to lend character without shouting over the quiet harmony of malt and rice. Each sip is here then gone, finishing exceptionally dry and clean. If “crisp” had a poster child, Tokki might be it.
Minneapolis-based Arbeiter Brewing crafted Tokki to be the beer you can enjoy repeatedly, and they’ve got the hardware to back it up, it took home a gold medal (and even a Best in Show silver) at the 2024 Minnesota Brewer’s Cup. But shiny awards aside, what makes Tokki special is how it embodies the ethos of the new lager movement. In an era when drinkers are moving away from over-the-top brews, this little 4.6% ABV lager stands tall by being impeccably brewed and unforgettably easy-drinking.
For a beer named Chaos & Consequence, this lager is ridiculously poised and balanced. This Czech Amber pours a beautiful amber-orange and greets you with approachable malty notes. Think light caramel and toasted bread crust, just when you expect a malty sweetness to take over, in comes the balancing act: a dose of earthy, peppery Saaz hops that keep the malt sweetness in check. The result is an elegant back-and-forth of flavor. There’s a burst of richness up front, a gentle bitterness to keep it honest, and then a smooth fade into a dry, clean finish.
Brooklyn-based Wild East Brewing has quietly become a lager powerhouse, and Chaos & Consequence might be their crown jewel. They brew it the traditional way, using a labor-intensive double decoction mash and quality continental malts, which shows in the complexity of the beer. Yet, like all great lagers, it wears its refinement lightly. You don’t have to know anything about Czech brewing to appreciate what’s in the glass, you’ll just know it tastes damn good. In a craft beer world finally rediscovering balance and restraint, a beer like Chaos & Consequence sits in a sweet spot. It delivers flavor without excess, character without chaos. Consider it further proof that sometimes the boldest move is to keep things simple and let a great lager speak for itself.
The craft beer world is remembering that flavor doesn’t have to mean excess, a crisp, clean lager can be the real power move. Whether you’re hopping off the haze train or just looking for a break from intensity, there’s a lager on this list waiting for you. So as we continue on with 2025, do yourself a favor: drink it cold, drink it local, and whatever you do – stay crispy.
