Why the Best Place in America for Lagers is Definitely New England
Before you see that headline and say, “But Em! I’m from (insert place) and WE HAVE THE BEST BEER,” I’m going to respond by saying, “you sure do!” Beer drinkers in America are very lucky that most of us are a stone’s throw from AT LEAST one good brewery (and a few lower quality ones but that’s a whole other article). When we talk about “best beer places” - you could really write an article about most places across the country. America is festooned with thousands of breweries and the landscape is changing rapidly. It’s exciting!
Around 2011, New England’s beer scene was solid (hello- Vermont!) but it paled in comparison to the West Coast where beer meccas like Portland, Oregon and San Diego were defining the craft beer scene with 1000 IBU pine bombs and all the Cascadian Dark Ales and Double Reds you could shake a stick at. Something changed though in the scene in 2014 or so with the invention of a new IPA.
You all know where this is going- New England is home to the New England IPA (NEIPA), the now ubiquitous, hazy liquid that focuses on hop flavor rather than hop bitterness. I live in Connecticut and if you order an “IPA” at any brewery, it’ll be hazy. I’m all for NEIPAs as I’m a big fan of lower bitterness and I’m also proud that New England, the place I love and am from, helped change the game in terms of beer. A few months ago I drank a NEIPA from Moscow. Moscow! And it was really good.
But perhaps in a reaction to NEIPAs, New England is also home to some of the best lagers (and lager only breweries) in the country. These crispy beers are easy to find too and you don’t need to wait in line for them for the most part. Here’s a list of some of the best lagers being made in New England.
8 Great New England Lagers
Notch
Salem, MA
If anyone was going to be first on this list, it’s gotta be Notch. The brewery brews some of the most traditional, best lagers around. Brewer Chris Lohring is a traditionalist - focusing on decoction mashing and long, long lagering times. Notch also focuses on historical styles like low ABV German Schankbier but also on now semi-popular lager styles like Czech Dark Lager. Their soon-to-be-opened Brighton, MA beer hall will become a pilgrimage for crispy kids like myself.
Oxbow
Portland, ME
Oxbow is known for mixed fermentation and farmhouse beers but their Luppolo Italian Pilsner is a classic and a must buy. One of the first breweries in America to label a beer “Italian style” (as an homage to the hoppy lagers of Italy), its focus on European hops is spicy with a lovely fresh hay and dried flower bouquet note.
Jack’s Abby
Framingham, MA
One of the largest lager only breweries in New England is Jack’s Abby. They brew a wide range of lager styles from India Pale Lagers to the dangerous Framinghammer Baltic Porter but my go to is their House Lager. House Lager is an easy to imbibe helles golden lager that is a delight. Its price point and 15 pack packaging make it an obvious choice for BBQs or parties.
von Trapp
Stowe, VT
The other large lager brewery is von Trapp, owned by the von Trapp family of “The Sound of Music” fame. The brewery was started as an accompaniment to their delightful chalet-style resort but has grown into a monster brand with wide distribution. Their flagship is a Vienna Lager, an amber lager that is a great food beer and all-around daily drinker. They also brew a number of other German lager styles - I’m particularly smitten with their Munich Dunkel.
Hill Farmstead
Greensboro Corner, VT
It comes as no surprise that one of the most well-respected breweries on the planet would brew great lagers as well. Founder Shaun Hill takes a very traditional approach to his lager production, using methods like oak fermentation and krausening for natural carbonation. Hill Farmstead’s Rhetorica, their Czech style Dark Lager is conditioned in oak for 3 months and was one of the best beers I drank in 2019 when I was lucky enough to have it on tap at Armsby Abbey in Worcester, MA.
Schilling
Littleton, NH
Perhaps in one of the most idyllic settings of any brewery, Schilling’s lager beers are timeless and drinkable. Anytime I can come across their beers (which sadly is not often), I instantly want to buy or imbibe them. For a fun Northern New England road trip, hit both Schilling and Hill Farmstead in a single day as they are an hour away from each other. Their lagers include Alexandr 10˚ a Czech-style Pilsner sessionable pale lager inspired by similar Czech beer made with Moravian pilsner malt and Tennō Dry a straw-colored crisp rice lager, dry-hopped with Lemondrop and Saphir.
Fox Farm
Salem, CT
Author’s Note- I work at Fox Farm and have since 2018.
I was a huge fan of Fox Farm’s lager program before I started working there part time. Despite its small size, Fox Farm brews a wide variety of Czech and German lagers. The two horizontal lagering tanks are constantly full of a range of styles from Quite Fire Czech Amber Lager to The Cabin, a smoked helles that is delicious on a hot day with a lime wedge squeezed in it.
Counterweight
Hamden, CT
Last but certainly not least is a brewery I have a super soft spot for. Anytime I see Counterweight’s Workhorse Pilsner on draft or in the cooler, it’s a must order. I once was in a beer store and the women behind the counter talked to me about her “panic beer” - when she is confronted with a wide variety, there’s always a beer (hers was Allagash White) that you can rely on to be excellent. Counterweight Workhorse Pilsner is my panic beer. a German Keller Pilsner, it’s dry hopped with noble hops.