📝 usncan Note: The World’s Best Lager—According To The U.S. Open Beer Championship
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Lagers were one of the most popular categories at this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship, which received more than 8,000 entries overall.
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Lager beer has increased in popularity in recent years, and that could be seen in the beers entered into this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship, Dow Scoggins, the competition’s founder, told me. This was particularly true when it came to light lagers and international lagers, he said in an email. “Mexican lager [popularity] has increased the most, and American light lagers had a big spike too,” he said. “Ten years ago we would only get 6 to 12 light lagers.”
The U.S. Beer Open is based in Ohio and is one of the biggest beer competitions in the U.S. and therefore the world. It is often considered the third major beer competition held each year after the Great American Beer Festival Competition and World Beer Cup. This year judges at the competition tasted more than 8,000 entries from across the U.S. and globe. Lager entries were particularly competitive and were divided into more than 20 subcategories, not including pilsners. “Quality was high,” Scoggins said of this year’s lager winners. “In most lager categories, we had 5 to 6 beers that could have medaled.”
Though most of the best lager winners were from the U.S., as it can be easier for breweries here to submit their brews, a brewery from Spain took home a gold medal in the NA lager beer category, and other international breweries earned prizes in other categories. Beyond that, there was a great deal of geographic diversity within the U.S. seen in this year’s lineup of lager winners. Below is a closer look at the lagers deemed the world’s best at this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship. Pilsners are not included for now, but I’ll be taking a close look at that category soon.
The Best Lagers of 2025
Light Lager
Quarryman’s Reserve – Break Rock Brewing Company – Massachusetts
American-Style Lager
American Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
American Premium Lager
Delux Lager – Cooper Landing Brewing Co – Alaska
New Zealand Lager
Sentries of the Broken Brain – Geisthaus Brewing Company – California
Australasian/Latin American/Tropical-Style Light Lager
City Lager – Turning Point Beer – Texas
Rice Lager
Migoto Rice Lager – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Mexican Lager/Pilsener
San Carlos Especial – Riverlands Brewing Company – Illinois
Munchner Helles
Helles Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
Munchner Dunkel
Flannel Weather – The Bier Garden – North Carolina
Märzen/Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest – Spilled Grain Brewhouse – Minnesota
Vienna-Style Lager
Vienna VA Lager – Caboose Brewing Company – Virginia
German-Style Schwarzbier
Shrouded Reflections of Moonlight – 760 Craft Works – North Carolina
Traditional German-Style Bock
Bock – Union Bear Brewing – Plano – Texas
German-Style Heller Bock/Maibock
Skoolhouse Bock – Moontown Brewing Company – Indiana
Strong Bock
Pathinator – Narrow Path Brewing Company – Ohio; Eisbock – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
India Pale Lager
Hoppy Lager – Low Tide Brewing – South Carolina
Dortmunder Export/European-Style Export
Skortmunder – Kelsen Brewing Company – New Hampshire
Dark Lager
13 Degrees – Confluence Brewing Company – Iowa
Barrel-Aged German Lager
BA New Old Stock – Bissell Brothers – Maine
Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Kellermeister – Brink Brewing – Ohio
Collaboration Beer – Lagers
¿Cómo Se Dice Nice? – Los Dos Potrillos Cerveceria Castle Rock + Littleton Brewing Co.
Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage – Lager
Daura Non-Alcoholic – Damm S.A – Spain
