There is no doubt beer is one of the most popular drinks in the world – especially in the summer — and lager is the most common type of beer in the world.
The technical difference between the beer categories is in how they are brewed. Lager, which literally means “storage” in German, is a type of beer that ferments slowly at low temperatures. Lagers also ferment from the bottom up, differentiating them from ales, for example, which ferment quickly and from the top down.
To compile a list of the best lager beers in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2020 World Beer Awards, presented by TheDrinksReport.com, an online resource for drinks professionals.
Lager beers tend to be characterized by their light and refreshing taste with a smooth finish. The alcohol levels of the beers on this list vary from zero alcohol to more than 7%.
The country with the most entries on the list of best lager beers in the world, perhaps unsurprisingly to some, is Germany with a total of 18 different beers winning awards in various lager categories. Japan is second with five entries.
Though the U.S. did not make the cut here, the country does have several winners in the world’s best IPA category. These are the best Indian Pale Ale Beers in the world.
Click here to see the best lager beers in the world
To compile a list of the best lager beers in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2020 World Beer Awards, presented by TheDrinksReport.com, an online resource for drinks professionals. We looked at the results and the awards distributed. We selected the beers that were awarded a gold medal or won the title of the world’s best lager in each of several types of beer included in the awards. Information on alcohol by volume and international bitterness units, a gauge of beer’s bitterness, came from Untappd, a beer rating app. IBUs measure the parts per million of isohumulone found in a beer. IBU is a scale that goes from 1 to 100, with 100 being the most bitter.
Akita-Bijin Beer
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Helles/Münchner
> Brewery: Aqula Brauhaus Akita
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.5%
> International bittering units (IBU): 18
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Source: Courtesy of Bamberger Hofbräu
Bamberger Hofbräu Exquisator
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Strong
> Brewery: Weyermann Braumanufaktur
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.2%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: Courtesy of Hofmark
Braumeister Zwickl
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Zwickl / Pale Kellerbier
> Brewery: Hofmark
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.1%
> International bittering units (IBU): 12
Celebrator
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Strong
> Beer type: Strong
> Brewery: Ayinger
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.7%
> International bittering units (IBU): 24
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Source: Courtesy of Amazon
Diplom Pils
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Classic
> Beer type: Classic Pilsener
> Brewery: Waldhaus
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.9%
> International bittering units (IBU): 35
Source: Courtesy of Reichenbrander
Dunkel
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Dark
> Brewery: Reichenbrander
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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Source: Courtesy of Ottakringer
Dunkles
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Dark
> Beer type: Dark
> Brewery: Ottakringer
> Country of origin: Austria
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.9%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Falter
Festbier
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Seasonal: Oktoberfestbier/Maerzen
> Brewery: Falter
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.6%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: DusanBartolovic / iStock via Getty Images
Ganzberg
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Helles/Münchner
> Brewery: German Brew Masters
> Country of origin: Cambodia
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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Source: Courtesy of Reckendorfer
Helle Freude
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Helles/Münchner
> Brewery: Reckendorfer
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: Courtesy of Fujizakura Heights Beer
Imperial Pilsner
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Hoppy
> Beer type: Hoppy Pilsener
> Brewery: Fujizakura Heights Beer
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): 50
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Source: Courtesy of Flötzinger Bräu
Josefi Bock
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Bock
> Brewery: Flötzinger Bräu
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.5%
> International bittering units (IBU): 19
Source: Courtesy of Sinebrychoff
Karhu 0,0
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Light
> Beer type: Light
> Brewery: Sinebrychoff Ab
> Country of origin: Finland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 0.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): 24
Source: Courtesy of Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
Kloster Starkbier
> Medal(s): Gold and World’s Best Lager
> Beer type: Seasonal: Maibock/Helles Bock
> Brewery: Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.3%
> International bittering units (IBU): 30
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Source: Courtesy of Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
Kloster Zwickel
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager German-
> Beer type: German-style Pale
> Brewery: Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.4%
> International bittering units (IBU): 21
Source: Courtesy of Ayinger
Lager Hell
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Helles/Münchner
> Brewery: Ayinger
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.9%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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Source: Courtesy of Hofmark
Märzen
> Medal(s): Gold and World’s Best Lager Seasonal: Oktoberfestbier/Maerzen
> Beer type: Seasonal: Oktoberfestbier/Maerzen
> Brewery: Hofmark
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.6%
> International bittering units (IBU): 29
Source: ViktoriiaNovokhatska / iStock via Getty Images
No. 26 Sissi’s Wiener Lager
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Vienna
> Beer type: Vienna
> Brewery: Weyermann Braumanufaktur
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: Courtesy of Mill Street Brewery
Organic Pilsner
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Classic Pilsener
> Brewery: Mill Street Brewery
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): 34
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Source: Courtesy of Altenburger
Premium Pils
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Classic Pilsener
> Brewery: Altenburger
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.9%
> International bittering units (IBU): 30
Source: Courtesy of Fujizakura Heights Beer
Sakura Bock
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Bock
> Brewery: Fujizakura Heights Beer
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): 28
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Source: Courtesy of Grupo Mahou-San Miguel
San Miguel Premium Especial
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: International Lager
> Brewery: Grupo Mahou-San Miguel
> Country of origin: Spain
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.4%
> International bittering units (IBU): 18
Source: Courtesy of Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
Schwarzwald Michel
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Helles/Münchner
> Brewery: Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.8%
> International bittering units (IBU): 13
Source: Courtesy of Yatsugatake Brewery
Touch Down ROCK Bock
> Medal(s): World’s Best Lager Bock
> Beer type: Bock
> Brewery: Yatsugatake Brewery
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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Source: Courtesy of Yatsugatake Brewery
Touch Shirakaba BEAT
> Medal(s): World’s Best International
> Beer type: International Lager
> Brewery: Yatsugatake Brewery
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: Givaga / Getty Images
Ulmer Pilsener
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Classic Pilsener
> Brewery: Familienbrauerei Bauhöfer Renchen
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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Source: Courtesy of Hausen Beer
Vienna
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Vienna
> Brewery: Hausen Bier
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.0%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
Source: Courtesy of Privatbrauerei Waldhaus
Waldhaus Spezial Gold
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Dortmunder
> Brewery: Privatbrauerei Waldhaus
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.6%
> International bittering units (IBU): 20
Source: bhofack2 / Getty Images
Zwickl
> Medal(s): Gold
> Beer type: Zwickl / Pale Kellerbier
> Brewery: Hirsch
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.2%
> International bittering units (IBU): No IBU
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