10 Best Lagers UK 2022 | Brewdog, Pistonhead and More

Scottish brewers Brewdog have long been the household name of the craft beer revolution. With their Lost Lager, the self-styled brewing punks aim to claim back the lost ground dominated for too long by the big names in bland beer.

Flavour-wise, this lager is a big and bold as you’d expect from Brewdog, and pulls no punches in quenching your thirst with a vibrant citrusy taste explosion. It’s available in standard 330 ml cans and bottles, but we like the extra-generous 660 ml bottles for great value and for sharing.

Bristol-based Lost and Grounded have only been going since 2016, but it hasn't taken long for their Keller Pils lager to become a craft favourite among those in the know. They use German Pilsner malt and combine it with three traditional hop varieties to produce a light and clean lager with a pleasant touch of hoppy bitterness.

The company’s idiosyncratic hand-drawn labels make a nice change from the standard beer branding we’re used to, and if you buy their entire range, they line up together to make a panoramic scene!

While gluten-free beers are becoming more common, that doesn't mean they're all worth a sip. Thankfully, the group of mates behind the Free From Beer Co. set out on a mission to create a clean, crisp and perfectly balanced gluten-free pilsner without compromise – and believe us, they succeeded. 

Using several hop varieties, this is a delicious pilsner marriage of earthy, light floral notes and mellow bitterness with considerable complexity. Apparently plenty of non-gluten-free beer drinkers rate this lager too, because they can enjoy a few without the bloat!

The original pilsner beer after which all others take their name, Pilsner Urquell is to this day still made in the town of Plzeň in the Czech Republic to the same 177-year-old recipe.

The use of the local soft spring water and classic Czech Saaz hops give this beer its distinctive, ever-popular characteristics. It’s decidedly hoppier than many other big names, with an exceptionally clean, dry, slightly grassy taste that balances its subtle sweetness and crispness well. 

Sweden-based Pistonhead are at the forefront of the low-ABV beer movement, producing this impressively quaffable booze-free booze. Their Flat Tire craft lager is made to give you everything you want and expect from a lager, only without the alcohol content.

There’s absolutely no compromise on flavour here, as the lager is brewed with flavour-packed mosaic hops for hints of tropical fruit and citrus, perfectly complementing the slight bitterness and rich, malt body. And because it's alcohol-free, as well as keeping a clear head you’ll also be keeping the beer belly away, as it weighs in at only 21 calories per 330 ml.

It might sound Russian, but the name (pronounced ‘cor-eff’) is actually Cornish for – appropriately enough – beer! Made using local Cornish barley, Korev is a light and crisp lager more similar to the big mass-produced lagers than some of the craftier numbers on our list.

It comes in a big 500 ml bottle and boasts of being the perfect accompaniment to spicy food, literally cleansing the palate to bring out its bold flavours. Ideal for that Friday night takeaway or a BYOB curry house.

Some of the best beer ingredients in the world are grown in the south-east of England and have been for generations. Meantime make the most of their capital position by bringing together barley from East Anglia and hops from Kent in their London lager.

The result is a refreshing British lager that’s smooth and very drinkable, with England’s finest malt and hops at the forefront of the very flavoursome palate. Choose from a bottle or can as per your preference/party plans. 

Upping the ante in the field of ethical consumerism, Toast’s beers all have one unique selling point in common – they’re made using surplus fresh bread from local bakeries. What’s more, all of their profits are donated to charities working to make the food system more sustainable.

The pilsner-style lager is light and delicately hoppy, with – not surprisingly – some nice aromas of bread. As well as being delicious, this is a beer you can feel good about drinking for all the right reasons. The only downside is that it's a little difficult to get hold of. 

As the spiritual home of lager, Germany continues to produce innumerable excellent examples, not least of which is this beer from the home of the Oktoberfest, Munich. This is an exceptionally clear and light lager that’s as mild, refreshing and thirst-quenching as a good lager should be.

It comes in 500 ml bottles that make it great for sharing over a meal; barbecue foods and salads, in particular, will match it well. But be careful – at 5.2%, this is the strongest lager on our list, despite its delicate flavours.

Best known for their successful Hells lager, London brewers Camden are trying something different with their Week Nite beer. With an ABV of 3%, it’s aimed squarely at those who fancy a mid-week tipple but don’t want to go wild.

Like other low- or no-ABV beers, Week Nite has to earn its keep by showing it’s no slacker on flavour. While it may not be as flavourful as the stronger beers on our list, it’s nonetheless a tasty, hoppy alternative that’ll see you reaching for a second can (but without the guilt).