Did you know: Lagers are the most popular beer style worldwide? 

Of course, that's due in large part to the popularity of macro lagers such as Bud Light, Miller Lite, Modelo, Coors, and Corona. But today, many craft brewers have been reclaiming this historic style. 

Historically, lagers originated in Northern Europe, specifically in the area that we know today as Germany and Austria. 

Fermented with a yeast strain that enjoys cooler temperatures and works at a slower pace, lagers are typically tricky beers to brew. This was especially true back in the day. 

During the Middle Ages, brewers typically made these "bottom-fermenting" beers from September through May, when temperatures tended to be colder. Additionally, brewers stored lagers in cool environments like caves and cellars. In fact, "lager" in German actually translates to "storeroom" or "warehouse." 

In America, we can thank a Bavarian brewer named John Wagner for bringing lagers across the pond. In 1840, Wagner arrived in America with a haul of lager yeast in his back pocket. Settling in Philadelphia, Wagner quickly realized that Americans had been drinking English-style ales for the last hundred and sixty or so years. More familiar with his own German-style lagers, Wagner took his precious cargo of yeast and brewed what is historically considered the nation's first lager beer. 

And that's not the yeast of it. As a large population of German immigrants in Philadelphia immediately began drinking the style, the American people slowly caught on as well. By the late 1880s, lager had overtaken whiskey as America's favorite alcoholic beverage. 

Today, we celebrate holidays like Lager Day… which is happening on Dec. 10th, 2023!

Tell Me About the Badge

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At Untappd, we're commemorating the annual holiday by releasing a new badge. The "Lager Day (2023)" badge encourages you to drink your own favorite lager. 

To earn this badge: Check in any one (1) beer that is categorized as a lager between December 8 and 11, 2023. This includes: Bock - Doppelbock, Bock - Eisbock, Bock - Hell / Maibock / Lentebock, Bock - Single / Traditional, Bock - Weizenbock, Bock - Weizendoppelbock, California Common, Festbier, Historical Beer - Zoigl, Kellerbier / Zwickelbier, Lager - Amber, Lager - American Amber / Red, Lager - American Light, Lager - American, Lager - Dark, Lager - Dortmunder / Export, Lager - Helles, Lager - IPL (India Pale Lager), Lager - Japanese Rice, Lager - Leichtbier, Lager - Mexican, Lager - Munich Dunkel, Lager - Pale, Lager - Red, Lager - Strong, Lager - Vienna, Lager - Winter, Malt Beer, Malt Liquor, Märzen, Non-Alcoholic - Lager, Pilsner - Czech, Pilsner - German, Pilsner - Imperial / Double, Pilsner - Italian, Pilsner - Other, Porter - Baltic, Rauchbier, Schwarzbier.

If you're consuming, we encourage you to (responsibly) drink a lager in one of its glorious forms. Whether the uber popular Czech dark lager,  one of Untappd's all-time top-rated Czech pilsners, underrated Vienna or helles, or one of these top craft American lagers chosen by our friends at Hop Culture. 

However you choose to celebrate, drinking (and checking in!) any lager will unlock this new badge.