National Lager Day is observed on December 10 and draws attention to a beer style that is widely available yet often overlooked. Lagers are brewed at cool temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeast, a process that requires precision and patience. This method produces a clean, smooth flavor profile that differs from ales, which ferment more quickly and at warmer temperatures. The day encourages people to learn about these differences, explore various lager styles, and learn how brewing techniques shape the final taste.
Online activity has become a major part of the celebration. Breweries often share limited releases, tasting notes, or behind-the-scenes videos about how their lagers are made. Beer enthusiasts post their picks of the day, and the hashtag #NationalLagerDay steadily grows each year. On Instagram alone, it has been used more than 8,000 times, reflecting interest from both casual drinkers and dedicated craft-beer fans.
When Is National Lager Day Observed?
National Lager Day is observed every year on December 10, giving it a fixed place in the early December calendar. Its timing makes it an easy date to remember and a perfect moment to explore lager styles before holiday beverages become more prominent.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | December 10, 2025 (Wednesday) |
| 2026 | December 10, 2026 (Thursday) |
| 2027 | December 10, 2027 (Friday) |
| 2028 | December 10, 2028 (Sunday) |
| 2029 | December 10, 2029 (Monday) |
| 2030 | December 10, 2030 (Tuesday) |
Ways to Celebrate National Lager Day
You don’t need to be a beer expert or do anything fancy on National Lager Day. The day’s basically about trying something new, supporting local breweries, and actually paying attention to what you’re drinking instead of grabbing the same thing every time. You can make it casual, turn it into a hangout, or keep it low-key at home. Here are a few fun and easy ways to take part:
- Try a new lager style you’ve never had before
- Visit a local brewery and order a tasting flight that includes multiple lagers
- Share your favorite lager or brewery online using #NationalLagerDay
- Learn the difference between lager and ale so you can actually explain it when someone asks
A Short History of Lager
Lager originated in Central Europe, particularly in the areas that are now Germany and the Czech Republic. Brewers in these regions learned that fermenting beer at lower temperatures caused the yeast to work slowly, producing a cleaner and more subdued flavor compared with traditional ales. This method also allowed the beer to mature steadily when stored in cool environments such as caves and cellars, a practice that shaped the development of early lagers.
By the mid-1800s, pale lagers like Pilsner gained wide popularity. Pilsner Urquell, brewed in Plzeň in what is now the Czech Republic, became one of the first examples of the bright, golden style that influenced countless lagers afterward.
The arrival of mechanical refrigeration made cold fermentation easier to control, allowing lager brewing to expand far beyond its Central European origins. Today, lager is the most widely consumed beer style worldwide, produced by both large breweries and small craft operations.
