Bell's Lager of the Lakes 6Pk Cans

Bell's Lager of the Lakes 6Pk Cans is a Bohemian-style pilsner from Bell's Brewery at 5.0% ABV, packaged as six 12 oz cans. Scored 92 points in a blind taste test by BJCP-certified judges for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, this lager stands apart from most American craft pilsners through a disciplined six-week conditioning period that few breweries commit to.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.0%  |  Origin: Michigan, USA  |  Style: Bohemian-Style Pilsner  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery operates out of Comstock and Kalamazoo, Michigan, and has grown into one of the most recognized independent craft breweries in the United States. Lager of the Lakes is built on a straightforward grain bill of Pils and Munich malts fermented with Bell's proprietary house lager yeast. What distinguishes the brewing process is a full six-week maturation period in the fermentation vessels — a practice rooted in traditional Bohemian pilsner production that allows the beer to develop a cleaner, more refined malt-and-hop balance than shorter-lagered competitors.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grainy, bready malt leads the nose with a gentle sweetness reminiscent of fresh crackers. Behind the malt, subtle floral and herbal hop notes emerge, consistent with the Hallertau hop variety traditionally used in Czech-style lagers.

Taste: The entry is immediately bright and crisp, with a snappy malt character that registers as sourdough biscuit. At mid-palate, a biscuity-meets-herbal quality develops alongside faint citrus notes. A light corn-like sweetness from the Pils malt rounds out the body before spicy hops take over moving toward the finish.

Finish: Clean and moderately bitter, with herbal hop spice sliding into a dry, refreshing close. The extended lagering shows its hand here — there is no residual yeast harshness or muddiness, just a smooth fadeout of malt and hop interplay.

How to Drink Lager of the Lakes

Serve cold, ideally between 38–45°F, in a pilsner glass or standard pint to let the carbonation and malt aromatics express themselves fully. This is a beer designed to be drunk on its own terms — straightforward, clean, and unadorned.

• Michelada: The crisp, biscuity body holds up well against tomato juice, lime, and hot sauce without getting lost.
• Shandy: The herbal hop backbone pairs naturally with fresh lemonade for a lighter warm-weather drink.
• Beer-tail (Boilermaker pairing): A clean pilsner like this is a classic alongside a shot of bourbon or rye — the malt sweetness bridges the two.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and grilling sessions where a flavorful but sessionable lager is needed
• Introducing hop-forward IPA drinkers to the subtlety of a well-made lager
• Stocking a cooler for a day on the water or lakeside gathering
• Pairing with a casual weeknight dinner that calls for something more interesting than a macro lager

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lager of the Lakes taste like? Lager of the Lakes has a biscuity, crackery malt profile balanced by herbal and lightly spicy hop bitterness, finishing clean and dry. Faint citrus notes and a subtle corn-like sweetness round out a flavor profile rooted in the Bohemian pilsner tradition.

How does Lager of the Lakes compare to Victory Prima Pils? Both are American craft takes on European-style pilsners, but Lager of the Lakes leans more toward biscuity Munich malt sweetness while Victory Prima Pils tends to showcase a sharper, more assertive German hop bitterness. The six-week conditioning on Bell's version also gives it a notably smooth, rounded texture.

Is Lager of the Lakes good for craft beer beginners? Yes — its clean malt character and restrained bitterness make it highly approachable for drinkers transitioning from mainstream lagers, while the Bohemian pilsner complexity gives experienced palates something to appreciate.

Where is Lager of the Lakes made? Lager of the Lakes is brewed by Bell's Brewery in Michigan, with operations based in both Comstock and Kalamazoo. Bell's is one of the largest and most established independent craft breweries in the Midwest.

What foods pair well with Lager of the Lakes? Grilled bratwurst and sauerkraut complement the herbal hop character. Fried fish or fish tacos match the beer's crispness and light body. A classic cheeseburger works well, as the carbonation and bitterness cut through the fat. Soft pretzels with mustard echo the biscuity malt notes. Lighter cheeses like Havarti or young Gouda mirror the beer's subtle sweetness.

What sizes does Lager of the Lakes come in? Lager of the Lakes is available in a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format for this expression.

Is Lager of the Lakes worth the price? Lager of the Lakes positions as a craft-tier pilsner, priced modestly above mainstream lagers but justified by the six-week lagering process, quality malt bill, and 92-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine — strong value within the craft pilsner category.

Why Lager of the Lakes?

The six-week conditioning period is the single most important factor separating this beer from the crowded American craft lager field — most competitors cut that timeline significantly. That patience yields a cleaner, smoother pilsner with none of the rough edges that plague rushed lagers. The 92-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine's blind BJCP judging panel confirms the results. For drinkers who believe a well-made lager is one of the hardest things to brew and one of the most rewarding things to drink, this is the kind of craft pilsner that earns repeat purchases on quality alone.