If You Love Sam Adams, Try These 10 Other Lagers

Cracking open a cold beer often heralds the start of the weekend, a celebration, or a vacation. For millions of Americans, the brand of choice is Samuel Adams, whose Boston Lager is their tipple of choice thanks to its Vienna-style blend of sweet caramel, bitter hops, and a hint of spice. The love for this Boston Beer Company's range has extended far beyond its Massachusetts stomping ground, to the point where Sam Adams has sometimes been credited with kick-starting the burgeoning craft beer industry in the United States.

While most American states are open regarding alcohol sales, some are controlled, which obviously affects how grocery and liquor stores can sell beer. But, outside those controlled spaces and across much of the rest of the country, lager lovers are spoiled for choice, with a dazzling array of domestic beers at their fingertips. If you're looking for lagers with the same delicious qualities as Sam Adams, try one of these brewskis out for size.

This all-American beer, made with domestic Cascade and Cluster hops, may have its roots in 19th-century Germany, but Yeungling's Traditional Lager has been a smash with fans since the recipe was brought back to life in 1987. Beyond the gorgeous amber color, expect a balanced, medium flavor, with a hint of sweetness vying for your taste buds with all that roasted caramel.

The company claims that brewers were playing Mozart when their copper-toned Vienna Lager was being made — but who cares whether that's true or not, as the end result is a symphony of flavor. One of Dovetail's "Core 4" (that also includes its easy-on-the-palate Helles lager), it's made with Vienna malt and Styrian Golding hops. If you love a lager with character, this is the beer for you.

Contrary to Flagship Brewery's marketing strategy, you don't have to be in the big city to enjoy a can or two of its Metropolitan Lager. The Bavarian floral noble hops contrast beautifully with the spicy nuttiness of rye malt, while the hint of fruit makes this creamy, unconventional lager so much more than the sum of its parts.

If some lagers hit you over the head with flavor, Dos Equis Ambar Special takes a more subtle approach. It's a Vienna-style lager, so it's smooth and easy to drink, but also has enough complexity to satisfy those looking for something a little richer to enjoy with their tacos ... or maybe even something they can use to add a splash to their scrambled eggs. As for those red Xs on the bottle? They commemorate the last millennium.

As iconic to New Yorkers as Sam Adams is to Boston, Brooklyn Lager is the epitome of the borough's Vienna-style brewing tradition. Made using the dry-hopping method (the hops are soaked in the beer as it matures), the brew's fruity, citrusy aroma blends with toasty, caramel notes to create a lager that, once tasted, can never be forgotten.

If you're in the mood for a change from Vienna-style lagers, reach for a Modelo Negra. Brewed in the Munich Dunkel style, it's a darker beer than many of its counterparts and has become a best-seller in Mexico since its launch in 1925. Although some drinkers say it's not as light as Sam Adams, Modelo Negra gets pretty close and delivers mouthfuls of rich malt, tempered by hints of caramel and chocolate, and barely any bitterness.

You have to hand it to whatever wit named this lager after the hero of Prohibition — but they know their stuff. Eliot Ness Amber lager from Great Lakes Brewing Co. is a crisp, malty treat with an enticing coppery color. The flavor is complex, serving a roasted, nutty flavor after the initial caramel hit, and while it is one to linger over, some lager lovers wouldn't peg this lager as a session beer.

Locals have loved New England heritage brand Narragansett Lager for more than 100 years, and there's no sign of that devotion dimming any time soon. Although it's a simpler, lighter beer, there's still plenty going on, with a biscuit-like aroma and a surprisingly robust mouthfeel. If you're eating while sipping, the lingering hint of sweetness would work amazingly with this spicy, savory turkey chili recipe.

Is there anyone who doesn't love Devil's Backbone's Vienna Lager? The blend of German Saaz and Northern Brewer hops with four malts (CaraAmber, Dark Munich, Pilsner, and Vienna) has created a beer that more than gives Sam Adams a run for its money. Not too sweet, not too bitter, with a medium body — it's the Goldilocks of lagers!

Whoever said low-calorie lager had to be watery rubbish clearly didn't send the memo to Oskar Blues Brewery. Its Dale's Light Lager is a crisp, beautifully businesslike beer with a lot of goodness packed into a paltry 95 calories. Don't be fooled into thinking easy to drink means no complexity, either. The blend of floral notes with biscuity, malty flavor is so delightful you definitely won't have leftovers for your garden.