10 Lagers With The Highest Alcohol Content

Lagers are among the most popular beer styles thanks to their refreshing quality. Styles like Czech pilsners, German helles lagers, American light lagers, Mexican lagers, and Japanese rice lagers lend themselves well to leisurely socializing with their generally lower alcohol by volume (ABV) levels. Exact percentages depend on style, but lagers tend to range between 4% and 5.5% ABV. However, there are exceptions to that rule, with many higher-alcohol lagers lurking among the standard varieties.

The difference between ales and lagers, for the most part (exceptions and hybrids exist), is that the former are fermented with yeast strains that prefer warmer temperatures and yield more flavor compounds like fruity esters, while the latter are fermented with yeast strains that work in cooler temperatures and don't contribute much flavor. Lager yeast also generally has a lower alcohol tolerance than ale yeast, which may contribute to some lagers having a lower alcohol content.

But boozier lagers have been brewed for centuries in Germany. For example, bock beers are lagers with 6% to 7% ABVs, and doppelbocks and eisbock can soar from 9% to 14%. Higher-alcohol lagers bring more character to the table than your standard 4% ABV American light lager, from more body to toastier flavors. If you're looking to try stronger lagers, here are examples available in the United States, ordered from lowest to highest ABV.

Although it starts at the lower end of the high ABV spectrum for lagers, festbiers and märzens are also examples of German lagers made slightly stronger. These styles are designed for Oktoberfest celebrations, with crisp German lager deliciousness but more body, toasty and bready flavor, and more alcohol. Basically, they're lagers that party. And as an American craft example, Sierra Nevada's Oktoberfest Festbier is one of the best, most popular Oktoberfest beers. It's pleasantly biscuity and hits 6% ABV.

Conveniently, one of your favorite grocery stores also throws its hat into the German Oktoberfest beer ring. Oktoberfest Festbier is one of the best Trader Joe's beers to try. It's true to the traditional style with notes of biscuit and toast, and a 6.2% ABV that's stronger than your typical lager but not too daunting.

Hailing from Granada, Spain, the Reserva 1925 is produced by Cervezas Alhambra and is a European strong lager in style. What does that mean? Basically, expect a classic lager profile with floral and spicy hop notes, alongside sweeter, biscuity malt flavors with hints of honey and a toastier character. The Reserva weighs in at 6.4% ABV.

Meet another beefed up lager from Spain — the Estrella Galicia 1906 Reserva Especial is made in La Coruña. While Spanish in production, it's German in identity: The Reserva Especial is a German-style maibock. A maibock is like a festbier in that it's a seasonal, celebratory lager with boosted body and booze; except it traditionally kicks off spring (mai means May in German). It's delicious year-round, though — especially Estrella's, which boasts 6.5% ABV and a longer aging period than most Spanish beers.

An iconic lager since the 19th century, Pabst Blue Ribbon often appears on lists of favorite cheap beers. Classic PBR is reliably tasty, crisp, easy-drinking, and 4.7% alcohol. Far fewer beer fans know about this lager's stronger cousin, though, Pabst Extra. At 6.5% ABV, it boasts a more rounded mouthfeel and malt notes of bread crust, toast, and even slight caramel.

Coming in at 7% ABV, DAB Dortmunder Maibock is a true, traditional taste of the centuries-old German bock style. Made as a lager but with more malt character and alcohol, hearty bocks have been enjoyed since the 14th century in northern Germany. DAB's version hails from Dortmund, and is that spring-festive maibock style in particular — but it's available and tasty year-round.

Carlsberg is loved around the world as a classic lager, with just 5% ABV. But Carlsberg connoisseurs know that the brand also makes a bolder, boozier iteration, Elephant, at 7.2% ABV. The former has been brewed in Denmark since 1847, while the latter came along in 1959. Carlsberg Elephant is a European strong lager. Some online reviewers appreciate that it packs an IPA-like punch in alcohol and intensity, but in the lager — and not assertively bitter, hoppy, IPA — flavor profile.

Paulaner Salvator is a centuries-old German beer that originated the doppelbock style, intentionally crafted to be a hearty, cozy drink. The Paulaner monks began brewing it in the 1600s as a clever workaround for Lenten fasting — they couldn't have solid food, but they could have a delicious, filling beer. No wonder they called it salvator, meaning savior. Basically a double bock, this one is 7.9% ABV with notes of brown bread, caramel, toffee, and dark dried fruits.

If you want to try a bock with a distinctively American twist, look no further than Abita Andygator, a Louisiana bock at 8% ABV. This helles-style doppelbock beer has an added kick of booze and flavor. Helles means paler malts are used, so the flavor isn't quite as deep and rich as some, but it's still toasty and biscuity with floral, peppery, earthy German hops.

Monster Brewing dared to ask: What if the crisp, refreshing taste of lager came with boozy edge? They answered that question with Stunt Double Lager at 8%. Perhaps it's not a surprise that an outfit named Monster pushes lager to the max, especially considering this brand is the result of Monster Energy buying CANarchy Craft Brewing Collective in 2022. Monster goes hard with energy drinks, and now it goes hard on lagers, too.