American "craft" beer took a wrong turn 20 years ago with the invention of the IPA (although supposedly based on the English tradition), and a whole generation of American beer consumers has been brought up on the fiction "the more hops, the better". This is deplorable.

To German me, lager means pilsner. That is what beer should be. Beer can only be refreshing if there is balance between malt and hops, so it goes down smoothly without puckering of the mouth or prolonged aftertaste.

The Czechs are brilliant at this - the real Budvar is great - and are followed closely by the Germans, Danes, and Dutch. Giraf was mentioned above - IIRC that was Tuborg's strong beer (I don't know who Albani are) - but I agree that 10% is too strong to guzzle on a hot day.

FANFARE: My vote for Best Beer in the World _ and they will tell you so themselves - is Carlsberg's equivalent, Elephant. At 7.2% it won't knock your dick in the dirt, but it's beautifully balanced and never too wimpy. Perfection in a bottle. In the cooler months I drink it at room temperature.