what you should know 

If you were a beer, odds are you'd be a lager. 

By far the most popular type of beer in the world, lager tends to be crisp, nonchalant and easily swillable. (Just like you?)

If you've had a pilsner, bock, marzen or Colt 45, then you've tasted lager.

lager vs. ale What's the difference between a lager and an ale? German for "storehouse," lager refers to the cold rooms where lager is fermented (using bottom-fermenting yeast). Ales are made with top-fermenting yeasts that prefer warmer temps.

ancient history Lager predates Christopher Columbus, but by the 19th century, the U.S. had developed its own style of lager. Based on the Czech pilsner, the taste of American lagers are generously characterized as "flavor neutral." (Monty Python fans will know why American beers are like making love in a canoe.)

golden days Every year, Munich celebrates lager with Oktoberfest. If you can't make it, Eric Asimov can recommend some fine steins to drink at home.

what you need

This simple beer kit is a good way to get started if you think you're interested in home brewing.

There is no better way to proclaim your love of lager than with a wall-mounted beer-opener.

Author Maureen Ogle counterintuitively sings the praises of big, consistent American beer in Ambitious Brew.

If you aren't drinking from the bottle, try these classy pilsner glases. For something slightly less classy, there is always the funnel.

what you do

Need a little hair of the dog? Mix a Michelada to ease the pain.

Bring a barbecue classic indoors and make this beer can chicken in your oven.

While an English ale seems more fitting for fish and chips, we prefer to wash them down with the light, crisp flavor of a lager.

All the talk of cold beer has us craving spicy shrimp (Brys), Asian mussels (Kristin), onion rings (Claire), black bean soup (Corinne) and chicken and sausage gumbo (Chip).

Turkey and red bean chili will keep you warm as the nights grow cold.

Featured: Munch on these pepper jack and lager grissini, this week's Root Source Challenge featured recipe. Congratulations to Cafe Lynnylu!

Find more lager recipes at Cookthink.com. And if you haven't yet signed up for a free account at Cookthink, do it now!