Charm City Lager

Tasting Notes

Pours clean with a light grain sweetness upfront and subtle floral hop character in the nose. The flavor is straightforward — soft malt backbone, restrained bitterness, and a dry, clean finish that doesn't overstay its welcome. Body is light to medium, with a smooth texture that lets the simple malt character do the talking. There's nothing challenging here, which is precisely the point for a well-made American-style lager.

About the Brewery

Union Craft Brewing is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and has been a fixture of the city's craft beer scene since opening in 2012. They're known for building a lineup that balances approachable, everyday beers with more adventurous seasonal and specialty offerings. Charm City Lager functions as their flagship — a deliberate nod to Baltimore's working-class beer heritage — and has helped anchor their identity as a community-rooted brewery rather than a trend-chasing one.

Food Pairings

A clean lager like this works well with steamed blue crabs because the beer's dryness cuts through the Old Bay seasoning without fighting it. A good ballpark-style hot dog pairs naturally since the mild malt sweetness complements rather than competes with the meat. Fried chicken benefits from the beer's light body acting as a palate reset between bites. It also holds its own alongside a simple cheese pizza, where the grain character mirrors the dough without overwhelming the toppings.

Style Guide

American lagers are bottom-fermented beers built for drinkability — light in body, low in bitterness, and centered on clean malt character with minimal hop presence. The style descended from European lager traditions but was reshaped by large American brewers in the 19th and 20th centuries, often incorporating adjuncts like corn or rice to lighten the body further. Craft takes on the style, like this one, tend to use all-malt recipes that add a bit more flavor depth while staying true to the restrained, approachable profile that defines the category.