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Dad only ever drinks lager? Not for long

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 06 Aug 2026

By
Amelia Ball

Seven great beers against a red and pink illustrated background

This Father’s Day, give him one of these cracking beers so he can branch out (a little).

Don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of lager, especially now so many different breweries are putting their spin on this most easy-going of beers. It’s the sort of beer that attracts super-loyal fans; the type who never ventures beyond their brew of choice. If this sounds like someone you know (Dad, perhaps?), we have some excellent ideas you can gift or take to the next occasion to help them spread their wings (and give you something different to drink at the same time).    

Just know that choosing something other than a lager doesn’t mean going straight for a full-on smoked beer or punchy double IPA. There are loads of great beers out there that are simply a touch more hoppy, have a little more depth and come with a few more flavours than the average lager. And who could be mad about that? Not Dad, if you ask us – and definitely not after you hand him one of these cans this Father’s Day.  

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1. Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

There’s a reason this beer is central to one of the biggest success stories in recent Aussie brewing history: it’s delicious. This Byron Bay beer blew up as soon as it launched – almost 20 years ago – and it’s still going strong. This is fruitier than your average lager, so prepare for bright aromatics and fresh flavours, but it still manages to be dry and easy drinking. It might even get you curious about the rest of their core range.

2. 4 Pines New World Pale Ale

For anyone who appreciates the refreshment of a crisp lager, consider this New World Pale Ale something of a next step. From 4 Pines in Sydney’s Manly, this beer has hints of tropical fruit and citrus that come from three different types of hops, but a subtle bitterness reins it all in. These elements come together in a light to medium-bodied beer that’s fresh and balanced. 

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3. Philter XPA

From Sydney’s inner west, Philter has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2017, and the XPA is something of a hero in the range. This Extra Pale Ale – sitting somewhere between an American Pale Ale and an IPA – was designed for easy drinking, so even though it’s full of tropical fruit aromas with a distinctive hop flavour, it’s balanced and finishes nice and dry. A converter to ales if ever there was one.

4. Balter XPA

For another top XPA pick, you can’t ignore the phenonemon that is Balter, but this is a best seller for good reason. If you think Dad is up for a beer that’s floral, brighter and fruitier than his usual lager, this is an excellent choice. The Balter XPA manages to bring all those hoppy characters and flavours, but still delivers it all in what is ultimately an easy-drinking beer, which should suit the hop-curious lager drinker.  

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5. Kaiju Krush! Tropical Pale Ale

For anyone starting to love all those fresh and bright tropical fruit flavours that are part of the pale-ale deal, this is another great beer to add to the list – “tropical” is in the name, after all. Despite this Melbourne-made brew delivering a load of refreshing citrus, pineapple and mango flavours, along with a hint of papaya, it has a crisp and lean malt profile that keeps it all in check.

6. Gage Roads Single Fin Summer Ale

If the ‘summer ale’ style doesn’t get the lager fans intrigued, we think its flavours will. Expect a refreshing, light-bodied ale that's full of tropical fruit aromas and flavours, but there’s a backbone of bitterness and a clean finish that helps to make this beer taste more familiar for those used to more restrained styles. This is a pretty perfect beer to crack on the day with Dad.  

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7. Monsuta Okinawa Dark Premium Lager

We know this might look like a sharp turn, but stay with us – this beer is a lot more approachable than it may seem. While bringing a balanced malty richness, this dark beer is indeed still a lager, so it also has soft hoppy flavours and even a touch of sweetness that should be appealing to lager fans. It isn’t a punch-you-in-the-face kind of dark beer; it’s surprisingly refreshing and crisp. A brilliant pick for something different.
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Amelia BallAmelia Ball is a journalist, editor and former Editorial Director of Halliday Wine Companion, who specialises in drinks, food and travel.
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Hit ListPale AleAustralian productsLagerBeer
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