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8 Star Lager

49th State Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Helles Lager · One of 141 Helles Lagers in hopIQ

49th State's Helles-style flagship lager — named for the eight stars of gold on the Alaska flag. Brewed with pure glacial water, it drinks with bready Munich-malt notes, a whisper of noble hop, and a crisp, clean finish that ends before it lingers. Alaska in a can, done straight.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all Helles Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Helles Lager.
Hop character
noble hop
floral
hoppy
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 8 Star Lager

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright, glassy transparency. A fine white head forms readily and holds with good retention and even lacing around the glass. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated, creating a lively yet controlled presentation.

pale goldencrystal clearfine white headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with soft, inviting bready and malty notes characteristic of Munich malt—subtle cereal grain sweetness without heaviness. A delicate noble hop character emerges beneath, adding a whisper of herbal and slightly floral dimension. Overall the aroma remains clean and restrained, allowing the crisp malt foundation to dominate.

bready Malznoble hop whispersubtle floralclean malt-forward

Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing with immediate bready malt presence that builds gently across the mid-palate. The noble hop bitterness remains restrained at 18 IBU, contributing subtle herbal notes rather than assertive bite. The beer finishes dry with a clean, mineral quality that prevents any lingering sweetness.

crisp attackbready malt coredry finishmineral clarity

Finish

Short to medium finish that ends clean before any residual character takes hold. A pleasant drying sensation persists on the palate without harshness.

quick fadeclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 8 Star Lager

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with 8 Star Lager

About Helles Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Helles Lager?

Helles Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Helles Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, bready, clean character as 8 Star Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Helles Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all Helles Lager beers in hopIQ →New to Helles Lager? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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