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Ballast Point 66 Lager

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Brewed to celebrate 100 years of Route 66, from the first mile in Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier. This golden lager gives soft malt sweetness, notes of fruit and just a touch of hop bite, with the hops kept in the background. A 6.6% lager and a toast to the open highway, brewed year-round and poured only on draft.

ABV
6.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter17 IBU
SRM
pale gold4
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyfruityclean
malty
fruity
clean
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with soft, grainy malt character complemented by subtle fruit esters—hints of stone fruit and apple.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ballast Point 66 Lager

◎ Appearance

A bright golden yellow with excellent clarity and fine carbonation visible throughout. The head forms a thin, stable collar with good retention and delicate lacing that clings to the glass as you drink. The overall impression is clean and inviting, with a translucent quality that catches the light.

bright goldenclearfine carbonationstable head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with soft, grainy malt character complemented by subtle fruit esters—hints of stone fruit and apple. Noble hops sit quietly in the background, contributing a whisper of herbal and floral notes without dominating. Overall the aromatic profile is restrained and approachable, emphasizing the malt foundation.

soft grainstone fruitrestrained hopsclean

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with a gentle sweetness that carries through the mid-palate without cloying. The fruit notes from the aroma translate here as well—a hint of apple skin and stone fruit warmth. Bitterness arrives late and measured, staying low enough to preserve drinkability while providing structure and balance.

malt-forwardsubtle fruitlow bitternesssmooth-drinking

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately short, fading to a dry, malty residue without lingering harshness. A whisper of fruity sweetness persists on the back palate, making this easy to return to glass after glass.

cleanmalty aftertastecrisp
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
76
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

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

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Ballast Point 66 Lager

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About Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, sweet, fruity character as Ballast Point 66 Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →