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8.6 Extreme

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A full-bodied lager from the 8.6 range at 10.5% ABV, with a sturdy bite and a pleasantly bitter hop aroma. Honey and grapefruit come through in the taste, with hints of black pepper, yet the brewery calls it soft and smooth to drink. It is brewed in Lieshout, Noord-Brabant, by the family business Royal Swinkels.

ABV
10.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
honeycitrusyhoppy
honey
citrusy
hoppy
spicy
Aroma
A clean, inviting nose dominated by floral and herbal Edelhopfen character with subtle citrus notes.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 8.6 Extreme

◎ Appearance

A pale golden lager with exceptional clarity and a bright, luminous character. The head forms quickly and settles into a fine, persistent collar with good lacing retention along the glass. Carbonation is evident and lively throughout.

pale goldenbrilliantly clearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

A clean, inviting nose dominated by floral and herbal Edelhopfen character with subtle citrus notes. Honey undertones emerge softly beneath the hop presence, creating an approachable and well-balanced opening. No yeast or solvent notes detract from the focused, refined profile.

noble hopshoney sweetnessgrapefruit citrusherbal

◐ Taste

The palate enters smooth and full-bodied, with honey and grapefruit flavors developing immediately. A pleasant bitter hop bite builds through the mid-palate, layered with subtle black pepper spice and light citrus complexity. Despite the 10.5% ABV, alcohol warmth remains restrained, allowing the malt and hop character to lead.

honey-forwardcitrus bitternessblack pepper spicefull-bodiedsmooth drinking

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with lingering bitterness and a drying hop sensation. A gentle warmth from the alcohol emerges late, leaving no sharp edges or harshness.

clean finishhop drynessmoderate length
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
75
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Stein

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with 8.6 Extreme

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About Strong Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Lager?

Strong 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 Strong Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same full-bodied, honey, smooth-drinking character as 8.6 Extreme will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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