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8.6 Original

Bavaria Brewery
Netherlands·Strong Lager
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A strong lager at 8.6% ABV, the alpha of the 8.6 range since 1986. It is brewed with barley from the brewery’s own malt house and goes through a distinctive fermentation. Fruity, with a hint of anise; tasters add a malty nose and a strong, malt-driven palate with a short finish. It comes from the Bavaria brewery in Lieshout, Noord-Brabant, run by the Swinkels family since 1764.

ABV
8.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
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
maltyfruityspicy
malty
fruity
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced malty richness from the brewery's own malt house, complemented by subtle fruity esters and a distinctive anise note that provides complexity.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 8.6 Original

◎ Appearance

A pale golden lager with exceptional clarity and bright luminosity. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. Carbonation is brisk and steady, creating a lively visual presence.

pale goldencrystal clearfine lacingbrisk carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malty richness from the brewery's own malt house, complemented by subtle fruity esters and a distinctive anise note that provides complexity. Beneath these sits a clean, slightly grainy character that speaks to the beer's fermentation profile.

malty grainripe fruit estersanise spiceclean fermentation

◐ Taste

The palate is decidedly malt-forward and full-bodied, with a solid foundation of barley sweetness that carries through from entry to mid-palate. Fruity undertones and a whisper of spice provide balance, while modest bitterness (25 IBU) remains restrained. The finish is notably short and dry, allowing the alcohol warmth to become apparent.

full-bodiedmalt-drivenfruity midpalatespicy notedry finish

◑ Finish

The beer concludes with a brief, clean exit and a warming alcohol presence. A faint spice lingers on the palate, with no harsh bite.

short finishwarming alcoholdry aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
78
Appearance
80
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 Original

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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 malty, fruity, full-bodied character as 8.6 Original will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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