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Basil Beer

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A Maibock base meets sweet basil, the culinary herb of Italian cooking: its licorice-like flavour and aroma sit on the malty sweetness of the bock. The brewery finds that basil lends its nuances to beer very well. Brewed at Blind Tiger in Topeka, Kansas, the brewpub that opened in 1995 as the city's first craft brewery.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
herbalmaltyspicy
herbal
malty
spicy
caramel
Aroma
Sweet basil leads the nose, its distinctive licorice-like character sitting comfortably over a foundation of soft, grainy Malz.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Basil Beer

◎ Appearance

A bright golden-amber hue typical of the Maibock style, with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass. Carbonation is present but restrained, allowing the malt's natural body to express itself without excessive liveliness.

golden-amberclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

Sweet basil leads the nose, its distinctive licorice-like character sitting comfortably over a foundation of soft, grainy Malz. Behind these herbal notes lies a gentle warmth suggesting the beer's moderate alcohol, with no harsh spirits or phenolic edges.

fresh basillicoricegrainy maltherbal

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty-sweet, with basil's spicy-herbal bite integrating throughout the mid-palate rather than dominating it. The bock's typical caramel richness provides backbone, while bitterness remains gentle at 35 IBU, serving as a seasoning rather than a force. Alcohol warmth is present but well-masked by the malt's sweetness.

herbal-spicycaramel sweetnesssmoothsubtle bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with basil's herbal character fading gracefully into a gentle malt sweetness and a whisper of alcohol warmth. No astringency or harsh residue lingers.

herbal fademalty aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Basil Beer

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About Maibock

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Maibock?

Bocks are strong German lagers with 6.5–7.5% ABV. Rich malt sweetness — toast, chocolate, caramel — with low bitterness and a warming finish.

Finding a similar Maibock

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

Compare with another beer →