hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Capital Gold Lager

Tap to rate

Winner of the inaugural Iowa Beer Brackets competition in 2017 — voted Iowa's favourite craft beer by Des Moines Register readers. A clean, well-balanced American lager with a mild hop note and smooth malt finish. The beer that proved Iowa craft drinkers appreciate a great lager as much as an IPA.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanmaltyhoppy
clean
malty
hoppy
bready
Aroma
The nose is clean and restrained, characteristic of a well-executed lager.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Capital Gold Lager

◎ Appearance

Capital Gold presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, luminous quality. A fine white head forms with good initial retention, gradually settling into a delicate collar. Carbonation is visible and lively, creating a crisp visual impression throughout the glass.

pale goldencrystal-clearfine white headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is clean and restrained, characteristic of a well-executed lager. Subtle malt sweetness emerges first, with gentle cereal and light bread notes. A mild noble hop presence rounds out the bouquet without dominating, creating a balanced and inviting first impression.

clean malt sweetnesssubtle bread notesmild noble hopscereal grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a smooth, slightly sweet malt entry that feels light and approachable. Mid-palate exhibits a delicate balance between grain-forward character and restrained hop bitterness, with minimal IBU assertiveness. The finish is dry and crisp without harshness, allowing the clean lager character to shine.

smooth malt-drivenlight and crispgentle bitternessbalanced

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is clean and short, fading gracefully without lingering sweetness or astringency. A pleasant dryness persists, inviting the next sip.

clean finishrefreshing dryness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Capital Gold Lager

More from Confluence Brewing Company

Des Moines IPA
Des Moines IPA
American IPA
6.5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Long Ride
Long Ride
American Pale Ale
5.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

About American Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Lager?

American 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 American Lager

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

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