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Carlton Cold

Carlton & United Breweries
Australia·Mid-Strength Lager
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Carlton Cold is a mid-strength lager introduced in 1993 and named for its filtration at temperatures below zero. It pours a bright golden amber and has a light fruity aroma; the taste is lean and clean, with subtle bitterness and a crisp, dry finish, and the malt character is kept slight. The beer began as a full-strength product and was later brought down to its present 3.5 per cent, which places it among the lighter lagers of the Carlton family.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
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
cleanfruity
clean
fruity
Aroma
The nose is restrained and delicate, led by light fruity notes that suggest stone fruit and subtle citrus undertones.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Carlton Cold

◎ Appearance

Carlton Cold presents a bright golden amber hue with excellent clarity and a pale straw-colored foam head. The carbonation is visible and lively, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily through the body. Head retention is moderate, with gentle lacing clinging to the glass as the beer is consumed.

bright golden amberclearfine carbonationmoderate head

◌ Aroma

The nose is restrained and delicate, led by light fruity notes that suggest stone fruit and subtle citrus undertones. A faint grain character emerges, reflecting the lean Malz profile, while noble hop aromatics provide a whisper of floral refinement without dominating the bouquet.

light fruitystone fruitsubtle grainnoble hop

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with minimal malt sweetness allowing the lean character to come through immediately. Mid-palate remains dry and refreshing, where subtle bitterness builds gently without aggression, balanced by a touch of fruity complexity that keeps the profile from becoming austere.

leancleancrispsubtle bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and snappy, with the bitterness lingering briefly before fading into a clean, mineral-like aftertaste. The overall impression is one of refreshment rather than persistence, leaving the palate ready for the next sip.

drycrisp finishmineral aftertaste
75
hopIQ score
Aroma
72
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Carlton Cold

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Carlton Cold

About Mid-Strength Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Mid-Strength Lager?

Mid-Strength 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 Mid-Strength Lager

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

Other Mid-Strength Lagers in hopIQ

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