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Cerveza Chilebeso

Great Basin Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Spiced Beer · One of 3 Spiced Beers in hopIQ

Won GABF gold in 1994 in the Herb and Spice category — the brewery's very first festival. A light Mexican-style lager spiked with green chili peppers for a gentle heat that builds slowly. Uniquely Nevadan — beer meets the Southwest.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
pale gold3

AWARDS

Gold · 1994
Great American Beer Festival 1994
Herb and Spice
Gold — Great American Beer Festival 1994 (Herb and Spice)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Spiced Beer.
Hop character
citrusy
herbal
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy

FEATURED IN

#5 of 50The Best American LagersFeatured inThe Best American Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cerveza Chilebeso

Appearance

Pale straw yellow with excellent clarity and fine carbonation evident in steady streams of small bubbles. The head forms quickly and maintains a thin, persistent collar with delicate lacing around the glass. Light and inviting in presentation, characteristic of a well-crafted Mexican-style lager.

pale strawcrystal clearfine carbonationpersistent collar

Aroma

Clean and straightforward on the nose, with subtle malt sweetness balanced by gentle herbaceous notes from the green chili peppers. Light citrus and grain notes emerge beneath, with no aggressive hop character. The spice profile is restrained and integrated, suggesting slow complexity rather than immediate intensity.

herbal chilisubtle maltcitrus notesclean grain

Taste

Crisp entry with light, dry malt character and a refined crispness that dominates the palate. The green chili heat builds gradually through the mid-palate, warming without overwhelming, layering with bready and malty undertones. Bitterness remains measured at 22 IBU, serving as a gentle counterpoint rather than the primary feature.

building chili heatlight and dryrestrained bitternessmalty foundation

Finish

Short to medium finish with the chili warmth lingering pleasantly on the lips and throat. Clean aftertaste with no harsh spice burn, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for another sip.

warm lingeringclean exitrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Cerveza Chilebeso

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

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Cerveza Chilebeso

About Spiced Beer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Spiced Beer?

Spiced Beer 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 Spiced Beer

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

Other Spiced Beers in hopIQ

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