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Colt 45

Pabst Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Malt Liquor · One of 4 Malt Liquors in hopIQ

Colt 45 is a classic American malt liquor, first brewed in 1963 in Baltimore. It pours a pale, clear gold under a fine head. The nose is grainy with a distinct corn sweetness and a whisper of alcohol; the palate is soft and lightly sweet, with a full malt body from the higher gravity, a mild cereal note and a very restrained hop bitterness. The finish is warming with a lingering, sweetish malt character, in the tradition of the U.S. malt-liquor category.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
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

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Malt Liquor.
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Colt 45

Appearance

Colt 45 presents a pale, clear gold under bright light, with excellent transparency. A fine, delicate head forms on the pour and settles to a thin collar with modest lacing around the glass. Carbonation appears moderate and steady.

pale goldclearfine headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose leads with grain and corn sweetness, characteristic of the malt-liquor tradition. A whisper of alcohol warmth emerges on closer inspection, while hop presence remains restrained and fades quickly into the background. The overall bouquet is straightforward and unpretentious.

grainycorn sweetmild alcoholsoft

Taste

Entry is soft and lightly sweet on the palate, with a full malt body derived from its higher gravity. Mid-palate reveals a mild cereal note and bready character, while hop bitterness remains very restrained. The mouthfeel is smooth-drinking and easy, with minimal friction.

sweet maltfull-bodiedcerealsmooth

Finish

The finish is warming and lingering, with a sweetish malt character that persists gently. No sharp edges or drying sensation—the aftertaste remains malty and approachable.

warmingmalty finishlingering
72
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
73
Appearance
75
Finish
70
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Colt 45

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 Colt 45

About Malt Liquor

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Malt Liquor?

Malt Liquor 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 Malt Liquor

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, sweet, full-bodied character as Colt 45 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Malt Liquors in hopIQ

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