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Garden Party Lager

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Local cucumber, basil and dried juniper berries throw off intoxicating aromas in this light-bodied, brilliantly golden lager, which turns out cool, crisp and refreshing. It took gold in the herb and spice category at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival. Free State brews it in Lawrence, Kansas, in the first legal brewery in the state in over 100 years.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Mild7 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2015
Great American Beer Festival
Herb & Spice
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (Herb & Spice)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
herbalspicyclean
herbal
spicy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh herbal character from basil and cucumber, supported by subtle dried juniper berry notes that add complexity without overwhelming.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Garden Party Lager

◎ Appearance

Brilliant golden hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation visible throughout. A delicate white head forms quickly and persists with fine lacing down the glass. The overall presentation is vibrant and inviting.

brilliant goldenfine carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh herbal character from basil and cucumber, supported by subtle dried juniper berry notes that add complexity without overwhelming. Light malty undertones provide a clean foundation, while the overall profile remains bright and garden-forward.

basil, cucumber, juniperherbal-forwardlight malz base

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and clean with prominent herbal and spicy notes that dance across the tongue. Subtle malt sweetness provides balance without heaviness, while the cucumber and juniper botanicals maintain their presence through the mid-palate. Bitterness is minimal and well-integrated, allowing the herbal spice to shine.

crisp, herbal spicelight-bodiedrefreshing finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and fleeting, leaving behind lingering herbal and botanical notes that fade cleanly. No harsh bitterness or cloying sweetness remains—just a pleasant, garden-fresh memory.

dry, cleanherbal aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
88
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Garden Party Lager

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About Spiced Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Spiced Lager?

Spiced 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 Spiced Lager

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

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