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Nam Kao Lager

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Inspired by the Laotian crispy rice salad, this SuperDry rice lager is brewed with mint, basil, ginger, red curry paste, key lime and Thai bird’s eye chilis. Notes of citrus, ginger, tomato vine and lemongrass meet a mild chili warmth. It comes from Free State in Lawrence, Kansas, the brewery that opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in the state in over 100 years.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Mild5 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
spicycitrusytropical
spicy
citrusy
tropical
herbal
clean
malty
Aroma
Herbal and spice-forward on the nose, with pronounced mint and basil notes that lead.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Nam Kao Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale straw yellow with excellent clarity and fine carbonation. The head forms quickly but settles to a thin collar with modest lacing. The beer presents a clean, bright appearance typical of a well-executed rice lager.

pale strawcrystal clearfine carbonationthin persistent head

◌ Aroma

Herbal and spice-forward on the nose, with pronounced mint and basil notes that lead. Ginger and citrus (key lime, lemongrass) emerge in the mid-range, followed by subtle heat from Thai bird's eye chili. The spice profile is assertive but balanced, with minimal traditional malt character.

mint, basil, gingerkey lime, lemongrasschili heatherbal spice blend

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and dry, with citrus and ginger providing immediate structure. Mid-palate brings tomato vine undertones and rising chili warmth without harsh burn. The finish remains predominantly dry with lingering herbal spice; the low IBU (5) ensures adjunct flavors dominate over hop bitterness, creating a food-forward, savory character.

dry, spicy entryginger, citrus, tomato vinemild chili warmthherbal finish

◑ Finish

Short to medium finish with persistent dry spice and herbal aftertaste. The chili warmth fades gracefully, leaving a clean, refreshing sensation on the palate.

dry spiceherbal fadeclean refreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
75
Finish
74
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 Nam Kao 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 spicy, dry, citrusy character as Nam Kao Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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