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Innis & Gunn Lager

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Zesty hops give this Scottish lager a citrus zing, and lager malt with Naked Golden Oats adds a soft richness and body. The finish is smooth and refreshing. Pubs in Scotland asked for a premium Scottish lager, and Innis & Gunn answered in 2013. In the Classic Pilsener category it won Gold and the Scotland country win at the World Beer Awards 2024 and 2025. 4.6 % ABV.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2024
World Beer Awards
Classic Pilsener
Country Winner · 2024
World Beer Awards
Scotland – Classic Pilsener
Gold · 2025
World Beer Awards
Classic Pilsener
Country Winner · 2025
World Beer Awards
Scotland – Classic Pilsener
★Gold — World Beer Awards (Classic Pilsener)
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards (Scotland – Classic Pilsener)
★Gold — World Beer Awards (Classic Pilsener)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyhoppyclean
citrusy
hoppy
clean
malty
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with crisp citrus notes from noble hop varieties, accompanied by subtle floral undertones.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Innis & Gunn Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation throughout. A persistent white head with good retention and fine lacing clings to the glass as you drink. The overall presentation is bright and inviting, typical of a well-made pale lager.

pale goldenclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with crisp citrus notes from noble hop varieties, accompanied by subtle floral undertones. Supporting this is a soft, grainy malt character from the blend of base malt and Naked Golden Oats that adds gentle sweetness without heaviness. The overall impression is fresh and clean, with no yeast-driven esters or phenols.

citrusnoble hopssoft maltfresh

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable, with the citrus character from the hops providing immediate brightness. The mid-palate reveals the contribution of the oat adjunct—a soft, almost silky texture that balances the moderate bitterness (22 IBU) without overwhelming the palate. Bitterness remains restrained and integrated, allowing the malt's gentle richness to shine through.

citrus forwardsmooth bodybalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

Clean, refreshing finish with the hop bitterness fading gracefully into a dry aftertaste. No lingering sweetness or astringency; the overall impression is one of crispness and drinkability.

dryrefreshingclean exit
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

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

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Innis & Gunn Lager

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About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

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

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