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Iowa City Lager

Big Grove Brewery
United States·German Pilsner
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A German-style pilsner / kellerbier hybrid, unfiltered — a tribute to Iowa City's German brewing heritage. Extra-premium Pilsner malt, herbal-noble hop nose, a honey-tinged malt body, and a crisp finish that doesn't hang around. Light, dry, drinkable — everything a good Midwestern lager should be.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanbreadyfloral
clean
bready
floral
honey
herbal
noble hop
Aroma
Herbal and floral Edelhopfen character dominates the nose, with restrained noble-hop spice.
also:malty
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Iowa City Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent transparency, characteristic of a well-made pilsner. The unfiltered nature yields a subtle haze that catches light pleasantly. Fine, persistent head with good Schaumhaftung that clings to the glass in delicate lacing.

pale goldenlightly hazyfine head retention

◌ Aroma

Herbal and floral Edelhopfen character dominates the nose, with restrained noble-hop spice. Beneath lies a clean, bready Malz base with gentle honey undertones. The overall impression is fresh and inviting, with no sulfur or yeast-driven funk—a hallmark of careful kellerbier fermentation.

herbal Edelhopfenhoney malt sweetnessclean, dry

◐ Taste

Crisp entry with a soft, bready malt foundation that carries honey notes across the mid-palate. The 35 IBU bitterness is measured and noble-hoppy, cutting through without harshness. Finishes bone-dry and refreshing, with excellent balance between malt sweetness and hop definition.

bready, malted grainnoble-hop bitternessremarkably dry

◑ Finish

Clean, brisk finish that fades quickly without lingering astringency. The aftertaste is purely malty and hoppy, with no oxidation or alcohol warmth.

short, crispdry linger
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Iowa City Lager

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About German Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a German Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar German Pilsner

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all German Pilsner beers in hopIQ →New to German Pilsner? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →