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JW Lees Original Lager

JW Lees
United Kingdom·Pale Lager
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The brewery's standard lager, brewed solely from British malt with Styrian Golding and Saaz hops and no additives. Sunshine-gold in colour with a light citrus and floral aroma. The taste balances soft, fresh-cut citrus against a subtle malt sweetness, with moderate hoppiness and a crisp, light finish. Long fermentation and maturation are part of the method. The brewery positions it as a straightforward everyday beer for its pubs.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession

AWARDS

Silver · 2024
International Brewing Awards
International Keg Lager Competition, Class 1 (Lager 2.9-4.7% ABV)
★Silver — International Brewing Awards (International Keg Lager Competition, Class 1 (Lager 2.9-4.7% ABV))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyfloralmalty
citrusy
floral
malty
hoppy
clean
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus notes—fresh lemon and light orange zest—underscored by delicate floral impressions from the Saaz and Styrian Goldings.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for JW Lees Original Lager

◎ Appearance

A brilliant sunshine-gold hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. The head forms with fine carbonation and displays crisp, persistent lacing that clings to the glass with each sip. The body presents as light and inviting, with an active bead rising steadily through the glass.

sunshine goldbrilliant claritypersistent lacefine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus notes—fresh lemon and light orange zest—underscored by delicate floral impressions from the Saaz and Styrian Goldings. A subtle malt sweetness provides a soft foundation, with no harsh phenolics or off-aromas; the overall expression is clean, inviting, and fresh.

citrus zestfloralclean maltaromatic hops

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with soft citrus character playing against gentle malt sweetness. Mid-palate balances moderate hoppy bitterness with a light, slightly bready malt backbone, creating an approachable equilibrium. The texture remains smooth and clean throughout, with no astringency or rough edges.

citrus forwardbalanced bitternesssoft maltsmooth palate

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and light, with a lingering citrus brightness that fades cleanly. A subtle dry character emerges in the aftertaste, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip rather than weighed down.

crisp drycitrus faderefreshing
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
74
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 JW Lees Original 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 crisp, citrusy, floral character as JW Lees Original Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Lagers in hopIQ

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