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King Cobra

Anheuser-Busch
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🌍 United States · Malt Liquor · One of 9 Malt Liquors in hopIQ

King Cobra is the Anheuser-Busch malt liquor, brewed from barley malt together with corn, corn syrup and rice and hopped with American-grown varieties. A warm fermentation shapes its fruity side. It pours golden with a fizzy white head that fades quickly. The nose shows corn, grain and a light fruitiness with a hint of green apple; the palate is smooth and full-bodied, with malty, biscuit-like sweetness and a faint warmth of alcohol, and the finish stays gently sweet and clean.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4

AWARDS

Bronze · 1993
Great American Beer Festival
American Malt Liquor
★Bronze — Great American Beer Festival (American Malt Liquor)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Malt Liquor.
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for King Cobra

◎ Appearance

King Cobra presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity. It pours with a vigorous white head that dissipates relatively quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. The beer maintains steady carbonation throughout, evidenced by a consistent stream of fine bubbles rising through the liquid.

bright goldenclearwhite headhighly carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with distinct corn and grain character, reflecting the adjunct-forward grist bill. Beneath these cereal notes lies a light fruity undertone with hints of green apple from the warm fermentation. The overall aromatic profile remains clean and straightforward without aggressive hop presence.

corn, grainlight fruitgreen appleclean

◐ Taste

The palate is smooth and full-bodied, offering a malty, biscuit-like sweetness that dominates the mid-palate. Modest bitterness from American-grown hops provides gentle balance without assertiveness. A faint warmth of alcohol becomes perceptible as the beer moves across the tongue, integrating naturally with the overall sweet character.

malty sweetnessbiscuit notessmooth bodygentle alcohol warmth

◑ Finish

The finish remains gently sweet and clean, with the malt character lingering briefly before fading. The aftertaste is dry and refreshing, free from cloying residue or harsh alcohol burn.

sweet finishcleanrefreshing
73
hopIQ score
Aroma
72
Taste
74
Appearance
75
Finish
72
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of King Cobra

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with King Cobra

About Malt Liquor

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Malt Liquor?

Malt Liquor 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 Malt Liquor

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sweet, malty, fruity character as King Cobra will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Malt Liquors in hopIQ

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