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Blue Star

Labatt Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · American Lager · One of 57 American Lagers in hopIQ

Blue Star has been brewed in Newfoundland since 1954 and counts locally as a beer of the province, still near the top of the sales lists there. German Hallertau hops set it apart from the rest of the range, laying a floral, faintly spicy note over sweet malt, while the lager yeast adds a slight fruity ester aroma. It pours pale gold, the body is fuller than most beers in this class, and the finish is dry and lightly hoppy.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Mild
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all American Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Lager.
Hop character
floral
hoppy
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#4 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Blue Star

Appearance

Blue Star pours a pale gold with excellent clarity and a bright, inviting hue characteristic of its SRM 4 profile. The head forms with moderate density and maintains respectable lacing down the glass. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, lending visual liveliness to the pour.

pale goldclearmoderate headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with the distinctive floral and faintly spicy character imparted by Hallertau hops, lending a refined European quality to this North American lager. A gentle fruity ester note emerges from the lager yeast, balancing the herbal hop impression with subtle stone fruit and orchard notes. Sweet malt provides a soft foundation underneath, creating an inviting and rounded aromatic profile.

Hallertau floralfaint spicefruity estermalt sweetness

Taste

Entry brings a fuller mouthfeel than typical for the American Lager category, with smooth malt sweetness taking the front palate. The mid-palate reveals the hop character more distinctly—a clean, dry floral bitterness that refuses to overwhelm—while malty and lightly fruity notes provide ballast. The overall impression is balanced and food-friendly, with neither malt nor hops dominating.

full-bodiedmalt-forwardfloral hopbalanced

Finish

The finish dries quickly with a light hoppy bite that lingers pleasantly without astringency. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing, with a gentle fade of the Hallertau's spice.

drylightly hoppyclean fade
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
75
Appearance
78
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Blue Star

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

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Blue Star

About American Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Lager?

American 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 American Lager

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

Other American Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all American Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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