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Kokanee

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

Kokanee has been brewed at the Columbia Brewery in Creston, British Columbia, since 1959 and remains a staple across western Canada. Three malts and a blend of Pacific Northwest hops give a pale straw beer with a grainy, faintly honeyed malt aroma and a light grassy, herbal hop note. The body is slight, the carbonation brisk, and the finish dry and clean with restrained bitterness.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Mild
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all American Lager alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver Medal · 1996
Brewing Industry International Awards
Silver Medal — Brewing Industry International Awards
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
grassy
herbal
Malt character
malty
honey
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#2 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kokanee

Appearance

Kokanee presents a pale straw color with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms a modest white foam that demonstrates solid retention and lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is brisk and visible throughout, with fine bubbles rising steadily in the glass.

pale strawcrystal cleartight carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with a grainy, slightly honeyed Malz character that evokes cereal and soft bread notes. Pacific Northwest hops contribute a restrained grassy and herbal layer beneath, adding mild floral undertones without dominating the bouquet. Overall, the aroma remains light and approachable, neither complex nor assertive.

grainyfaintly honeyedgrassy hop

Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with the three-Malz blend delivering a light, slightly sweet grain base that carries through the mid-palate. Grassy and herbal hop notes emerge subtly, balancing the delicate sweetness without harshness. Bitterness is restrained and well-integrated, providing structure rather than dominance.

light bodydry finishherbal balance

Finish

The finish is dry and clean with a short to medium length, leaving behind a whisper of grain and grass without lingering sweetness. Aftertaste is refreshing and composed, inviting another sip.

clean drynessbrief aftertaste
74
hopIQ score
Aroma
72
Taste
74
Appearance
78
Finish
72
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kokanee

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 Kokanee

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 clean, dry, grassy character as Kokanee 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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