hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Kokanee

Tap to rate

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
PaceSession

AWARDS

Silver Medal · 1996
Brewing Industry International Awards
★Silver Medal — Brewing Industry International Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleangrassyherbal
clean
grassy
herbal
malty
honey
Aroma
The nose leads with a grainy, slightly honeyed Malz character that evokes cereal and soft bread notes.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

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
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Stein

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

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kokanee

More from Labatt Brewing Company

Big Deal Brewing Original
Big Deal Brewing Original
Golden Ale
4.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Blue Star
Blue Star
American Lager
5%·Mild
Find matches →
Kokanee Gold
Kokanee Gold
Amber Lager
5.3%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Kokanee Light
Kootenay True Ale
Kootenay True Ale
Amber Ale
5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Labatt 50
Labatt 50
Blonde Ale
5%·Mild
Find matches →
Labatt Bleue
Labatt Bleue
German Pilsner
4.9%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Labatt Bleue Dry
Labatt Bleue Dry
Pale Lager
6.1%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

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.

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →