hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Labatt Crystal

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

Crystal is a recipe dating back to the late 1800s and the company still brews it in Ontario. Saaz hops set the tone: light spice and dried herbs over a cereal, faintly bready malt aroma. The beer is bright, clear and pale amber, the body fuller than the pilsner-style lagers in the same range, and a mild hop bitterness carries a clean, slightly sweet finish.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Mild
Malt-forward 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
noble hop
herbal
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#9 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Labatt Crystal

Appearance

Pale amber and bright, with excellent clarity and a fine white head that settles into gentle lacing. The beer presents a clean, luminous appearance characteristic of its heritage lager style. Carbonation is visible and steady, supporting moderate foam retention.

pale amberbright, clearfine white headwell-carbonated

Aroma

Saaz hops lead with restrained spice and dried herb notes over a cereal-forward, faintly bready Malz character. The nose is clean and straightforward, without aggressive floral or grassy elements. Light grain sweetness underpins the composition, creating an accessible and inviting entry point.

noble hop spicedried herbscereal maltfaint bread notes

Taste

The palate opens with soft, bready Malz flavors and develops a mild but present hop bitterness that remains in balance. Body is fuller than typical pilsner-style lagers, giving the beer substance without heaviness. The malt sweetness persists through the mid-palate, creating a clean, slightly sweet profile.

bready maltmild hop bitefull-bodied for the stylegently sweet

Finish

The finish is clean and crisp, with lingering malt sweetness and a faint herbal-spice echo from the Saaz hops. Aftertaste is dry yet balanced, inviting another sip without becoming astringent.

clean, crisp finishbalanced sweetness
74
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
75
Appearance
78
Finish
72
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Labatt Crystal

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 Labatt Crystal

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, bready, noble-hop character as Labatt Crystal 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 →