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Monterey Lime

Alvarado Street Brewery
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🌍 United States · Light Lager · One of 12 Light Lagers in hopIQ

Monterey Lime from Alvarado Street Brewery in Salinas, California is a breezy, sun-drenched Light Lager that captures the laid-back spirit of the Central Coast. It pours a pale, crystal-clear straw yellow with a fine white head that fades quickly, leaving the glass clean and inviting. The aroma is fresh and citrus-forward, with lively lime zest riding above a subtle grainy malt backbone. On the palate, it drinks crisp and light-bodied, delivering a refreshing burst of tart lime character balanced by gentle cereal sweetness. Carbonation is lively, enhancing the clean, thirst-quenching feel. The finish is short and dry, with a pleasant citrus tang that lingers just long enough to beckon another sip. Perfect for warm Californian afternoons.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold2
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 and light-bodied.

Nimble on its feet with a clean close — the kind of beer that earns the next glass.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Light Lager.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
Malt character
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
tart
Distinctive notes
mineral
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Monterey Lime

Appearance

Monterey Lime presents a pale straw yellow hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The fine white head dissipates quickly, leaving the glass clean without persistent lacing. Carbonation is visibly lively, with fine bubbles rising steadily through the clear body.

pale straw yellowcrystal clearfine carbonationquick head fade

Aroma

The nose is dominated by fresh lime zest with crisp citrus character in the foreground. Beneath the citrus lies a subtle, clean grainy malt foundation that provides gentle cereal notes without asserting itself. The overall impression is bright and inviting, free from any vegetal or yeasty notes.

lime zest forwardgrainy malt backdropclean citrusfresh and bright

Taste

Entry is crisp and light-bodied, with a refreshing burst of tart lime that coats the palate. The mid-palate balances this tartness with gentle cereal sweetness from the malt, while lively carbonation enhances the clean, thirst-quenching character. Bitterness is minimal and well-integrated, never dominating the lime-forward profile.

tart lime characterlight bodycereal sweetnessminimal bitterness

Finish

The finish is short and dry, with a pleasant citrus tang that persists just long enough to encourage another sip. No lingering sweetness or harsh edges—only clean, bright lime notes fading to a neutral, refreshing conclusion.

short and drycitrus tangclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Monterey Lime

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 Monterey Lime

About Light Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Light Lager?

Light 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 Light Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, citrusy, clean character as Monterey Lime will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Light Lagers in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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