hopIQ
ENDE
Sign up freeSign in

Moosehead Lager

Moosehead Breweries
Tap to rate
🌍 Canada · Canadian Lager · One of 1 Canadian Lagers in hopIQ

Moosehead Lager is the flagship beer of Moosehead Breweries, a golden Canadian lager first introduced under the Moosehead name in 1931. Brewed with 100% Canadian two-row pale malt and Moosehead's own lager yeast, it undergoes cool fermentation and cold-ageing, producing a clean, light-bodied lager. At 5% ABV and 13 IBU, it strikes a refreshing balance between gentle malt sweetness and a low, crisp bitterness. One of Canada's most widely exported beers, brewed by the country's oldest independent brewery.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
pale gold3
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.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Canadian Lager.
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#9 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Moosehead Lager

Appearance

A bright golden hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation visible as a steady stream of small bubbles. The white head forms quickly and holds with moderate persistence, leaving delicate lacing on the glass as the beer is consumed.

bright goldenclearfine carbonationmoderate head retention

Aroma

The nose is clean and straightforward, dominated by soft malt notes with a light grain character suggesting Canadian two-row pale malts. A subtle floral and herbal hop presence provides gentle balance without assertiveness, while the fermentation profile remains neutral and unobtrusive.

soft maltgrainysubtle hopclean fermentation

Taste

Entry is crisp and light-bodied, with a delicate malt sweetness that reads as slightly bready. The mid-palate remains smooth and dry, allowing the modest bittering hop character (22 IBU) to emerge without harshness, while the overall impression stays refreshingly clean throughout.

crisp entrylight bodybready maltgentle bitterness

Finish

The finish is short and clean, fading to a dry, neutral aftertaste with no lingering sweetness or hop residue. The beer leaves the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

short finishdryrefreshing
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
74
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Moosehead Lager

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 Moosehead Lager

About Canadian Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Canadian Lager?

Canadian 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 Canadian Lager

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

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Moosehead Lager? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →