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Lothian Lager

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A helles brewed entirely with barley grown in East Lothian, the county east of Edinburgh; the brewery tested the malt for a year before the release. The recipe puts the grain first: the profile is crisp, vibrant and grassy, with a fresh cereal sweetness and a hint of bread dough, while the hops are kept subtle and balanced. It finishes very clean and refreshing.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassycleanbready
grassy
clean
bready
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh, vibrant grain character—clean barley malt notes with a hint of bread dough and subtle cereal sweetness.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Lothian Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. A fine white head forms quickly and holds with steady retention, leaving delicate lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is lively and persistent, creating a gentle stream of bubbles.

pale goldencrystal clearfine white head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh, vibrant grain character—clean barley malt notes with a hint of bread dough and subtle cereal sweetness. Soft herbal and grassy notes from the noble hops emerge in the background, restrained and well-integrated. No harsh phenolics or oxidation; the overall impression is crisp and inviting.

fresh cerealbread doughgrassysubtle herbs

◐ Taste

The palate opens with clean malt sweetness and a pronounced grain-forward character that reflects the East Lothian barley. Mid-palate maintains balance between the gentle cereal notes and restrained hop bitterness; flavors remain bright without heaviness. Bitterness is modest and refined, lingering just enough to define the structure without dominating.

malt-drivencrisp grainbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is remarkably clean and dry, with lingering cereal and subtle bread notes fading gracefully. A refreshing, thirst-quenching aftertaste completes the experience without any astringency or cloying sweetness.

cleanrefreshingdry
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
84
Finish
80
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Lothian Lager

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About Helles Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Helles Lager?

Helles 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 Helles Lager

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Helles Lager beers in hopIQ →New to Helles Lager? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →