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Old Milwaukee

Pabst Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American Lager · One of 69 American Lagers in hopIQ

Old Milwaukee is an American adjunct lager first brewed in 1849. It pours a clear, pale straw-gold under a fine white head. The nose is soft and grainy, with a mild corn sweetness and only a whisper of hop; the palate is light-bodied and crisp, with a delicate malt character, a touch of graininess and a very mild, almost absent bitterness, and the finish is clean, dry and thirst-quenching, without any lingering aftertaste.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Mild
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
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

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

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Lager.
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking

FEATURED IN

#7 of 50The Best American LagersFeatured inThe Best American Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Milwaukee

Appearance

Old Milwaukee presents a clear, pale straw-gold body beneath a fine white head that settles to a delicate lacing. The carbonation is steady and even, supporting modest foam retention typical of the style. The overall impression is bright and inviting, with excellent transparency and a luminous quality.

pale straw-goldfine white headclear and bright

Aroma

The nose is soft and undemanding, leading with a gentle grain character and a subtle corn sweetness that speaks to the beer's adjunct milling. Hop presence is minimal, offering only a whisper of herbal suggestion rather than any assertive bitterness or floral notes. The overall aromatic profile remains restrained and approachable, without complex layering.

soft grainymild corn sweetnessrestrained hop character

Taste

The palate is light-bodied and crisp on entry, with a delicate malt character that leans toward corn and grain rather than complex malt depth. A touch of graininess develops across the mid-palate, while bitterness remains nearly absent—a deliberate characteristic of this adjunct lager. The overall sensation prioritizes smoothness and drinkability over flavor intensity.

light-bodieddelicate maltminimal bitterness

Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with a thirst-quenching quality that encourages another sip. No lingering aftertaste develops; instead, the beer retreats quickly and leaves the palate refreshed.

clean finishdrythirst-quenching
72
hopIQ score
Aroma
70
Taste
71
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Old Milwaukee

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 Old Milwaukee

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, crisp, dry character as Old Milwaukee will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American Lagers in hopIQ

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