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Stella Artois Solstice

Stella Artois
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🌍 Belgium · Pale Lager · One of 62 Pale Lagers in hopIQ

Solstice Lager began in 2020 as a summer seasonal for the US market and is now sold year-round. The golden lager is brewed from water, barley malt and hop extract and filtered three times for a bright, smooth result. Hop essences of Citra and Amarillo give the aroma grapefruit, orange and lemon notes over a light grainy base. The body is thinner than that of the flagship, carbonation is lively, and the citrus fades into a crisp, clean finish with little bitterness.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
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

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Lager.
Hop character
citrusy
orange
Fermentation & yeast
clean
fruity
Malt character
breadymalty

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Stella Artois Solstice

◎ Appearance

Stella Artois Solstice presents a bright, pale golden hue that exemplifies a classic lager aesthetic. The beer displays excellent clarity with a crisp white head that forms readily, though retention is moderate due to the beer's light body and lively carbonation. The overall visual presentation is clean and inviting, typical of a well-executed summer seasonal.

pale goldencrystal clearwhite headbright

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus character from Citra and Amarillo hop essences, delivering prominent notes of fresh grapefruit, orange zest, and lemon. Behind the citrus lies a light, grainy malt foundation that grounds the aromatic profile without overwhelming the hop-forward character. The overall impression is fresh and summery, with clean yeast-derived aromas that support rather than dominate.

citrus forwardgrapefruitorange zestlight grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and clean, with citrus flavors mirroring the aroma while maintaining restraint throughout. The mid-palate reveals delicate bready and malty notes that provide subtle structure without adding heaviness, allowing the refreshing character to shine. Bitterness is minimal and well-integrated, finishing dry without any harsh edge or lingering bite.

citrus-drivencrispsmoothlow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing, with the citrus fading gracefully into a dry, crisp conclusion. No unpleasant aftertaste remains, leaving the palate ready for the next sip in a session-friendly manner.

cleancrispdry
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Stella Artois Solstice

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Stella Artois Solstice

About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

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

Other Pale Lagers in hopIQ

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