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Festa

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Festa is Sun King's Italian-style pilsner: a crisp malt backbone with bright hop character, floral and herbal notes, a slightly softer bitterness and a dry finish. It runs at 5.2% ABV and carries a more aromatic edge than a plain pilsner. Sun King brews it in Indianapolis, where Dave Colt and Clay Robinson began brewing together at The Ram in 2005.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
floralherbalhoppy
floral
herbal
hoppy
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with floral and herbal hop character, recalling noble varieties with their refined, spicy-grassy profile.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Festa

◎ Appearance

Festa presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is lively, evident in steady streams of small bubbles rising through the glass. Good head retention and subtle lacing mark the glass as the beer is consumed.

pale goldenbright clarityfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with floral and herbal hop character, recalling noble varieties with their refined, spicy-grassy profile. A clean, crisp malt foundation supports without overwhelming, allowing the aromatic complexity to take center stage. There is no phenolic or yeasty character—just dry, fresh hop aromatics.

floral hopsherbal, spicyclean maltaromatic edge

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and dry, with a soft malt sweetness that frames the palate rather than dominating it. Mid-palate brings forward the hop bitterness—restrained and herbal rather than sharp—with lingering floral notes adding complexity. The body is light and clean, allowing each flavor layer to remain distinct without heaviness.

soft malt baseherbal bitternessfloral complexityclean, light body

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and quick, with the bitterness fading to a subtle herbal residue. No sweetness lingers; instead, a refreshing, clean aftertaste invites the next sip.

dry finishrefreshingherbal aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Festa

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About Italian Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Italian Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar Italian Pilsner

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

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