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Vienna Lager

Devils Backbone Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Vienna Lager · One of 33 Vienna Lagers in hopIQ

Devils Backbone's flagship and 'Ol' Faithful' — a smooth, medium-bodied amber lager brewed with four imported malts and Germanic hops. Toasted caramel sweetness and a clean malty finish, named one of the '50 Best American Lagers' and a repeat GABF and World Beer Cup medallist.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber9
See all Vienna 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

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

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Vienna Lager.
Hop character
hoppy
Malt character
caramel
malty
toasty
bready
honey
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Vienna Lager

Appearance

Pours a clear, bright amber with a golden-bronze hue characteristic of the Vienna style. A dense, off-white head forms and clings to the glass with stable lacing. Carbonation is moderate and even, supporting a persistent foam collar.

amber-bronzeclearstable head lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with toasted malt character—caramel and bread crust—supported by subtle Germanic noble hop notes. There is no aggressive hop punch; instead, a soft, inviting sweetness of honey and light toffee emerges. The overall impression is clean and balanced, with no yeast esters or off-notes.

toasted maltcaramel sweetnessnoble hopsbread crust

Taste

Entry is smooth and medium-bodied, with upfront caramel malz character that builds gently across the palate. The mid-palate sustains a malty, slightly honeyed sweetness without becoming cloying. Bitterness is restrained at 25 IBU, allowing the toasted, clean malt finish to dominate; a touch of crisp hop character appears in the final moments.

malty sweetnesscaramelsoft bitternessclean finish

Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing, with a lingering malty aftertaste that fades to a faint hoppy dryness. The beer leaves the palate clean without astringency.

malty aftertastedryrefreshing fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Vienna Lager

Serve at 7–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–9°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 Vienna Lager

About Vienna Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Vienna Lager?

Vienna 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 Vienna Lager

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

Other Vienna Lagers in hopIQ

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