hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Zagorka Special

Zagorka
Bulgaria·Lager
Tap to rate

Pleasantly bitter, with a taste all its own: Zagorka Special is brewed from 100% Bulgarian malt, barley, water and hops. At 5.0% it carries the name under which the first hectoliters left the Stara Zagora brewery in 1949, after repairs to the brewery founded in 1902. Zagorka also stands for a long run of innovations in Bulgarian brewing.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Clean, dry 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
maltyclean
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose reveals restrained but clean hop character, with subtle herbal notes from the Bulgarian varieties.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Zagorka Special

◎ Appearance

Zagorka Special presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright transparency. A modest white head forms with moderate retention, displaying fine carbonation throughout the body.

pale goldencrystal clearfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose reveals restrained but clean hop character, with subtle herbal notes from the Bulgarian varieties. A soft malt backbone provides light grain sweetness, with minimal esters or off-notes.

subtle herbal hopslight malt sweetnessclean, direct

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with pleasant bitterness taking the lead on the palate. The Bulgarian malt contributes a dry, grainy foundation that supports the moderate hop bite without overwhelming sweetness.

pleasantly bitterdry grainbrisk, clean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is short to medium, with lingering hop bitterness that fades quickly into a dry, malty aftertaste. No astringency or metallic notes persist.

dry aftertastemoderate length
75
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
74
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Stein

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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Zagorka Special

More from Zagorka

Ariana Lyatno
Ariana Lyatno
Lager
3.9%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Ariana Svetlo
Ariana Svetlo
Pale Lager
4.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Ariana Tamno
Ariana Tamno
Dunkel
5.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Stolichno Bock
Stolichno Bock
Bock
6.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

About Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 Lager

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Bulgaria beers →