Cusqueña Malta vs Theresianer Vienna: Which Should You Drink?

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Cusqueña Malta

Backus & Johnston

Peru · Vienna Lager

hopIQ rank #234

85%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Theresianer Vienna

Theresianer Antica Birreria di Trieste

Italy · Vienna Lager

HOPIQ TAKE

Cusqueña Malta if you want approachable, clean-drinking simplicity; Theresianer Vienna if you want more complexity and Old World character. Both sit at that sweet spot between 5–5.3% ABV with identical bitterness, so the choice really hinges on whether you're after straightforward refreshment or something with more depth. The Peruvian lager leans bright and straightforward, while the Italian takes the Vienna template more seriously—it's got the gravitas of its Trieste heritage baked in.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Cusqueña Malta when…

→You're drinking multiple beers and want something that doesn't fatigue your palate
→Heat and humidity—this is built for drinkability in a warm climate
→You want 5% ABV confidence without thinking too hard about it

Pick Theresianer Vienna when…

→You're settling in for a focused beer experience, not rapid rotation
→You appreciate Vienna lager as a style and want to taste the tradition
→You're looking for malt character and depth at low ABV

SIDE BY SIDE

	Cusqueña Malta	Theresianer Vienna
ABV	5%	5.3%
Bitterness	Lightly bitter	Lightly bitter
Colour	Amber	Amber
Style	Vienna Lager	Vienna Lager
Origin	Peru	Italy

WHAT IT TASTES OF

9 shared · 3 distinct

Both beers

caramelmaltytoastycleanbreadysmoothsweetcrisplight

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Cusqueña MaltaTheresianer Vienna

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Cusqueña Malta

CaramelMaltyToasty

Cusqueña Malta is the beer equivalent of a clean slate. It pours golden, slightly pale for a Vienna, and drinks like someone designed it specifically not to challenge you. There's a soft malt sweetness that sits in the middle of your palate—nothing aggressive, nothing subtle either. The finish is crisp without being sharp, and you're left wanting another sip mostly because there's nothing in the way of it.

Theresianer Vienna

ToastyMaltyClean

Theresianer Vienna actually tastes like Vienna lager should: there's real malt structure underneath, a subtle biscuit note that reminds you this beer has actual grain work behind it. It's not heavy, but it's *present*—you can feel the extra 0.3% ABV in the way it sits fuller on your tongue. The bitterness is clean and measured, but there's complexity in how it unfolds, like someone who actually knows what they're doing made this.

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