John's Beans vs Newbarns Pilsner: Which Should You Drink?

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John's Beans

Hop Butcher For The World

United States · Mexican Lager

hopIQ rank #2124

63%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Newbarns Pilsner

Newbarns Brewery

United Kingdom · Czech Pilsner

HOPIQ TAKE

John's Beans if you want a clean, approachable lager that doesn't demand anything from you, Newbarns Pilsner if you want actual hop presence and complexity. Both sit at 4.5% ABV, so it's not about alcohol—it's about philosophy. John's Beans is a stripped-down lager that lets the malt and corn do the talking; Newbarns is a pilsner that actually wants you to taste the hops (35 IBU versus 12 is a real difference). Pick based on whether you're craving simplicity or substance.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick John's Beans when…

→You're drinking multiple beers and want something that plays nice with others
→You want the lowest barrier to entry—approachable, inoffensive, refreshing
→Casual session drinking where you're more interested in conversation than beer analysis

Pick Newbarns Pilsner when…

→You want to actually taste hops and hop character—this is a pilsner that earns the name
→You're drinking solo or with people who appreciate Czech beer traditions
→You want something with enough bitterness to cleanse your palate between bites

SIDE BY SIDE

	John's Beans	Newbarns Pilsner
ABV	4.5%	4.5%
Bitterness	Mild	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Pale gold	Pale gold
Style	Mexican Lager	Czech Pilsner
Origin	United States	United Kingdom

WHAT IT TASTES OF

8 shared · 4 distinct

Both beers

cleancrispsmooth-drinkingrefreshingbreadylighthoppysmooth

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

John's BeansNewbarns Pilsner

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

John's Beans

CleanCrispDry

John's Beans goes down almost too easy—there's a slight corn sweetness that makes it feel lighter than the ABV suggests, and the bitterness is barely a whisper at 12 IBU. The mouthfeel is dry and clean, almost chalky in a good way, like licking the inside of a fresh tortilla. It's the kind of beer that disappears in your mouth rather than lingers, which is exactly what a Mexican lager should do.

Newbarns Pilsner

CleanCrispSmooth-drinking

Newbarns Pilsner has actual backbone. You get a crisp, herbal hop snap right up front—that 35 IBU is noticeable and doesn't apologize. There's a slight mineral quality that feels Czech-authentic, and the finish has this papery, slightly spicy dryness that makes you want another sip immediately. It's more of a *drink* and less of an *easy drinking* situation.

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