What Does Coors Banquet Taste Like? (Flavors and Tasting Notes)

While Banquet may not be Coors’ most well-known beer, it is nearly as old as the company that makes it, and is popular to this day across the United States and beyond. What does it taste like to be so noteworthy?

Coors Banquet has a malty sweetness with hints of bitterness that goes down smoothly without lingering for too long. It is best enjoyed very cold (35°F to 40°F) directly from the classic stubby bottle it comes in or a cold pint glass. Serve this light and refreshing lager with any of the classic beer foods: pizza, burgers, or fried chicken.

This classic beer is a great choice for many, but what is it like? Keep reading to explore a breakdown of Coors Banquet from taste and mouthfeel to ingredients and food pairings.

Tasting notes and flavors for Coors Banquet

Coors Banquet is brewed by Molson-Coors in Golden, Colorado and is one of their original beers. While the recipe has changed over the years, it is still roughly the same.

Colorado natives and beer drinkers from across the world should recognize Coors Banquet. It is a quality beer with a rich history. Today, it is recognized as one of the most iconic American adjunct lagers.

Coors Banquet is a beer that balances malty sweetness and corn with a hint of hop bitterness. It presents a mild aroma that mirrors the taste. The Banquet experience is completed by a light, watery, and effervescent mouthfeel.

This beer is at home in any bar, party, or event. It pairs well with a variety of foods and atmospheres. Drinking it according to serving recommendations for the best experience.

Taste

While light in approach, Coors Banquet puts its best foot forward with well-balanced flavors.

The most prominent flavor is the barley that Coors is known for. It is accompanied by corn sweetness and a hint of hop bitterness. These flavors combine to create a beer that melds malt, sweetness, and bitterness without one becoming overwhelming.

This beer is stronger in taste than Coors Light but only by a bit. At the end of the day, it is still a lager — modest in flavor and style. The flavor won’t linger in your mouth for long.

Aroma

The aroma of a Banquet can be odd to some but is mostly mild.

The first impression is one of fresh bread and other grainy notes. Then there are notes of corn and esters that create a sweet smell. 

In addition to these general qualities, some people also report hints of spices and yeast. If drinking from a can, the beer may take on a metallic aroma.

Appearance

The Coors Banquet is an iconic lager when it comes to its appearance.

Coors Banquet is very transparent with a golden coloration. It has a white head that dissipates quickly though it is rather carbonated. It leaves little to no lacing behind.

Mouthfeel

Like other Coors beverages, Banquet has a delightful mouthfeel.

The overall mouthfeel is smooth and refreshing. You will feel the carbonation, but it typically isn’t too much. Compared to many heavier beers, this one is light and watery.

This beer does not leave a lingering mouthfeel.

Coors Banquet recipe and ingredients

If you enjoy the challenge of creating clones of commercial beers you know the importance of understanding how it is made. To that end, I have looked into the recipe and ingredients of Coors Banquet.

Like most breweries, Coors does not reveal the exact ingredients and amounts, but we know the Banquet recipe includes: 

  • Water
  • Barley Malt
  • Corn Syrup
  • Yeast
  • Hop Extract

As a Colorado brewery, they take pride in the quality of their water. This is paired with a unique variety of Movarian barley that has its history intertwined with that of the brewery. 

Unlike many macro brewers, Coors does reveal the basics of the hops they use. They don’t disclose the exact mixture, but they mention that it is a “blend of Chinook, Hallertau, Herkules, and Taurus” varieties.

Coors Banquet clone recipe

Beer like Coors Banquet is simple to understand, but hard to perfectly recreate. Its simple ingredients and flavors leave no room for error.

Below is an all-grain Coors Banquet clone that makes 23 liters (roughly 6 gallons).

Ingredients

  • 6.8 lbs. Belgian – Pilsner
  • 3.3 lbs Flaked rice
  • 0.66 lbs American – Caramel / Crystal 30L
  • 0.99 oz Hallertau Tradition (Germany)
  • Fermentis – Saflager – German Lager Yeast S-23

Method

  1. Mill the grains & heat roughly 3.88 gals of strike water.
  2. Mash in.
  3. Let the mash rest for an hour.
  4. Collect 7.4 gals of wort and transfer it to a boiling container.
  5. Boil for one hour.
  6. At 30 minutes left add the hops.
  7. After boiling, cool the wort and transfer to the fermentor.
  8. Aerate.
  9. Pitch the yeast.
  10. Ferment at lager temps.
  11. Lager for 2 weeks.
  12. Package according to preference.

Coors Banquet Style

Coors Banquet is an American adjunct lager. As a lager, it is characterized by its light flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. 

Most of this is achieved by the lagering that the beer goes through. Cold crashing throughout the process helps bring clarity to the beverage.

The beer is an adjunct lager because it uses additives other than malted barley to create its taste. Coors Banquet uses corn syrup as its adjunct.

Coors Banquet ABV

Coors Banquet has an ABV of 5.0%.

Coors Banquet calories and nutritional information

The serving size of a Coors Banquet is 12 oz (one can).

A serving contains:

  • 147 Calories
  • 11.7g Carbohydrates
  • 0g Fat
  • 1g Protein

How to drink Coors Banquet for the best flavor

While this drink will taste good any time it’s beer o’clock, there are factors that will affect the flavor.

Even if you don’t particularly care what your beer tastes like, following the below recommendations for temperature, packaging, and serving glass will provide the ideal Coors Banquet experience.

The latter two are matters of personal preference, but the first factor is very important.

Temperature

The best way to ensure that you experience the best that Coors Banquet has to offer is to drink it at the right temperature.

The ideal serving temp range for Coors Banquet is 35°F to 40°F.

However, as long as your Banquet is at least cool it will be good. It’s the high temperatures that really ruin Banquet. As long as you haven’t let it sit out in the summer sun it should be good.

Bottle, can, or draft?

The answer to this question depends on the circumstances. Each option has its pros and cons that can change from person to person. However, in this case, there is an option that will provide the full Banquet experience.

To fully enjoy a Coors Banquet, drink it from the iconic stubby bottles. The bottle will affect the taste in that it will not have any metallic tastes or aromas you might get from a can. The primary benefit of this option however is the novelty of the bottle size and shape.

Of course, this beer is still enjoyable on draft or from a can, but the stubby bottles are less common than their long-necked cousins. 

Type of glass

Similar to the above factor, the glass used to serve Banquet will have a limited effect on the flavor. It does affect the presentation and aroma generation so it’s still worth mentioning.

A good glass to serve Coors Banquet in is a shaker pint or a nonic pint. Both will open up the surface of the beer to improve aroma generation while also showing off its clarity.

Other glass types will achieve similar results, but these two are the most common and practical.

What kind of foods pair best with Coors Banquet

This American adjunct lager will pair well with a plethora of appetizers, meals, and desserts.

Coors Banquet is best served beside classic beer foods including:

  • Burgers – A classic American meal to go with a classic American beer.
  • Cheese sticks – A great appetizer with a great beer.
  • Fried Chicken – This delicious meal is washed down with a refreshing beer.
  • Pizza – You can’t go wrong with pizza and beer. Banquet is practically made for this combination.
  • Spicy wings – The spiciness of the wings will be soothed by the light sweetness of the beer.

Is Coors Banquet a good beer to drink?

There are plenty of situations where Coors Banquet is a good beer to drink. Obviously, it won’t be all that impressive to craft beer enthusiasts, but if you enjoy it then the point is moot.

This beer is great after a long, hot day or a hike in the Rocky Mountains. It is a good beer to unwind with and best of all it is fairly cheap. It is easy to drink and provides refreshing coolness.

So long as you don’t drink it at a high temperature, it is very much a good beer. 

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