Introduction

Citizen Brewing is one of Calgary’s big success stories from the tumultuous craft scene that has played out in the city over the past five years. Sporting a diverse selection of beers that all have positive feedback and a charming taproom with a simple but tasty menu, Citizen has done exactly what the smart brewhouse should do: deliver beer well. No goofy gimmicks or backstory that makes no sense, they crack open their doors along a Northern avenue in Calgary and good beer flows out. Their game plan is described as “NO CORNERS CUT AND NO COMPROMISE MADE” and it shows in the steady excellence of their brewing. Over 60 beers have emerged from their operation, with a half-dozen year-round that stay on the taps, and the rest are ideas that struck in the night and resulted in great experiments. The Starlite is a rice lager with a dark body but light mouthfeel. Roasted flavours pair up with lean, sharp sweetness from the rice. Serves well at 8°C and can cellar for up to six months.

---

How it looks

Pours a dark brown, nearly opaque, with low carbonation. A thin layer of brown-tinted bubbles rests on the top of the glass.

How it smells

Quite subtle aroma, most of what you’ll get from this beer is the slightly sweet and vinous aroma of the rice malt, with hints of caramel and roasted corn.

How it tastes

You’ll find the common flavours of a dark lager in this beer - roasted malt, coffee beans, a touch of fresh citrus rind, and some earthy hop character. But the rice malt provides an undertone of what all rice lager delivers - sharp lager on the front of the palate, dryness that helps the fragrance into the nose, and a fast taste. An interesting combination of two worlds.

Recommended food pairing

Perfect to pair with anything savoury or fatty. If you’re a fan of the fattier sushi options, this would be a killer beer for the table.