Olympia
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Tasting Notes
The aroma is faint and grainy, with a mild cereal sweetness and very little hop presence. On the palate, it's light-bodied with a subtle malt backbone, mild corn sweetness, and minimal bitterness — typical of the American adjunct lager style where restraint is the point. The finish is short and dry, leaving little lingering flavor. If you've had similar mass-market lagers, this fits squarely in that category.
About the Brewery
Pabst Brewing Company is based in San Antonio, Texas, though it operates as a largely virtual brewery, contract-brewing its portfolio across various facilities rather than running its own production plant. Originally founded in Milwaukee in the 1800s, Pabst owns a significant portfolio of legacy American beer brands — including Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, and Olympia itself — many of which were acquired as regional breweries closed over the decades. They're less known for brewing innovation than for maintaining nostalgic, working-class American lager brands.
Food Pairings
A light lager like this works well alongside ballpark-style food — a classic hot dog lets the mild malt complement rather than compete with the savory snap of the sausage. Thin-crust pizza with straightforward toppings pairs well because the beer won't overwhelm the sauce or cheese. Salty snacks like pretzels or chips benefit from the beer's gentle carbonation cutting through the fat and salt. Fried fish or a simple fish taco also works, where the beer's neutrality lets the food carry the flavor without interference.
Style Guide
American adjunct lagers are defined by the use of non-malt adjuncts — typically corn or rice — alongside barley malt, which lightens the body and softens the flavor profile compared to traditional all-malt lagers. The style originated in the United States in the latter half of the 19th century and was refined by large commercial breweries seeking a broadly approachable product. Hop bitterness is minimal, malt character is gentle, and the ABV typically falls in the 4–5% range. It sits in contrast to German or Czech lagers, which tend to have more pronounced malt or hop character even at similar strengths.