Stella Artois

Stella Artois is a pale lager in the Belgian pilsner tradition, and this twelve-pack of bottles is sold in the Belgian-style beer category. The details supplied don't list an ABV or IBU, so the profile below describes what this style typically delivers rather than a measured figure for this bottling. Expect a bright straw to light-gold pour with a crisp white head, a clean grain-forward malt backbone with a faint honeyed sweetness, and a restrained, grassy or floral hop character that shows up mostly in the finish. Bitterness in beers like this is gentle and dry, not sharp. Carbonation is lively, and the body sits light to medium, which keeps the beer refreshing across a full bottle. Serve it cold, around 38 to 42°F (3 to 6°C), which is standard refrigerator temperature. Colder than that mutes the malt; much warmer and the sweetness can read as slightly bready or grainy. A standard bottle pours well into a stemmed pilsner or chalice-style glass, and a tall pilsner flute works equally well. Either shape shows off the clarity and keeps the foam stable. Pour at an angle, then straighten the glass to build a finger or two of head, which releases the subtle hop aroma. Drinking straight from the bottle is fine for casual settings, but you give up most of the aroma. The light body and clean finish make this a flexible food beer. It suits fried or salty dishes such as fish and chips, calamari, and french fries, where the carbonation cuts through oil. It also pairs well with roast chicken, mussels, soft pretzels, mild washed-rind and semi-soft cheeses, and sushi. Very spicy or heavily smoked dishes can overwhelm it, so choose something with more hop bitterness or body for those.