Citra Blanc
August Schell Brewing Company

Citra BlancCitra Blanc
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
India Pale Lager (IPL)
Ranked #7
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
91
Ranked #9,731
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 12.35%
Ratings:
27 | reviews: 14
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 22, 2026
Added:
Mar 04, 2018
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  4
Similar to an IPA, our Citra-Blanc is very hop-forward and refreshing for those who like their beer to pack a punch. With a citrus, hoppy take on a classic lager, the combination of Citra and Hallertau Blanc hops create the bright flavors and aromatics.

IBU: 44
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BrewNoob1:
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Rated by BrewNoob1 from Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Apr 14, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Feb 22, 2026
 
Rated: 4.16 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2021
Photo of Drak-Nib
Reviewed by Drak-Nib from Nebraska

2/5  rDev -51.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Sweet hoppy initial taste. This is refreshing after a fairly awful India Pale Lager I had earlier. Gets more bitter further in. The sweetness is promising, but I'm not sure about this one. From a taster. 2018/11/25
Nov 28, 2018
Photo of garymuchow
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hard to believe I've been killing this as much as I have without reviewing such a nice beer. I hope the sales stay up enough that they can continue to brew this regularly.
Starts with a pleasing aroma with mixed fruit with an emphasis on sweet grapefruit and other citrus. White head over a largely cloudy amber of gold/orange body.
Hop forward lager that is as clean as all get out finishing with a lingering bitterness and tartness that is not off putting. The base is a clean malt lager with soft malt character. But it's a hop fest overall and even though it's a lager it's best with a little warmth as it softens the intensity of the bitterness and brings on less astringent hop flavors. Fully carbonated like a lager yet is not to thin leaving a heavier smooth lager quality. Plus big enough for a touch of gut warmth on an empty gut.
Just a nice all around beer. Well done.
Nov 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by corywalston from North Dakota

Nov 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Sep 16, 2018
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Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 16 ounce can into tulip glass, best before 6/28/2018. Gusher can upon opening. Pours fairly hazy deep golden amber color with a 2 finger dense and rocky off white head with amazing retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, white grape/wine, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, white grape/wine, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, white grape/wine, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no astringent hop flavors after the finish. Very clean lager flavors, no yeasty notes. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, creamy/bready/grainy, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.7%. Overall this is a delicious IPL. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and pretty refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish, not overly aggressive. Great Citra/Hallertau Blanc profile. Very juicy and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; nice bready pale malt backbone, with no residual sweetness from dryness. A really enjoyable offering, impressive, and well made style example.
Aug 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by emerge077 from Illinois

Aug 13, 2018
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is some seriously good stuff! Big pop of grapefruit aroma upon opening the can. Poured cold from a pounder into a fluted glass, the grapefruit keeps coming. Clear amber color, with a thick and spongy long-lasting white head that leaves a ton of sticky lacing. Solid malt backbone, with aromas and flavors of grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, and bready malt, with a floral overtone. Exquisitely bitter, exquisitely dry. I could see this as a fine "session APL," were it not for the virtually undetectable 6.7% ABV. If you like Citra hops, you'll love this one. Well done!
Aug 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.74 by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

Jul 25, 2018
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Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

4.41/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Strong citrus aroma, grapefruit and orange. Hazy golden pale yellow, very tall, thick, substantial head that recedes very slowly, leaving thick, but stringy lacing. Thick and smooth mouth feel. Taste is, as the aroma, strong citrus, predominately orange. Slightly sweet, but with a nice hop bite, not bitterness really (until the aftertaste), but plenty of citrus bite. Absolutely wonderful; I'm afraid my words don't quite convey how good this beer is! Refreshing and a wonderful beer for summer.
Jun 27, 2018
Photo of GStone899
Reviewed by GStone899 from Minnesota

4.32/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Got a great deal on a 4 pack and this stuff is very tasty. Lots of grapefruit, citrus and orange peel. Almost has an IPA bite to it. Golden color with a ton of head. Quite the enjoyable summer beer and surprising from Schell. I could drink this all day... that's actually a good idea. If u like Deschutes fresh squeezed IPA you'll love this.
Jun 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.63 by NodakEric from Minnesota

Jun 17, 2018
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Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4.26/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a nice golden color. It is fairly clear. The head is crazy on this beer when poured from the can. 4 finger, frothy as heck. Great retention, and there's some lacing as the head dissipates.
The nose is really full with citrus aromas. It smells orange to me.
Taste - The hops come alive up front, and do not let go. Citrus tasting. Orange, pineapple, grapefruit. The hop taste does linger.
The hops do linger for a long time in my throat, and the feeling doesn't let go. It also has a nice body.
Solid beer from August Schell Brewing. Really delicious.
Jun 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.33 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jun 09, 2018
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Reviewed by p3rspxv from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Clean and bright IPA-subtype that doesn't sacrifice complexity for bitterness. Perfect in a chilled glass.

- Starts out bright and grapefruit.

-Transitions to dandelion and musty bread. A little baking soda in the background.

- finishes piney and classic IPA.

Mouthfeel is well-carbonated without being abrasive.

Pretty sneaky at 6.7%. Also, the can is beautiful.
Jun 08, 2018
Photo of wl2bill
Reviewed by wl2bill from Wisconsin

4.59/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nice citrus in the smell. Light mouth feel with nice citrus taste. The 6.7 ABV is not evident until it sneeks up on you. This is a very easy drinking beer if you like IPAs. I liked this one a lot.
May 25, 2018
Photo of SmashHammerhead
Rated by SmashHammerhead from Minnesota

5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Looks good.
Smells good.
Feels good.
May 18, 2018
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from South Dakota

3.94/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a nice honey gold with a head that is simply massive. The head won't quit. It's like, 5 inches tall. Takes a long time to recede. Leaves broken destructive lacing on the glass as it recedes slowly.

Aroma both of citrus hops and effervescent club soda, coming off both grainy/lager-y and hoppy. Deeper whiffs involve orange and peach, with pink urinal cake.

Flavor is quite hoppy and bitter, but thins out a bit to give room for the clean malts and lagering. Starts with lime and grapefruit rinds, onto cracker, pilsner malt, hop resin, orange peels, and more hop oils. Hop oils cling ferociously.

Feel is crisp and clean, then unflinchingly resinous.

Overall, it's not quite a lager and not quite an IPA, but it's pretty delicious. Nowhere near as good as Arminius (Schell, let's get that back into rotation), but it's worth drinking. Really solid citrus and pine notes, the resins and perceived bitterness are a touch too much for me though. Still a nice beer to be had.
May 07, 2018