Upland Champagne Velvet 12Pk

Upland Champagne Velvet 12PK is a 12-pack of pre-Prohibition-style American adjunct lager at 5.5% ABV, brewed by Upland Brewing Company in Indiana. This beer earned a 92/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing, validating its status as one of the more ambitious historical recipe revivals in American craft brewing. The recipe dates to 1902, originally developed by the Terre Haute Brewing Company, and was painstakingly resurrected from a handwritten scrap of paper discovered deep within a trademark portfolio.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Style: Pre-Prohibition American Adjunct Lager  |  Brewery: Upland Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Upland Brewing Company, based in Bloomington, Indiana, brought Champagne Velvet back to life using the original 1902 recipe from the now-defunct Terre Haute Brewing Company — a recipe once so prized it was reportedly insured with a $1 million policy. The grist bill centers on corn and malted barley, staying true to the adjunct lager traditions of pre-Prohibition American brewing. Cluster hops handle bittering duties while German Tettnang hops contribute a subtle Old World character, bridging the gap between American lager simplicity and German brewing precision. The result is a beer that genuinely reflects early-20th-century American lager rather than merely borrowing the era's name.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grainy, doughy malt leads the nose, followed by gentle earthy and grassy hop notes. A faint sweetness from the corn adjunct lingers beneath, giving the aroma a clean, inviting simplicity.

Taste: The entry is smooth and lightly sweet with a bready malt backbone. Mid-palate, a surprisingly robust piney and grassy bitterness emerges from the hop combination, adding complexity that most adjunct lagers lack. The corn component rounds out the body without tipping into cloying territory, keeping the beer balanced and full-flavored.

Finish: Crisp, clean, and moderately dry with robust carbonation that lifts the palate. A trace of earthy hop bitterness persists just long enough to encourage the next sip.

How to Drink Champagne Velvet

Serve cold — 38 to 42°F — in a pilsner glass or a simple pint glass to showcase its extremely pale straw color and lively carbonation. Champagne Velvet works well as the beer component in a Boilermaker alongside bourbon, where its clean finish cuts through the whiskey's richness. It also shines in a Michelada, as its corn-forward body holds up against tomato, lime, and hot sauce. For a lighter option, try it in a Shandy mixed with fresh lemonade — the beer's muted sweetness and crisp carbonation blend naturally with citrus.

Best For

• Stocking the cooler for a summer cookout or tailgate
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to historically inspired American lager
• Pairing with casual weeknight meals that call for an easy-drinking beer
• Gifting to a beer enthusiast interested in pre-Prohibition brewing history

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Champagne Velvet taste like? Champagne Velvet delivers a balanced, full-flavored profile of grainy malt, subtle corn sweetness, and a surprisingly assertive piney and grassy hop bitterness. It finishes crisp and clean with strong carbonation.

How does Champagne Velvet compare to Pilsner Urquell? Pilsner Urquell (BeerAdvocate 82) is a Czech pilsner with more pronounced Saaz hop bitterness and a richer malt body, while Champagne Velvet (BeerAdvocate 80) leans lighter and crispier with an American corn-adjunct character. Both are approachable lagers, but Champagne Velvet skews toward the pre-Prohibition American tradition rather than the Bohemian style.

Is Champagne Velvet good for beginners? Absolutely — its clean, balanced flavor profile and 5.5% ABV make it an accessible entry point for anyone exploring craft lager. It drinks like a familiar American lager but with noticeably more character and depth.

Where is Champagne Velvet made? Champagne Velvet is brewed by Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington, Indiana. The recipe originates from the Terre Haute Brewing Company, which operated in Terre Haute, Indiana, in the early 1900s.

What foods pair well with Champagne Velvet? Grilled bratwurst or hot dogs pair naturally, as the beer's German hop accent complements seasoned pork. Fried chicken works well because the carbonation and hop bitterness cut through the oil. A classic cheeseburger benefits from the corn-malt sweetness balancing charred, savory flavors. Light fish tacos with lime crema also match the beer's crispness, and sharp cheddar cheese contrasts nicely with the grainy malt backbone.

What sizes does Champagne Velvet come in? This offering is a standard 12-pack of 12-oz cans, which is the most widely distributed format for Champagne Velvet.

Is Champagne Velvet worth the price? Champagne Velvet positions as a craft lager at a relatively accessible price tier, offering meaningfully more flavor and historical provenance than mass-market adjunct lagers without reaching into premium craft pricing territory.

Why Champagne Velvet?

Few American lagers can trace their recipe to a specific handwritten document from 1902 — one that was lost for decades and recovered from within a trademark portfolio. That provenance alone separates Champagne Velvet from the wave of modern "heritage" lagers built on loose inspiration rather than actual archival recipes. Its 92/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing confirms that the execution matches the story. For drinkers looking for a lager with genuine roots and a flavor profile that rewards attention while remaining effortlessly drinkable, this 12-pack delivers a piece of American brewing history in every can.