Sketchbook Amistosa Lager 4Pk

Sketchbook Amistosa Lager 4Pk is a Mexican-style lager brewed in Evanston, Illinois, at 5.3% ABV and sold in a four-pack format. Scored 89/100 by Craft Beer & Brewing magazine, Amistosa stands apart from conventional Mexican lagers through its use of Sorachi Ace hops—an unconventional choice that lends a distinct citrus brightness to an otherwise clean, traditional style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.3%  |  IBU: 25  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Mexican Lager  |  Brewery: Sketchbook Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Sketchbook Brewing Company operates out of Evanston, Illinois, a college town just north of Chicago known for a growing independent craft beer scene. Amistosa is built on a classic Mexican lager framework—highly attenuated, light-bodied, and driven by high carbonation—but the grain bill includes flaked maíz (corn), which contributes a subtle sweetness and silky mouthfeel characteristic of traditional Mexican brewing. Where Amistosa diverges is in the hop selection: Sorachi Ace, a Japanese-origin hop variety more commonly found in farmhouse ales, delivers delicate citrus and lemon notes that give this lager an identity beyond the usual noble-hop profile found in the style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Clean grain leads the nose, followed by a light floral quality and faint lemon zest from the Sorachi Ace hops. There is minimal yeast character, keeping the aromatic profile crisp and inviting.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-forward with a gentle corn-derived sweetness that recalls fresh tortilla. At mid-palate, mild citrus hop notes weave in without disrupting the lager's balance. The bitterness is restrained at 25 IBU, just enough to keep the beer from leaning too sweet.

Finish: Light and highly drinkable, the finish is dry and clean with a brief echo of lemon pith. Carbonation lifts the palate quickly, making it genuinely thirst-quenching.

How to Drink Amistosa Lager

Amistosa drinks best cold—around 38–42°F—straight from the can or poured into a pilsner glass to appreciate its pale straw color and lively carbonation. A lime wedge complements the existing citrus notes without overwhelming them. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Michelada, where Amistosa's clean profile pairs naturally with tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime; a Chelada (simply lime juice and salt) that highlights the maíz sweetness against bright acidity; or a Beer Margarita (shandy-style with frozen margarita mix), where the lager's light body prevents the drink from becoming cloyingly heavy.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and taco nights where a crushable, flavorful lager is essential
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to independent alternatives within the Mexican lager style
• Supporting a local Illinois brewery while stocking the fridge for warm-weather drinking
• Pairing with grilled meats, ceviche, or other bright, citrus-forward dishes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Amistosa Lager taste like? Amistosa is a crisp, light-bodied Mexican-style lager with subtle corn sweetness from flaked maíz and mild citrus notes from Sorachi Ace hops. It finishes clean and dry with restrained bitterness.

How does Amistosa Lager compare to Corona Extra? Both are Mexican-style lagers, but Amistosa uses Sorachi Ace hops for a more pronounced citrus character, while Corona Extra relies on a simpler, more neutral hop profile. Amistosa also incorporates flaked maíz more prominently in the grain bill, giving it a slightly fuller sweetness at a comparable 5.3% ABV versus Corona's 4.6%.

Is Amistosa Lager good for easy drinking? Absolutely—its high carbonation, light body, and 5.3% ABV make it highly sessionable, and the 25 IBU bitterness level ensures it stays approachable for anyone who enjoys clean, refreshing lagers.

Where is Amistosa Lager made? Amistosa is brewed by Sketchbook Brewing Company in Evanston, Illinois, located on Chicago's North Shore. Sketchbook is an independent craft brewery focused on approachable, well-made beer styles.

What foods pair well with Amistosa Lager? Street tacos with cilantro and onion match the beer's citrus hop character; grilled shrimp or fish ceviche echo its bright, clean finish; carnitas benefit from the carbonation cutting through richness; chips with fresh pico de gallo mirror the lime-like notes; and elote (Mexican street corn) creates a natural bridge with the maíz in the grain bill.

What sizes does Amistosa Lager come in? Amistosa is commonly available in four-pack cans, which is the standard retail format from Sketchbook Brewing.

Is Amistosa Lager worth the price? Amistosa positions as a craft alternative in the Mexican lager category, priced above mass-market imports but delivering noticeably more complexity through its Sorachi Ace hop selection and maíz-forward grain bill. Its 89/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing supports its standing as a quality option in the style.

Why Amistosa Lager?

The defining move here is the Sorachi Ace hop—a variety rarely seen in Mexican-style lagers—which gives Amistosa a citrus dimension that most competitors in the category simply do not have. Backed by an 89/100 rating from Craft Beer & Brewing and over 3,300 check-ins on Untappd, it has earned consistent recognition from both critics and everyday drinkers. The flaked maíz in the grain bill ties the beer to authentic Mexican brewing tradition while the Evanston provenance gives it a distinctly local, independent identity. For anyone seeking a Mexican lager with more character than the macrobrewed standard, Amistosa makes a compelling, well-constructed case.