Temperance Basement Party 6Pk

Temperance Basement Party 6Pk is a six-pack of unfiltered American lager brewed at 4.9% ABV by Temperance Beer Company in Evanston, Illinois. This easy-drinking, sessionable lager earned an 84 on BeerAdvocate and stands out from the pack by skipping filtration entirely, preserving more grain character and body than most beers in the style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.9%  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Unfiltered American Lager  |  Brewery: Temperance Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Temperance Beer Company, founded in 2013, holds the distinction of being Evanston's first and oldest brewery — a notable irony given that the city was once a stronghold of the American temperance movement. The brewery has earned both gold and silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival across its lineup. Basement Party is brewed as an unfiltered American lager, meaning the beer bypasses the clarification step used by virtually all mass-market lagers. This preserves suspended yeast and grain proteins, lending a slightly hazy appearance and a fuller mouthfeel than the style typically delivers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark bread and fresh grain lead, followed by grassy, herbal hop notes. There is a subtle biscuit-like quality beneath the hops that keeps the nose interesting without becoming complex.

Taste: The entry is clean and grain-forward with pale malt sweetness that gives way to a grassy, herbaceous mid-palate. Bitterness builds steadily toward the back of the sip, more assertive than a typical mass-market lager but well within approachable territory. The unfiltered character adds a slight roundness that softens the hop bite.

Finish: Crisp and moderately dry with lingering herbal bitterness and a trace of breadcrust. The finish is clean enough to invite another sip without any cloying sweetness or off-flavors.

How to Drink Basement Party

Serve cold, straight from the can or poured into a pilsner glass to appreciate the pale golden, slightly hazy pour and white head. This is a beer built for uncomplicated enjoyment. A Michelada plays well here — the bitterness and grain body hold up against tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime. A Shandy made with fresh lemonade balances the herbal hop notes beautifully on a hot afternoon. For a simple twist, try a Boilermaker alongside a pour of bourbon; the lager's clean finish acts as a palate-cleansing counterpoint.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and casual outdoor gatherings where sessionability matters
• Introducing craft-curious friends to something beyond mass-market lagers
• Pairing with game-day food spreads — burgers, wings, and nachos
• Stocking a cooler for a weekend trip where variety and drinkability are both priorities

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Basement Party taste like? Basement Party delivers a grain-forward, lightly bready flavor with grassy and herbal hop bitterness and a crisp, clean finish. It drinks easy but has more character than a standard American lager thanks to its unfiltered nature.

How does Basement Party compare to House Beer? Both aim to bridge the gap between mass-market lagers and craft beer, but Basement Party's unfiltered approach gives it a slightly hazier appearance and fuller body. House Beer tends to lean closer to a polished, filtered profile, while Basement Party retains more grain texture and hop bitterness.

Is Basement Party good for beginners? Absolutely — at 4.9% ABV with a straightforward flavor profile, it serves as an accessible entry point for anyone looking to explore craft lagers without a steep learning curve.

Where is Basement Party made? Basement Party is brewed by Temperance Beer Company in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb just north of Chicago. Temperance is Evanston's first brewery, established in 2013.

What foods pair well with Basement Party? Grilled burgers and bratwursts match the beer's malty backbone. Fish tacos with a citrus slaw complement its herbal hop notes. Salty snacks like pretzels and chips amplify its refreshing carbonation. A simple margherita pizza pairs well with its bready grain character. Sharp cheddar cheese provides a savory contrast to the clean bitterness.

What sizes does Basement Party come in? This product is sold as a six-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format for the beer.

Is Basement Party worth the price? Basement Party positions as an entry-level craft lager, priced competitively within the everyday craft six-pack tier. For drinkers seeking a step up from macro lagers without a premium price tag, it represents solid value.

Why Basement Party?

The unfiltered production method is the key differentiator here — most American lagers, craft or otherwise, are filtered for maximum clarity, which strips some flavor along with the haze. By leaving the beer unfiltered, Temperance preserves a subtle grain richness and textural weight that gives Basement Party genuine character at a modest 4.9% ABV. Backed by a brewery with Great American Beer Festival hardware and rooted in a city with deep (if ironic) temperance history, this is a lager that earns its spot between the simplicity of macro beer and the intensity of hop-forward craft styles.