Beer of the Weekend #1,149: Lupo
The beer last weekend was a fitting, albeit coincidental, tribute to the Winter Olympics happening in Italy: Lupo, brewed by the Big Grover Brewery of Iowa City, Iowa.
Serving type: 12-ounce can. Though there was no freshness date on the can, “03/26/25” was written on the box—which I did not see until I brought it home. Oops! These are some old beers!
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color was hazy gold. A fluffy, dense, bubbly, white head dissipated slowly and unevenly, leaving trails of foam on the glass.
Smell: Sharp and zesty. Light cereal-like malts and lemon zest with a big dose of earthy hops.
Taste: Really earthy and zesty with a cereal malt base. There is not a ton of flavor, though that may be because of how old the cans were.
Fun facts about Lupo:
• Style: Italian pilsner.
• Price: $11.99 for a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
• Here is the description via the brewery website: “Our take on a classic Italian-style pilsner, named after the national animal of the ‘Beautiful Country’—the wolf. Clean and refreshing, with a touch of sweetness and a crisp, biting finish.”
• Had I been thinking, I would have bought Lupo because of the Italian connection to the Olympics. However, I mostly bought Lupo because I wanted a pilsner. It was only later that realized that the opening ceremonies were taking place in Italy while I was drinking an Italian pilsner. What a coinkydink!
• I don’t think I watched a single moment of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the last time the Olympics were in Italy, so I am making up for it this year. How did I completely miss the ’06 Games? I don’t know or remember, but it was very uncharacteristic of me.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
Serving type: 12-ounce can. Though there was no freshness date on the can, “03/26/25” was written on the box—which I did not see until I brought it home. Oops! These are some old beers!
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color was hazy gold. A fluffy, dense, bubbly, white head dissipated slowly and unevenly, leaving trails of foam on the glass.
Smell: Sharp and zesty. Light cereal-like malts and lemon zest with a big dose of earthy hops.
Taste: Really earthy and zesty with a cereal malt base. There is not a ton of flavor, though that may be because of how old the cans were.
Fun facts about Lupo:
• Style: Italian pilsner.
• Price: $11.99 for a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
• Here is the description via the brewery website: “Our take on a classic Italian-style pilsner, named after the national animal of the ‘Beautiful Country’—the wolf. Clean and refreshing, with a touch of sweetness and a crisp, biting finish.”
• Had I been thinking, I would have bought Lupo because of the Italian connection to the Olympics. However, I mostly bought Lupo because I wanted a pilsner. It was only later that realized that the opening ceremonies were taking place in Italy while I was drinking an Italian pilsner. What a coinkydink!
• I don’t think I watched a single moment of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the last time the Olympics were in Italy, so I am making up for it this year. How did I completely miss the ’06 Games? I don’t know or remember, but it was very uncharacteristic of me.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
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