
Coors Light certainly lives up to its name as the “world’s most refreshing beer.” Coors Light is almost exclusively produced in the United States. However, it is one of the top-selling beers worldwide. Even with the famous color-changing branding (we’ll get into more detail later on) and massive popularity, not all beer consumers have tried Coors Light. What is all the hype around this beer? What does it taste like, and is it any good?
Coors Light is classified as an American light lager Coors Light offers a refreshing change of pace for your mouth. It is low in alcohol content (4.2% – 4.5% ABV) and bitterness (IBU of 10-12), allowing easy drinkability and a clean taste.
Continue reading, and we will show you what Coors Light tastes like and why it is, in fact, a good beer. We will take you on a journey through Coors Light’s flavor, mouthfeel, smell, and appearance.

Flavor
First, let’s dive into the flavor of Coors Light. Coors Light is classified as an American Light Lager. Coors Light is specifically brewed to be a simple lager. It provides a light taste and leaves your mouth wanting more. Coors Light is a truly refreshing beer.
Secret Formula:
Coors Light goes to great lengths to keep their exact formula a secret; however, they have confirmed the following ingredients:
- Water: Coors Light is brewed utilizing only the purest of water sources. Most water is sourced from the Rocky Mountains, although some water comes from deep lakes and aquifers. Coors Light makes a conscious effort to reduce water usage while growing their barley. They partner with farmers and lead the way in water stewardship.
- Barley Malt: Coors Light is proud to be made from 100% Moravian American-grown barely. Coors Light is a two-row lager malt.
- Lager Yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus): Coors Light uses this type of yeast for its fermentation process. It allows for a crisp and clean beer flavor.
- Corn Syrup: Though no corn syrup is present in the final brew, Coors Light utilizes corn syrup to ferment the lager yeast into alcohol. Do not confuse corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup, as they are not the same thing. Corn syrup is a healthier and natural alternative to high fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup is used to lighten the beer’s body and deliver a more refreshing flavor.
- Hop Extract: Coors Light is naturally extracted from whole hops. They utilize a variety of hops to create a unique and consistent flavor.
On the IBU (International Bitterness Units) scale Coors Light comes in between a 10-12. This helps classify Coors Light as a light lager and why it has a distinguished yet refreshing taste. For reference, Miller Lite has an IBU rating of 12, and Bud Light has an IBU rating of 6. The lower the IBU, the less bitter the beer will taste, having fewer hops involved in the brewing process. Coors Light is on the higher end of the IBU scale for light beers and is, as such, a more bitter-tasting light beer.
Coors Light alcohol content is on the low side, coming in at just 4.2%- 4.5% ABV. In the United States, Coors Light is only brewed to have a 4.2% ABV, which is also considered full strength in Australia. However, in other countries, Coors Light may be brewed up to a 4.5% ABV.
A low ABV coupled with its unique flavor makes Coors Light an easy go-to beer for get-togethers, BBQs, parties, and fun-filled days in the sun. This beer allows consumers to drink for an extended period of time without the worry of becoming quickly intoxicated.
Mouthfeel
Next, let’s discuss Coors Light Mouthfeel. Coors Light boosts the reputation of not being as dry as other light beers. Its mild bitterness is perfectly contrasted with a slight sweetness. Consumers can feel the carbonated bubbles which is a distinguishable feature compared to other light beers.
Overall, Coors Light has a mouthfeel very similar to carbonated mineral water. The drinker will notice a slightly bitter taste along with the carbonated bubbles. This is due to the hops and barley content of the brew. Coors Light is easily drinkable and leaves almost no aftertaste.
Coors Light is not suitable for consumers looking for a wild or drunken night. Consumers would never describe Coors Light as tough to swallow or a harsh beer. Coors Light offers more of a taste profile than other light beers. However, it does not live up to a consumer’s expectations with a complex taste palate.
Smell
Next up is Coors Light’s smell. Consumers within the United States tend to say Coors Light smells like grain or corn. Consumers outside the United States tend to describe Coors Light smell as wet grass or light sweet fruit. Either way, the smell of Coors Light is delicate and subtle.
Appearance
Lastly, let’s dive into the appearance of Coors Light. The physical appearance of Coors Light is one of its best features. Coors Light is straw-like in color and almost entirely transparent. It ranks a two on the SRM scale (Standard Reference Method). This is used to measure the intensity of the color of the beer. This scale ranges from 2 to 80. This puts Coors Light on the bottom of the scale and accounts for its beautiful transparency and yellow color.
Throughout the entire brewing and packaging process (where appropriate), Coors Light is kept cold for that light, crisp taste it is known for. This also ensures that it appears bright, clear, and stays fresh. Once poured, a white foamy head appears and then quickly disappears. Due to the high levels of carbonation, bubbles can be seen rising.
One of the coolest features of Coors Light is its famous color-changing mountains on its bottles and cans. This way, consumers know when the beer is at the right temperature to drink. If the mountains on the bottle are blue, you know it’s perfect for drinking. While this neat feature only works with Coors Light in a bottle or can, enjoy your draft Coors Light at the ideal temperature between 40-44°F. This allows for maximum crispness.
Overall, Coors Light is a good beer. Its mouth-watering combination of perfectly balanced bitterness and sweetness is unparalleled in the light beer realm. Just remember, the temperature is vital when it comes to enjoying your Coors Light.
What Do Other People Think About Coors Light?
Another thing we definitely have to take into account while discussing the taste of Coors Light is how other people perceive the beer. Of course, I’m tasting the beer while writing this review. However, different people have different tastes and whether or not a beer appeals to the general public is often a completely different question.
In the table below we’ve gathered the average rating of Coors Light on several prominent beer review websites.
Platform | Rating (out of 10) |
Beeradvocate | 5.1 |
Ratebeer | 2.8 |
Untappd | 4.8 |
Influenster | 9.2 |
What we see here immediately is that Coors light gets ratings that are all over the place. Let’s first start with the three top websites. These are generally considered to be the more serious beer review websites. Immediately it becomes clear that Coors Light doesn’t seem to be enjoyed by the experienced beer-drinking crowd. As becomes clear with this review written on Ratebeer:
No idea what it looks like as I drank it straight from the can. No real aroma to speak of, perhaps a slight whiff of aluminum. The taste is mild white bread, a bit of soda cracker and some boiled pasta. Palate is thin and watery. Overall: weak sauce.
On the other hand, Coors is typically enjoyed by a less experienced beer-drinking crowd that simply enjoys lighter beers that aren’t heavy and/or overwhelming. This is reflected by the high score on Influenster, which is a platform for general product reviews. One review there states:
Coors is another great beer. It and Bud Light is all I drink. Very smooth not overwhelming. It’s also my husband’s go to as well. We try to start stocked up for cookouts and fun times with the family!
So in conclusion it’s safe to say that Coors Light is great for the masses that enjoy a ‘watery’ beer that isn’t heavy and that’s easily drinkable. However, if you’re looking for an interesting beer that keeps your taste buds longing for more, then Coors Light is best left alone.
Sources:
- https://www.bjcp.org/style/2015/1/standard-american-beer/
- https://beerandbrewing.com/actual-beer-color-vs-predicted-color/
- https://beveragebeaver.com/what-type-of-beer-is-coors-light-exactly-detailed-explanation/
- https://beveragebeaver.com/what-type-of-beer-is-bud-light-exactly-detailed-explanation/
- https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/306/837/
- https://untappd.com/b/coors-brewing-company-coors-light/3834
- https://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=707
- https://www.influenster.com/reviews/coors-light-beer-13