Icehouse 12Pk

Icehouse 12Pk is a 12-pack of America’s first domestically produced ice beer, brewed at 5.5% ABV by Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A multi-gold medal winner at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup, Icehouse remains the benchmark in the American ice lager category more than three decades after its introduction.
Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin  |  Style: American Ice Lager  |  Brewery: Plank Road Brewery (Molson Coors)
Production & Heritage
Icehouse is produced at Plank Road Brewery, a name with deep roots in Milwaukee brewing history, now operated under the Molson Coors umbrella. The beer is traditionally brewed and fermented using a grain bill that includes barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, and maltose, with hop extract providing bittering. What distinguishes it from standard lagers is the ice-brewing step: just before aging, the temperature is dropped below freezing, forming actual ice crystals within the beer. This concentrates flavor compounds and contributes to the beer’s characteristically bold, smooth body. When Icehouse launched, it was the first American brewery to bring this ice-brewing technique to a mainstream domestic product, spawning a wave of imitators including Bud Ice and Keystone Ice.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Light malt leads with a noticeable biscuit-like quality. Grain sweetness is present but restrained, with minimal hop presence on the nose.
Taste: The palate opens with pronounced corn sweetness and roasted, malted grain character. A mild aromatic hop bitterness arrives at mid-palate, balanced by an almost cream-like texture that the ice-brewing process imparts. Subtle pepper and faint citrus notes — reminiscent of lemon or lime — emerge as the beer warms slightly.
Finish: Crisp and dry with moderate length. Residual malty sweetness and a light peppery edge carry through to the close.
How to Drink Icehouse
Serve ice-cold straight from the can or poured into a chilled pint glass. The bold malt profile and higher-than-standard ABV make it a solid standalone beer for casual drinking. For a Michelada, the corn-forward sweetness pairs naturally with tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime. In a Beer Margarita (Beergarita), the crisp dry finish cuts through the sweetness of frozen margarita mix. A simple Shandy with fresh lemonade softens the malt intensity and makes it especially refreshing in warm weather.
Best For
Stocking the cooler for a backyard barbecue or tailgate
Casual weeknight drinking when you want more flavor than a light lager
Game-day sessions with friends who prefer bold, full-bodied beer
Budget-conscious shoppers seeking a proven, award-winning ice lager
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Icehouse taste like? Icehouse delivers a bold, corn-forward sweetness with roasted malt grain character, mild hop bitterness, and a crisp, dry finish. Subtle pepper and faint citrus notes add complexity for an ice lager.
How does Icehouse compare to Bud Ice? Both are American ice lagers, but Icehouse predates Bud Ice as the category’s originator and generally offers a bolder, more malt-forward profile. Bud Ice tends toward a lighter, cleaner taste at a similar 5.5% ABV.
Is Icehouse good for casual drinking? Yes — its smooth, full-bodied character and 5.5% ABV provide more flavor intensity than a standard American lager, while remaining highly approachable and easy to drink across several rounds.
Where is Icehouse made? Icehouse is brewed at Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under the Molson Coors Brewing Company umbrella. Milwaukee has been one of America’s most important brewing cities since the 19th century.
What foods pair well with Icehouse? Grilled burgers and hot dogs complement the bold malt sweetness. Spicy buffalo wings benefit from the beer’s crisp dry finish. Smoked brisket matches the roasted grain notes. Nachos with jalapeños find balance against the cream-like body. Fried fish tacos with lime echo the beer’s subtle citrus undertones.
What sizes does Icehouse come in? Icehouse is widely available in 12-packs of 12 oz cans, as well as single tall cans (24 oz), 6-packs, and larger multi-packs depending on market availability.
Is Icehouse worth the price? Icehouse positions as a value-tier ice lager that consistently overdelivers for its price point, backed by multiple GABF and World Beer Cup gold medals — a competition record that many beers at higher price tiers cannot match.
Why Icehouse?
Icehouse holds the distinction of being the first domestically produced ice beer in the United States, a product that reshaped the American lager landscape when it launched. Its competition record is formidable: two GABF gold medals (2003, 2007), three World Beer Cup golds (1996, 1998, 2006), and additional GABF silver and bronze medals across multiple years. The ice-brewing process — dropping the beer’s temperature below freezing to form ice crystals before aging — genuinely concentrates flavor, producing a bolder, smoother lager than conventional brewing at this price tier. For drinkers who want more character than a standard American lager without stepping up to craft pricing, Icehouse remains the category’s original and most decorated option.