Low-Calorie Ipas: Are They Worth The Hype?

India Pale Ale (IPA) is one of the most popular ale styles, especially in America. So, it's no surprise that there are low-calorie versions of this beer.

Regular IPAs have anywhere from 200 to 300 calories per 12 oz can. The calorie count in beer depends on the final gravity (FG), alcohol percentage, and carbohydrates.

Low-calorie IPAs typically have around 100 calories per 12 oz serving and 4% ABV. They are light in body and very low in final gravity. While they are dry and less sweet than typical IPAs, they are still delicious and refreshing.

Some of the best low-calorie IPAs include Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty, Firestone Walker Flyjack, Bell’s Light Hearted, Oskar Blues One-y, and Destihl SoundBoard Lo-Cal Hazy IPA.

Low-calorie IPAs are usually around 100 calories and 4% ABV

Low-calorie IPAs are a relatively new phenomenon, with brewers only recently tackling the difficult task of reducing the calorie count of the frequently boozy, often hazy, and always pungent ale. The result is a lighter, more refreshing beer that still delivers on flavour.

Low-calorie IPAs typically have around 100 calories per 12oz can or bottle, with an ABV of around 4%. This is a significant reduction from a standard IPA, which can have anywhere from 200 to 300 calories per 12oz serving. The lower calorie count is achieved by reducing the alcohol content and using additives or specific grains to add body and balance to the beer.

For example, Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty IPA is a popular low-calorie option with 95 calories and a 4% ABV. It is sweetened with monk fruit, which reduces the amount of unfermented sugar and provides a tropical, citrusy flavour. Another well-known low-calorie IPA is Firestone Walker's Flyjack, which has 96 calories and a 4% ABV. This beer is known for its balanced blend of tangerine and strawberry flavours, with a light bitterness.

These beers are a great option for those who want to enjoy the experience of an IPA without consuming too many calories. They are also perfect for summertime day-drinking, as they are lighter and less likely to leave you feeling "wrecked" the next day.

They are less sweet than regular IPAs and have a dry, crisp finish

Low-calorie IPAs are becoming increasingly popular, with craft beer drinkers reaching for lighter, lower-calorie options. These beers are a marvel of beer engineering, with brewers having to compromise on alcohol content and body to achieve a lower-calorie count.

Regular IPAs have between 200 and 300 calories per 12 oz can, whereas low-calorie IPAs typically have around 100 calories per 12 oz serving. This reduction in calories means that low-calorie IPAs are less sweet than regular IPAs and have a dry, crisp finish.

The reduction in calories is achieved through a lower alcohol content, with low-calorie IPAs usually having an ABV of around 4%. This is achieved by using less grain in the brewing process. However, this can result in a lighter hop character, so brewers must use creative methods to compensate for this. For example, Firestone Walker uses a yeast strain called London III to create juice-like flavour compounds from the hop oils as the beer ferments, broadening the hop character.

In addition to having a lower alcohol content, low-calorie IPAs also have fewer carbohydrates. Regular IPAs get their body and sweet balance from carbohydrates, which provide the beer with its sweetness. Low-calorie IPAs, on the other hand, have roughly a third to a quarter of the carbs of a regular IPA. This results in a drier, less sweet beer with a crisp finish.

Despite the compromises that must be made to create a low-calorie IPA, these beers are still delicious and offer a guilt-free drinking experience. They are less sweet than regular IPAs, with a dry, crisp finish that is perfect for those looking for a lighter, more refreshing beer option.

Monk fruit is used as a natural sweetener in some low-calorie IPAs

Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo or Buddha fruit, is a small, round fruit native to Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, but it has only recently gained popularity as a sweetener outside of Asia. Monk fruit is a zero-calorie sweetener that is 100–250 times sweeter than sugar. This makes it an attractive option for brewers looking to create low-calorie IPAs without compromising on taste.

Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty IPA is an example of a low-calorie IPA that uses monk fruit as a natural sweetener. Slightly Mighty has an underlying richness that sets it apart from other low-calorie IPAs, with tropical fruit flavours and a prominent sweetness. At 95 calories per 12-ounce can and 4% ABV, it delivers a flavourful drinking experience without the high calorie count of a typical IPA.

Monk fruit sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit, crushing it to collect the juice, and then drying the juice into a concentrated powder. The sweet taste of monk fruit comes from unique antioxidants called mogrosides, which also give the fruit its potential health benefits. Studies suggest that mogrosides have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may offer protection against cancer and diabetes.

While monk fruit sweetener is generally recognized as safe for consumption, it is important to read the labels of products that use it. Many brands combine monk fruit with other sweeteners, such as erythritol, to reduce the intensity of its sweetness. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that can cause digestive issues in some people and may be linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, according to emerging research. Therefore, it is important for consumers to be aware of the additional ingredients in products sweetened with monk fruit.

Low-calorie IPAs are a recent trend in craft beer

IPAs are typically high in calories, with around 200-300 calories per 12oz can, largely due to their high alcohol content and carbohydrates. However, the latest trend in craft beer is towards lighter, low-calorie options, with an average of 100 calories per 12oz serving.

Brewers have had to get creative to achieve a full-flavoured IPA with half the calories. Scaling down the boozy, hazy, and pungent ale into a lighter package is an incredible feat of beer engineering. Brewers have employed various methods to reduce calories, such as cutting down on alcohol content by using less grain and adding adjuncts like monk fruit or chicory root to enhance body and balance.

The result is a new style of IPA that is light, refreshing, and perfect for summertime day-drinking or all-day adventures. These low-calorie IPAs still offer the hoppy and hazy characteristics of a traditional IPA, but with a lower ABV and a dryer, less sweet body.

Some of the best low-calorie IPAs on the market include Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty, Firestone Walker Flyjack, Bell's Light Hearted, and Deschutes Wowza. These beers offer a tropical fruit or citrus-forward flavour profile, a crisp and refreshing finish, and all with around 4% ABV and 100 calories.

Examples of low-calorie IPAs include Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty, Firestone Walker Flyjack, and Oskar Blues One-y

There are several low-calorie IPAs on the market, and examples of these include Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty, Firestone Walker Flyjack, and Oskar Blues One-y.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty is a low-calorie IPA with only 95 calories per 12-ounce can and an ABV of 4%. It is brewed with monk fruit, a zero-calorie sweetener, which gives it an underlying richness that sets it apart from other low-cal IPAs. It has a tropical fruit flavour with a prominent sweetness and a balanced body.

Firestone Walker Flyjack is another low-calorie IPA option, with just 96 calories and an ABV of 4%. It is hazy, bright, and has a balanced body thanks to the use of wheat and oats in the brewing process. It is hopped extensively with a variety of hops, including Cascade, Callista, El Dorado, Chinook, Mosaic, Strata, Sabro, and Idaho 7, resulting in a complex and expressive hop profile.

Oskar Blues One-y is a 100-calorie hazy IPA. It is dry-hopped with El Dorado, Comet, and Citra hops, with Mosaic and French Aramis in the whirlpool. It has a slightly hazy golden body and a pure white head. It has notes of peach and tropical fruits, with a crisp, medium/light body and dry finish.

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