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Introduction to Low-Calorie IPA Beers
There will always be a demand for low-calorie products; beer is certainly not the exception. And while craft brewers have always set their sights on their quest for flavor, they’ve also leaned into the wellness trend by offering their take on a “healthy” IPA.
We’ve sampled and gathered as much info as possible on the best low-calorie India Pale Ales and have come up with a survival guide for your quest for a guilt-free craft experience. Here’s everything to know:
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What Makes a Beer Low in Calories and Carbs?
- Where beer calories come from: Beer recipes generally call for four ingredients: malt, hops, yeast, and water. While calorie-less water isn’t the culprit, malts and even hops provide calories and carbohydrates. When these are fermented to make alcohol, even more calories are involved.
- Lower ABV generally = lower calories: Alcohol is derived from fermenting sugars. These typically consist of grains like barley, oats, and wheat. Because you produce more alcohol with more sugars, there’s a direct correlation between caloric and alcohol content.
- How diet and lifestyle factor in: Believe it or not, there are plenty of keto, low-carb, and calorie-conscious drinkers out there who still enjoy craft beer. And while an IPA can never match up with kombucha, low-calorie and even gluten-free craft beers accommodate these consumers.
What to Expect from Low-Calorie IPAs
Generally, you can expect low-calorie IPAs to have similar characteristics to the ever-trendy “session IPA” category that became popular in the 2010s. Alcohol content between 3 and 4.5% ABV is the norm. Brewers tend to shoot for a dry finish and intense hop aroma to entice drinkers.
A light-bodied and crushable beer that’s easy to drink comes naturally with the ABV. These beers are best suited for casual patio drinking on summer days or even a post-workout indulgence. There are obvious connections with meeting fitness and wellness goals, making low-calorie IPAs a favorite for marathoners and other go-getters.
The 8 Best IPA Beers Under 100 Calories (with Carbs and ABV)
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
- 95 calories per 12 oz | 3.6g carbs | 4.0% ABV
- This Delaware brewery made a name for itself with flavorful offerings that took things to the extreme, but more cautious drinkers will be glad to know there’s a lighter option to balance out their dank 90 Minute IPAs or boozy World Wide Stout.
- You can expect tropical fruit aromas with a minimal body that finishes crisp and clean. In classic Dogfish fashion, there’s a culinary element to it, with adding Chinese monk fruit to provide sweet and citrusy flavors.
Lagunitas DayTime IPA
- 98 calories per 12 oz | 3g carbs | 4.0% ABV
- The bright and piney hops you associate with Lagunitas’s classic West Coast IPAs are all present. What’s not there are the calories and carbs! Even better, the brewery’s wide-ranging availability makes this crusher easy to find wherever you’re drinking.
- DayTime packs dry and slightly bitter hop character into a refreshing body. Grassy and effervescent Citra and Centennial hops balance out the softer malt backbone from oats.
Bell’s Light Hearted Ale
- 96 calories per 12 oz | 8.7g carbs | 3.7% ABV
- It may be the younger brother of bitter bruiser Two Hearted Ale, but Light Hearted offers a low-cal alternative that’s still highly flavorful. It’s slightly heavier in carbs but comes in under 100 calories, and Light Hearted Ale’s great flavors are incredibly balanced.
- There are citrus and pine notes you’d expect from a Bell’s beer, especially on the nose. A malt base like this usually comes with some serious calories and carbs, but this crushable IPA (or pale ale) keeps things light when trying to get your beach body ready for summer in the Great Lakes.
Deschutes WOWZA! Hazy Pale Ale
- 100 calories per 12 oz | 4g carbs | 4.0% ABV
- Hazy beers tend to be more filling for a reason, and yet Deschutes has managed the juicy hop profile you’d expect of a New England IPA, but with a light body and highly refreshing drinkability.
- Wheat and oats provide the fluffy mouthfeel of a standard hazy without ever adding the heaviness you get with these adjuncts. Citra, Simcoe, and (underrated but aptly-named) Cashmere hops provide sippy citrus hop profiles.
Oskar Blues One-y IPA
- 100 calories per 12 oz 100 | 5g carbs | 4.0% ABV
- One of craft beer’s true OG institutions, Oskar Blues has seen its fair share of fads to keep up with. The wellness trend was too stubborn to ignore, so the makers of Dale’s Pale Ale and Yella Pils have come out with one of the better low-calorie beers out there.
- One-y IPA pours a nice hazy gold and boasts a nice hop bite with a flavor profile of grapefruit and orange peel. There’s not much sweetness to it, making this a nice option for fans of traditional bitter IPAs.
Odell Good Behavior
- 100 calories per 12 oz 110 | 7g carbs | 4.0% ABV | 37 IBUs
- This outfit out of Fort Collins has made its name for approachable beers best-suited for campfire hangouts, and their aptly named Good Behavior session IPA is the perfect addition to their outdoorsy lineup.
- With drinkability on the mind, the brewers have created a dry and crisp IPA that goes down as easily as any macro lager. Plenty of floral notes are on the nose as the hops give more lemon zest than piney bitterness. It’s certainly quaffable, and you can imagine this quenching thirsts better than satisfying the need for an indulgent West Coast IPA.
Firestone Walker Flyjack
- 100 calories per 12 oz 96 | 5g carbs | 4.0% ABV | 25 IBUs
- Firestone Walker’s typical British-inspired beers are usually much more filling, especially hop-bombs like Union Jack. Still, this legacy brewery is appealing to health-conscious California drinkers with a highly quaffable IPA that’s getting rave reviews on forums and beachfront bars.
- The bouquet of aromas emitted by this sub-100-calorie beer is truly impressive. Fans of jackfruit and mango will enjoy the impressive flavor, even if the mouthfeel could use a bit more heft.
Special Mention
Cigar City Jai Alai Light
- 120 calories per 12 oz | 11g carbs | 4.0% ABV
- Originally called Jai Low, this pared-down version of Florida’s favorite IPA is now a year-round release and ideal for Sunshine State sipping. It comes in just over 100 calories and has a few more carbs, but the flavor couldn’t be more worth it.
- With a mix of sticky Amarillo, Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe hops, this beer packs more hop bite and tropical flavors than other low-cal IPAs.
Are Low-Calorie, Low-Carb IPAs Worth Drinking?
- Honest take: While these beers are perfect for patio drinking or when you’re training for a marathon, they probably won’t replace a double IPA (or even standard IPA) for hop lovers.
- They certainly serve a purpose: These beers are perfect for moderation, fitness, and daily drinkability, even if there are more flavorful or enjoyable options out there.
- The Best of Both Worlds: These beers prove you don’t have to give up hops to cut calories to go on a diet.
Conclusion
IPAs have historically been high in calories and carbs, but that’s been changing for a few years. Almost every market, especially those with major breweries, has at least some options for lower-calorie craft beers. Whether you’re looking for a drinkable beer with some hops for a day at the beach or you’re training for a marathon, you’ll be surprised to find so many options. Just remember to enjoy responsibly and savor every low-calorie sip.
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