Size 4
Steel Toe Brewing

12 oz can canned 9/17/25 into a Becker.
L: pours a clear light amber color with a 1/4" white head that has soapy edges with a slightly creamy center cap, light steady carbo, light scattered lacing.
S: caramel, a note of fruit bread.
T: caramelized malts, a note of citrus, tangerine zest, grapefruit zest, fairly resinous with a bitter linger and aftertaste. It is gently pale.
F: brisk and wet medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a medium length finish overall.
O: A real refresher. Big taste, lighter body, lower ABV. Similar to other Session Ales but with more body, flavor and bitterness. Well balanced, great eye appeal and simple. It is outstanding in its style.

Smell is classic tropical hazy, but a little lighter.
Taste has some tropical notes, but not quite as much as and not as sweet as the smell.
Feel is a bit light and almost crisp. Not very creamy for an IPA, but pretty good for a session IPA.
Overall, I consider that this is a session IPA that I want to reach for when I am keeping the ABV down. Compared to more full bodied and higher ABV NE Hazy IPAs, it may be slightly lacking. For what it is though (session IPA), it is really very good.

 

Pours beautifully clear amber gold with a thick white head. Nice lacing. Aroma is bold citrus and pine. Flavor follows the nose, amazing amount of flavor for a beer with such a low ABV. Feel is light bodied and full of carbonation. Overall, one of the finest beers I've had the pleasure of drinking under 5%.

12oz can. Bottom lip of can is stamped 'CANNED ON 01/25/23'.
Clear, pale gold colored body. One thin finger of white head, and this results in an island and ring. Leaves behind a partial ring of lacing.
Aroma of citrus and mango, with a solid malt base.
Taste is orange and grapefruit, with some more bitter pine. Has a spicy bite through the mid section of the profile. More pith in the aftertaste.
Medium mouth feel. Kind of juicy and bright. Very good carbonation.
Has a good combination of juicy sweet and a bitter bite. Excellent for session work.

 

 

 

First tried in 2019. Revisited multiple times since then, and now, in 2021, I have to revise my ratings for taste and smell from 4 up to 4.25. This has become a go-to session IPA for me. Honestly, just a go-to beer period, not even just IPA. I think it is the best sub 5% IPA I've had thus far. Much flavor. Another interesting thing about these is they seem to hold up really well even when kinda old. Recently, I accidentally bought a 4+ month old six pack and it felt, smelled, and tasted just as good as a super fresh one.

Appears as light golden body. Rather aromatic, notes of citrus mostly grapefruit. Pretty hop forward on the taste. Grapefuit, some orange, sort of earthy of the back end.

Light bodied, easy to drink, a real go to for sessions here in Minnesota.

 

12oz can drained on a weird but beautiful day

Sappy hop signals snapped to the head, with the quickness. Missing the "IPA with water in it" feel, which is a good thing. If it's good enough at 4% like this it gets extra respect from me.

Steel Toe always does hoppy beer well

Better than the Size 7 in terms of taste and feel. Obviously more fruity and maybe a bit too fruity but I like it better than the Size 7.