Lo Cali
Belching Beaver Pub 980

 

a low calorie hoppy lager, a style that really seems to be booming, well maybe not the lager part, but like ipa types for the health conscious. not sure why these need to exist, or why so many of them lack a soul, but this is better than most, not just green hop bitterness on a watery base, its more balanced and flavorful, and even has some appreciable grain character, light as it is overall. more of a summer thing than a fall one, super light and dry and snappy and poundable. very pale in color, pretty clear, watery looking indeed, but its not too thin in feel, and all of the elements are here. the grain is light and dry cereal, the hops are bitter citrus, and the yeast is definitely a lager strain, although not european or anything to me, simple but well balanced overall, and while the hops lead, they dont dominate. hints of lime and pine to me, zesty and bright and fresh, very compatible with the yeast, the mineral profile of the water, and the light body. its maybe a little too thin, but its decidedly not soulless, which is a win in my book for this sort of thing. the yeast presence helps too, just rounds it out better than the flavorless ale yeasts do. this will never be my go to category, but i am glad to see some better beers coming into it. more flavorful and less boring and derivative. these guys always seem to do a nice job, whether you like their gimmicky branding or not, the liquid has been solid.