Bell's Light Hearted Ale

The clear market shift towards low-cal beers is pretty much the go-sign. However, I do think that market will be divided by low cal and low cal/low carb...which this is not.

Saint Archer's Gold seems to be flying off the shelf near me.

 

I picked up a 6pack today that was canned January 15th. Pretty darned nice.

 

Finally got ahold of this. I'm a little disappointed in the lack of aroma and hoppy bite. Curious why something like this seems so light on flavor but Lagunitas hop water is brimming with hop flavor. It's got me intrigued to try more in this 'lite' session IPA category. Probably go after the Dogfish one after I pound through my 6er of Light Hearted.

 

That was exactly my experience too. They should have added more hops (aroma or dry hops) into the recipe.

 

I just watched Darwin's Beer Review and he mentioned the word "watery" several times. This is my beef about Session IPAs. This will be a pass for me.

Cheers!

 

I had a taste last night at a friend's house. The Centennial hops were there in the aroma and taste. Good head formation. Some malt flavor. The body was right for a 3.8% beer, thought it had more than All Day, but it has been some years since I had that one. Enough bitterness to linger a bit.

I thought it was good for the couple.ofnounces that I had. Will need to revisit this over a full pint.

 

My wife and split a can last night. I thought it was ok. My wife loved it. So did my sister in law.

I’ve given my wife dozens of IPAs over there years and she turns her nose up at 99.5% of them. If you are looking for a full bodied palate wrecker of an IPA, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a flavorful, easy drinking IPA in name only, here you go.

 

I think that the body is thin, to be expected for the abv, but not watery. Shrugs.

 

To-may-toe vs. To-mah-toe!?!

Cheers!

 

To me, there's a difference. A beer can be thin or light bodied without becoming watery, both in texture and flavour.

 

Yup, you have your own personal/unique palate.

Cheers to you!

 

My wife had a pint at the local multitap last night. I had a couple of sips.

It is not all that thin. Think of it as an Ordinary Bitter in terms of body. I just looked up the ABV to confirm it, 3.7% ABV (I had said 3.8% above), and at 36 IBU it falls into what I would call an Ordinary. Both times I've tried it I noticed the Centennial hop aroma and flavor.

We both agreed last night, that this beer would be excellent on cask.

 

If I see it on tap I will try a pint.

Cheers!

 

I've noticed that with session IPAs and folks who don't typically like regular IPAs do seem to like session IPAs.

 

Look for Goose Island's new So-Lo (tho it may only be available in the Chicago area); 3.0 ABV, 98 calories. It's basically hop water, but it sounds like it's got more hop character than the Bell's -- still ISO in my area, BTW.

 

People could educate themselves with Lighthearted, Two Hearted, and Double Two Hearted.

Jebus, more malt, hops, ABV equals more packed into a glass. Who knew?

 

Every penny counts and these breweries are making out! We're suckers at heart.


I do tend to be a smart shopper. But there are times I'll drop $10.99 to 11.99 on a six pack of a gose/seaquench, or another kettle sour. Most sit in the 4.5-5.3% range. $10 range for a 'craft' lager is a joke. I've seen some locally as low as $7.99, so the fight to the bottom is not a bad fight to be fighting. We have a local brewery who has a cerveza lager that basically tastes like a Mexican lager but has a craft up charge. I'd rather buy dos equis, at that point.

Speak with your wallets

You might as well spike/water down a two hearted with Seltzer water to get your abv to 3.7 range. You'll end up with twice the quantity.

For years we heard the tank/age space for a lager/pilsner was 3-4 weeks longer than a basic ale, so their price point was always higher. What's the session IPA/lo cal ipa excuse? I'd love to hear it.

That price point is a joke, no questions asked.

 

Low ABV beers can have very quick turn times.

 

Hated the sixer I picked up for $11.99. Tasted way better when I bought it for $7.99 this past weekend. It's a mediocre session but if the price is right, it's not bad.

 

There must be a fine line between less and more where you start to lose flavor. For instance, Pilsner Urquell does a great job with body and balanced flavor and only 4.4 ABV. Sure, it weighs in at 160 calories, over something like the Goose Island SO-LO at 98, but that must be that dividing line.

Guinness Draught is another that balances session beer ABV (4.2%) and relatively low calories. There are also a few other Pilsners I could dig up with low ABV and big flavor, not to mention some of the newer non-alcohol beers like Wellbeing and BrewDog's Nanny State (even though I think they tend to over-compensate with adjuncts and/or hops).