When it Comes to ABV, How Low Can We Go?

I recently had a beer that I think defies "summer crusher" of a beer. Keep in mind, when I think of a "summer crusher", I think of a beer I can throw back after a track workout in 98F, sunny weather with 96% humidity (unfortunately, not that uncommon for a few months out of the year). I want something with flavor, but that doesn't shock my dehydrated system with alcohol. I also want something I can slug back round after round in a scorching hot parking lot while tailgating for a game.

The beer that seems to have nailed that balance is "Hoppy Water #1" by Narrow Gauge. Hitting in at 3%, I didn't expect much flavor - but actually found the hop presence in both the aroma and flavor profile to be more robust than most of the Luponic Distortion series so far (which I've also been a fan of so far). Better yet, it was under $10 to take home a 32oz crowler of Hoppy Water. No doubt, if it was made and distro'd throughout Missouri, I'd be snagging it for any bonfires, camp outs, float trips, tailgates, and post-workout brews. It'd be nice to have some similar brews available.

At 3%, that's the lowest ABV I've had in a beer without it being a lambic. I'd love to have more opportunities to pick up beers like these. At least from June through August.

 

Surly Xtra-Citra (4.5%) is about as low as I'd want to go in terms of ABV. That said, it's one fantastic beer that doesn't sacrifice flavor for so-called sessionability.

Of course, there is always kvas.

 

I just drank my last bottle of SN Otra Vez last night. Crisp, tart and very refreshing, with just a tiny hint of the gose salinity. And that subtle hint of cactus fruit is nice too. I need some more!

 

I really enjoy Rally from Austin St. in Portland Maine.

3.8% ABV but still really good flavor, aroma and mouthfeel.

We got a keg last summer when we rented a lake house. It was the perfect brew for hanging out by the lake in the sun. Had a bit more high test stuff for evenings.

Currently rated pretty high on here.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34657/235092/

 

Take a vacation to Iceland, they'll teach you a thing or two about low abv beers.

 

I remember going to beer bars years ago and looking for high ABV BA beers

I go in now and look for the lowest ABV beers on the menu

More low ABV beers please

 

Lindemans Framboise is excellent and only 2.5% ABV

Slavutych Kvas Taras is 1.2% ABV and sucks, but not because of the ABV!

 

In general, it's amazing how much flavor can be packed into a low alcohol sour. There's a Berliner Weiss called Brau Backer that's brewed with brett and lactobacillus, and you'd never suspect it's only 2.5%. Of course, the price may be the thing that keeps you from pounding six or seven in a row like you'd want...

 

I'm kind of glad that we aren't a bunch of old farts sitting on stools drinking all day--fine if you want to. Maybe I will join them one day.

All that being said- I look for the lower option routinely. Please make more good low ABV brews.

 

While most of the beers I like happen to be high ABV, I don't need them to be. Particularly when I go to a taproom and must drive home, I am not looking for a 12oz 13% ABV beer. Lately I've been going for new lower ABV beers.

 

Jester King Le Petit Prince (2.9% ABV) 4.75/5
Lindemans Framboise (2.5% ABV) 4.25/5
Evil Twin Sour Bikini (3.0% ABV) 4.25/5
Stiegl Radler (2.0% ABV) 4/5

These are my highest rated at ≤ 3.0% ABV.

 

i've been thinking more and more about this exact subject.

i'm weird in that I am almost always drinking something during the day. water, tea, coffee, etc. i have a bottle of water with me 99% of the time.

so enjoying a session at home i can drink a good amount but 8%+ abv IPAs/stouts take their toll at some point. my FIFA skills really crash and burn after a few big beers.

so something like Boat Beer (4.2%) comes into play. i can be constantly drinking/sipping without getting sloshed. for example 2 weekends ago i had like 2 Jai Alai's while playing FIFA and then i started drinking Puff. 1 I was fine, 2 started to feel it and 3-4 put my FIFA skills in the trash.

so yes, flavorful small beers would be great

 

2.9% Commercial Suicide Oaked Farmhouse Mild: Jester King
Could drink this mild all day long
3.2% Grodziskie: Live Oak Brewing Company
My local bar got a keg of this Grodziskie and I think I drank more than anyone. I would go every day for a glass and 2 times a week got growler fills. They were practically giving it to me to get if off the tapline because no one liked smoked beer. Great beer and one that makes you work your way thru it because of the complexity

 

Of the 584 beers I've reviewed, only 10 have ABVs below 4.0%.

Clearly it's the next frontier for craft beer if only because it's the land nobody's visited yet. I've had quite a few sub-5.0% brews that are fantastic, but there's so few options under 4.0% that I generally don't try looking for them. What about the English Dark Mild? Some day the brewing world is going to tap into that style, and when it does, I hope some of the brewers go as low as they can with the ABV (BA.com's style page says 2-6% ABV is its range).

Of what I've tried under 4.0%, Blue Owl's Little Boss is now a staple in my rotation, and, as others have pointed out, Lindeman's is tasty. Jester King's Kvass was a pleasant surprise:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24018/257449/?ba=Premo88#review

 

Great beer

 

I had a terrific English Mild a few years ago at Bull City Burgers in Durham a few years ago. Nicely bitter, a ton of flavor right at 3.8 abv, tap only. I'd bet if the BA world got a hold of this beer it would score in the mid 90s or so, it was that good.

 

I'm a fan of low abv beers, particularly those styles that are traditionally lower in alcohol. I would be drinking much more Brawler if it were readily available.

 

There are plenty of terrible (especially ipas) "session"/ low alcohol beers out there, but there are a few that I do really enjoy. I don't drink to get drunk anymore (though it still seems to happen sometimes ), and more often than not, I don't even want to get a buzz. Especially when out and about. I drink beer because I love the flavor. Any time of day, with any meal. I drink it like I do root beer, or a glass of lemonade. I have found myself thrning away a lot of 6% + stuff recently so I love the idea of more low ABV beers, as long as they taste good. Don't just dry hop water for the sake of making a low alcohol beer. Here are a few that I really enjoy, and was shocked to find out the alcohol content on some of them.

New Glarus Serendipity - 4%
Lindemans Peche - 2.5%
Sixpoint Jammer - 4.2%
Bells Oatsmobile - 4.3%
Brewdog Dead Pony Club - 3.8%

 

My favorite Low ABV beer "by far" is Bissell Brothers Baby Genius, at 4.0%. Wish it was available year round...