Which IPA has the lowest calories? A Guide to Session and Light IPAs

With many traditional IPAs containing over 200 calories per 12-ounce serving, the quest for a hoppy, flavorful, yet low-calorie option has driven a new wave of craft brewing innovations. In this guide, we dive into the data to determine which IPA has the lowest calories, exploring a range of session and light IPA options that don't sacrifice taste for a slimmer nutritional profile.

Quick Summary

This article explores the landscape of low-calorie IPAs, comparing several brands that have successfully reduced calorie counts without compromising on flavor. We break down the factors that influence beer calories, such as ABV and brewing methods, and highlight top choices like Evil Twin's Bikini Beer and Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty, alongside other sessionable alternatives.

Key Points

• Evil Twin Bikini Beer is a Top Contender: With an ABV of just 2.7% and a reported calorie count of 81 per 12-ounce serving, Evil Twin's Bikini Beer is one of the lowest-calorie IPAs on the market.

• ABV and Carbs Drive Calories: Calories in beer come mainly from alcohol and residual carbohydrates. Lowering ABV and carefully managing fermentation are key to creating a low-calorie IPA.

• Dogfish Head Uses Monk Fruit: Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA achieves a robust flavor at just 95 calories per 12 oz by using monk fruit, a zero-calorie sweetener, to amplify body and complexity.

• Session IPAs Offer a Balanced Option: For those seeking moderate calories and full flavor, session IPAs like Lagunitas DayTime (98 cals) and Bell's Light Hearted Ale (110 cals) provide excellent, hop-forward choices.

• Hazy Can Still Be Light: Brands like Oskar Blues One-y prove hazy IPAs can be low-calorie. Their 100-calorie hazy IPA is dry-hopped to deliver a fruity and juicy experience.

• Innovation Drives Flavor: To overcome the flavor and body challenges of lower ABV and calorie content, brewers use techniques like advanced dry-hopping and novel ingredients, ensuring a satisfying taste.

Understanding the Calories in IPAs

Before pinpointing the lowest-calorie option, it's crucial to understand where the calories in beer come from. Primarily, they are derived from two main sources: alcohol and residual carbohydrates. Alcohol contains approximately 7 calories per gram, making it a highly concentrated source of energy. As a result, beers with a higher Alcohol By Volume (ABV) naturally contain more calories. The remaining calories come from carbohydrates left over from the fermentation process, which includes residual sugars and starches from the malt.

Brewers create low-calorie IPAs, or "session IPAs," by carefully managing these two elements. They achieve a lower ABV by using less fermentable sugar in the brewing process and may use special yeast strains or filtration techniques to reduce residual carbohydrates. To compensate for the potential loss of body and flavor, many of these brewers use late-addition hops or dry-hopping to maximize aroma and taste without adding calories. Some, like Dogfish Head, even use exotic ingredients like monk fruit to enhance flavor without adding sugar.

Top Contenders for the Lowest Calorie IPA

The market for low-calorie IPAs has grown significantly, offering drinkers a variety of options that prove you don't have to choose between flavor and fitness. Here are some of the leading brands known for their low-calorie offerings.

Evil Twin Bikini Beer

Often cited as one of the lowest-calorie options available, Evil Twin's Bikini Beer pushes the limits of what a light IPA can be. Despite its very low 2.7% ABV, it manages to deliver a surprisingly flavorful experience with peppery lemon and citrus notes. Its light body and crisp finish make it an ideal choice for a sunny day when you want a craft beer without feeling heavy.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty

Dogfish Head is a pioneer in the craft beer space, and their Slightly Mighty IPA is a testament to their innovation. At just 95 calories per 12-ounce can, this IPA achieves a mighty hop character with the help of monk fruit, a zero-calorie natural sweetener. This allows them to create a full-flavored, tropical IPA with notes of pineapple, coconut, and mango, all while keeping the calorie and carb count exceptionally low.

Lagunitas DayTime IPA

Lagunitas offers a hop-forward session IPA that is both crisp and drinkable, with only 98 calories and 3 grams of carbs per serving. This beer is brewed with Centennial and Citra hops, which provide a bright, citrus-forward flavor profile. Its moderate 4% ABV makes it highly sessionable, perfect for extended social gatherings.

Other Notable Low-Calorie IPAs

• Oskar Blues One-y Hazy IPA: A 100-calorie hazy IPA with 4% ABV, featuring flavors of citrus zest and tangerine from a blend of El Dorado, Comet, and Citra hops.
• Bell's Light Hearted Ale: A balanced and aromatic low-calorie IPA with 110 calories per 12 oz, showcasing citrus and pine notes from Centennial and Galaxy hops.
• Firestone Walker Flyjack: This hazy IPA offers a soft, fluffy flavor profile with candied strawberry and tangerine notes for 96 calories and 4.0% ABV.
• Summit Triumphant Session IPA: A flavorful, 95-calorie IPA with tropical fruit notes and balanced bitterness.

Low-Calorie IPA Comparison Table

Brand	Style	ABV (%)	Calories (12 oz)	Key Flavors	Key Calorie Reduction Method
Evil Twin Bikini Beer	Session IPA	2.7%	~81	Lemon, grapefruit, resinous pine	Very low ABV, dry, crisp finish
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty	Lo-Cal IPA	4.0%	95	Pineapple, coconut, mango, citrus	Use of monk fruit, lower malt bill
Summit Triumphant Session IPA	Session IPA	4.0%	95	Pineapple, grapefruit, apricot	Low ABV, careful malt selection
Lagunitas DayTime IPA	Session IPA	4.0%	98	Citrus, tropical fruit, hop-forward	Lower ABV, dry-hopped for flavor
Oskar Blues One-y	Hazy IPA	4.0%	100	Orange peel, tangerine, citrus zest	Low ABV, use of specific hops
Bell's Light Hearted Ale	Session IPA	3.7%	110	Citrus and pine	Lower ABV, balanced malt and hops
Firestone Walker Flyjack	Hazy IPA	4.0%	96	Candied strawberry, tangerine	Shares brewing process with Mind Haze

Choosing the Right Low-Calorie IPA

Choosing the best low-calorie IPA depends on your personal taste preferences. If your primary goal is the absolute lowest calorie count, Evil Twin's Bikini Beer is a strong contender, though its very low ABV and light body may not satisfy every hop lover. For a slightly more robust, yet still very low-calorie, option with fruity notes, Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty is a standout due to its use of monk fruit to enhance complexity without extra carbs.

For those who prefer a more traditional session IPA flavor profile with a higher, but still moderate, calorie count, Lagunitas DayTime and Bell's Light Hearted offer excellent, reliable options. Hazy IPA fans aren't left out either, with Oskar Blues One-y delivering a hazy, juicy experience at only 100 calories. The best approach is to try a few different brands to find which flavor profile, hop character, and body best suit your palate.

Conclusion

The title of the lowest-calorie IPA often goes to options with an exceptionally low ABV, like Evil Twin's Bikini Beer at just over 80 calories. However, a beer's appeal goes beyond its calorie count. For most drinkers, the ideal low-calorie IPA is one that balances a lower caloric intake with a satisfying flavor and aroma profile. Brands like Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty and Lagunitas DayTime have perfected this balance, using innovative techniques to maintain a bold hop character despite a lighter nutritional profile. The growing number of high-quality session and light IPAs on the market proves that you can indeed enjoy the distinctive hoppy flavors of an IPA without the high-calorie cost of its full-strength counterparts. The Association of Brewers provides further resources on beer styles and brewing practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary factor that makes an IPA low in calories?

The primary factor is a lower Alcohol By Volume (ABV). Alcohol provides a high number of calories, so reducing the ABV is the most direct way to lower a beer's calorie count.

How do brewers make low-calorie IPAs taste good?

Brewers use various techniques to maintain flavor, such as heavy dry-hopping to maximize hop aroma and flavor without adding calories. Some also use zero-calorie ingredients like monk fruit to add body and complexity.

Does a session IPA always mean it's low in calories?

Not necessarily, but most session IPAs are lower in calories than standard IPAs. The term 'session' refers to a beer with a low enough ABV that you can have several in a 'session' without becoming overly intoxicated. As lower ABV leads to fewer calories, they often overlap.

Are hazy IPAs typically low in calories?

Traditional hazy IPAs are often higher in calories due to residual sugars and the use of grains like oats and wheat. However, some brewers, like Oskar Blues with their One-y, have developed specific low-calorie hazy options.

Where do the calories in beer come from?

The calories in beer primarily come from the alcohol, which provides approximately 7 calories per gram, and from residual carbohydrates (sugars and starches) that are not fully fermented.

Can low-calorie IPAs still have a high bitterness?

Yes, they can. Bitterness is measured by the International Bitterness Units (IBU) and is derived from hops. Brewers can add more hops late in the process (dry-hopping) to increase bitterness and aroma without contributing significantly to the calorie count.

Is there a taste trade-off with low-calorie IPAs?

There is a potential trade-off in body and mouthfeel, as the beer is less dense due to lower carbohydrates. However, many modern brewers are very skilled at compensating for this, and many drinkers find the lighter body and crisp finish to be a desirable characteristic.