At the end of 2019, we polled a number of brewers throughout the state about the trends they expected to see in 2020. One of the more common themes we saw was brewers commenting on the rise of low ABV beers in the new year.
And so far, 2020 has seen an incredible amount of low ABV options hit the market. Below are breweries throughout Pennsylvania who have released a low ABV option. (List split between geographic areas of the state)
State Wide Distribution
Yuengling – “Flight” (4.2% ABV)
“Raise the bar with the next generation of light beer. FLIGHT by Yuengling is easy-drinking, clean, crisp, and refreshing. FLIGHT is only 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 4.2% ABV.”
Available: virtually everywhere in PA

Free Will Brewing – “Sun Servants” (5.1%)
Helles Lager – Brewed with a base of pilsner and a variety of specialty malts, hopped with Loral, then cold conditioned for weeks. Notes of floral honeysuckle, white grape, lemongrass, and hay.
Available: at the taprooms in Perkasie and Lahaska, PA, and wherever their cans are distributed, as well as available to order for delivery anywhere in PA.

Free Will Brewing – “Kragle Light” (4%)
All the hop flavor you’ve come to know and love with Kragle, in a reimagined way. 98 calories, only 1 gram of carbs, and 4% ABV. Citra, Simcoe, and Columbus hops combine to create juicy aromatics and a crisp citrus flavor. This is the beer summertime’s calling for – all day, any day, anywhere. Craft you can live with.
Available: at the taprooms in Perkasie and Lahaska, PA, and wherever their cans are distributed, as well as available to order for delivery anywhere in PA.

Levante Brewing – “Birra Di Levante” (5%)
“A fine Pilsner is crafted from water with terroir. West Chester provides our brewery with such a pure water source that we hardly manipulate our water profile to achieve the characteristics of a true Bohemian-style Pilsner, lagered and further clarified through filtration. True to classic style, Tettnang hops brighten this crisp golden-straw hue Pilsner with earthy aromatics of noble spice.”
Available: at the brewery in West Chester, PA, Mercury and wherever their cans are found
Victory – “Easy Ringer” (4.3%)
“Drinking crisp and light with little bitterness and tons of hop character, notes of passionfruit and citrus wow the crowd. The anytime crusher. Crisp and light at 4.3% ABV, the low bitterness and fruity notes make tossing a few back look easy.”
Available: at their breweries throughout the state and wherever Victory cans are found

Troegs – “DreamWeaver Wheat” (4.8%)
“Our dream begins with open-top fermentation. At high krausen, a foamy, rocky yeast head crests the sides of the fermenter releasing notes of black pepper and spicy clove. Unfiltered and cloudy with yeast, it’s slightly tart and downright refreshing.”
Available: at the brewery in Hershey, PA and wherever Troegs is found

New Trail – “Lazy River Pils” (4.4%)
Lazy River Pils is an American Pils brewed with the German style in mind and with an American twist. It is brewed with German Pilsner malt, German Munich malts, and hopped assertively with a blend of German and American hops. Lazy River is brewed in the constant pursuit of a more delicious beer flavored beer. Enjoy on a hot day or cold one, just make sure this beer is cold.
Available: at the brewery in Williamsport, PA and wherever New Trails cans are found

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Western, PA
Four Points – “4P LIGHT” (4.5%)
“4P LIGHT is our year-round AMERICAN LIGHT LAGER brewed with local malt from CNC in Butler, and local Cascade. This beer is crisp and refreshing with notes of cracker, grain and sweet corn. We’re super excited about this one!”
Available: at the brewery in Charleroi, PA

Quinn Brewing – “Braddock’s Blonde” (4.6%)
“A crisp blonde ale hopped exclusively with Cascade hops. Refreshing and clean with just enough hop presence to make it interesting.”
Available: at the brewery in Irwin and taproom in Shanksville, PA

Eleventh Hour – “Bönnsch” (4.9%)
Born of a very specific German style of beer brewed in Bonn, this beauty is a merge of a Kölsch and a Belgian wit beer with an upfront hint of citrus, a slightly fruity aroma, a clean wheat and pilsner taste and a crisp finish. A very unique beer that is great in the summer but perfect winter drinker. Fun fact, the only other well known brewing of this style is found in Bonn, Germany!
Available: at the brewery in Lawrenceville, PA

Stick City – Variety
“We’ve been putting quite an emphasis on low ABV beers a few as of late. We have a 4.2% English best bitter-Itchen, a new 3.9% micro session IPA [unnamed as of now], and a micro session stout – named Micro at 4.5% (which is being released for the 2nd time). We focus on capturing big flavor and complexity in a smooth, full beer, even at low abv. These are in addition to our patiently made lagers which fall in the 4-5% range.
They’re a big challenge to brew correctly, but that’s what we enjoy – the process. Furthermore, they aren’t the big hitters on untappd; however, folks in taproom have been loving them. We all find ourselves drinking more and more of them.” – Nick Salkeld, Owner/ Head Brewer
Available: at the brewery in Mars, PA

Burgh’ers – “1890 Lager” (4.7%)
“This beer pays homage to our first baseball team, the Pittsburgh Burghers. They played for only one year in 1890 before the leagues consolidated and they became the Pirates. Before becoming the pirates the Burghers did some shady trading to acquire a big time player from another team and the news characterized their actions as “piratical” and the Pirates name stuck to this day.”
Available: at the breweries in Zelienople and Lawrenceville, PA

Stone Bridge – “Brigadier Cherry Blonde” (4.6%)
“This cherry blonde is in collaboration with the Skirted Soldier Tea Company, a female, veteran-owned local tea company. This is a blend of cherry and hibiscus giving a sweet initial flavor and a grapefuity finish at 4.6% abv.”
Available: at the brewery in Johnstown, PA

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Central, PA
Lindgren Craft Brewery – “Lindgren Lager” (4.2%)
“Lindgren Lager is rapidly becoming one of our best sellers. I’ve had numerous people that are “scared” of craft beer and this has been a great brew for those that don’t drink IPAs. Even people who are IPA drinkers are fans because it’s something that they can keep going back to for more.” Michael Lingren, Owner/ Head Brewer
Available: throughout Lindgren’s distribution in Duncannon, PA

Pour Man’s – “Ja’Crispy Kolsch” (5%)
Crisp and crushable German style ale brewed with Pilsner malt and hopped with Hallertau and Saaz hops.
Available: at the brewery in Ephrata, PA

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Eastern, PA
Workhorse Brewing – “Pure” (4.1% ABV)
“This is our first Light Beer offering at Workhorse and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! Inspired by the flavors, techniques, and ingredients of Japanese sake, Pure is light, clean, crisp and full of flavor. A nod to tradition, both subtle and complex, it’s just over 115 calories for a 12oz pour and is incredibly refreshing.”
Available: at the brewery in King Of Prussia, PA and wherever their cans are found

Broken Goblet – “Pwyll” (4.5%)
“This shapeshifter was moderately hopped with cascade and chinook, and is the best example of “sessionable” we have ever brewed. Super easy to drink, apparently super hard to pronounce, it launches in 16oz 4pks on Friday when we open.”
Available: at the brewery in Bristol, PA and wherever their cans are found

Warwick Farm – “F.Y.T Pils” (5.0%)
“Our award winning Unfiltered Pils that uses flavorful floor malts and is hopped generously with a floral noble hop. It has a balanced malt and hop flavor that easy drinking, yet flavorful. We choose to keep this unfiltered by allowing the yeast to naturally drop over time at cold temperatures.”
Available: at the brewery in Jamison, PA

Moss Mill – “LoCal 215” (4%)
LoCal 215 is a low calorie IPA. Clocking in at 4% and calculated at under 100 calories per 12 oz serving, this IPA is citrus forward with mounds of citra, mosaic, and centenial.
Available: at the brewery in Huntingdon Valley, PA

Pottstown United – “Over Yonder Saison” (4.7%)
“Our house saison. Pilsner Malt, Wheat, and a touch of Munich malts with my favorite Belgian saison strain. Open-top fermented to increase esters”
Available: at the brewery in Pottstown, PA

McAllister Brewing – “Gras Mähen Pilsner” (4.2%)
“Pale lager first brewed in 1842 in Bohemia. Crystal clear, with a malt forward taste that finishes with the noble hop bitterness of Saaz and Tettnanger. A great lawnmower beer!”
Available: at the brewery in Lansdale, PA

Perkiomen Valley Brewery – “Yarrow Field Ale” (5%)
“This pleasantly herbal beer clocks in at 5% ABV. Brewed with Pilsner and Vienna, hopped with Perle, and fermented with Yarrow so it would taste classic and rustic like the early fall fields it came out of.”
Available: at the brewery in Green Lane, PA

Round Guys – “Lansdale Lager” (4.8%)
“Crisp and Golden with a frothy white head. Enjoy this tasty, light bodied lawnmower beer anytime of the year.”
Available: at the brewery in Lansdale and Glenside, PA

Brother’s Kershner – “Porch Ale” (4.7%)
“Our beloved Flagship American Pale Ale inspired by days like these! Clockin in at a breezy 4.7%, bringing a light malt backbone and a sunny dose of Mosaic hops!”
Available: at the brewery in Skippack, PA

Locust Lane – “Fluffy Sunshine” (4.8%)
A cloudy hoppy pale ale with floral aromas brewed with Citra, Simcoe, and Cascade hops producing flavors of citrus and grapefruit. The addition of Keystone and Spelt malts provide an easy going mouthfeel.
Available: at the brewery in Malvern, PA and wherever their cans are found
