I have brewed some low gravity beers: OG 1036-1040 and they are easy enough-I would caution the "hoppy" part. The brew needs balance and light beers are generally not hoppy because the balance between the malt and hops get thrown off. Probably the best lower gravity beer that has nice hop character and is not too bitter is ironically called Ordinary Bitter. This is an English session style ale that is light and flavorful with just enough hops to not overpower the malt.
You can also brew a golden ale and use hops at the end of the boil if your looking for hop aroma and flavor over bitterness . Personally I prefer the Bitter.
Here the All grain Bitter recipe: (Sub about 3lbs DME for the pale malt if doing extract)
Ordinary Bitter
A ProMash Recipe Report
BJCP Style and Style Guidelines
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04-A Bitter & English Pale Ale, Ordinary Bitter
Min OG: 1.030 Max OG: 1.038
Min IBU: 20 Max IBU: 40
Min Clr: 6 Max Clr: 14 Color in SRM, Lovibond
Evaporation Rate: 12.00 Percent Per Hour
Pre-Boil Wort Size: 6.10 Gal
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.029 SG 7.31 Plato
Grain/Extract/Sugar
% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
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88.9 6.00 lbs. Pale Malt Halcyon Great Britain 1.038 3
7.4 0.50 lbs. Crystal 120L America 1.033 120
3.7 0.25 lbs. Special Roast Malt America 1.033 40
Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.
Hops
Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
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0.80 oz. Goldings - E.K. Pellet 5.00 19.7 60 min.
0.50 oz. Goldings - E.K. Pellet 5.00 6.3 30 min.
0.50 oz. Goldings - E.K. Pellet 5.00 2.1 1 min.
0.25 oz. Goldings - E.K. Plug 4.75 0.0 Dry Hop
Yeast
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White Labs WLP002 English Ale
Mash Schedule
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Mash Type: Single Step
Grain Lbs: 6.75
Water Qts: 7.43 - Before Additional Infusions
Water Gal: 1.86 - Before Additional Infusions
Qts Water Per Lbs Grain: 1.10 - Before Additional Infusions
Light Beers
Linear Mode
