Light Beers

Hello,
Newbie here. Does anyone have experience creating low/lower calorie beers?
I'd like to create a hoppy (low calorie) beer. Thanks in advance>

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
-------------------------------

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

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 5.00 Wort Size (Gal): 5.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 6.75
Anticipated OG: 1.035 Plato: 8.87
Anticipated SRM: 10.7
Anticipated IBU: 28.0
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70 %
Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Pre-Boil Amounts
----------------

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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-----

White Labs WLP002 English Ale


Mash Schedule
-------------

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

Saccharification Rest Temp : 154 Time: 60
Mash-out Rest Temp : 168 Time: 10
Sparge Temp : 170 Time: 60


Total Mash Volume Gal: 2.40 - Dough-In Infusion Only

All temperature measurements are degrees Fahrenheit.

I think Biermuncher was making a 100 calorie beer, but I'm not quite certain. Maybe search through his postings, or send him a PM asking about it.

The Honey Light Lager in my recipes is 132 calories for 12 oz and pretty quaffable. Got a silver medal at a small contest with it.

+1 for the English Bitter!

GT