The quest to find a low-calorie beer that manages to approximate a decent beer continues. This time, Monday Night is coming around to show me what they can do. The beer is a respectable 90 calories, and the ABV has plummeted to 3.2%. I am no expert in how to make an India Pale Ale, but I'm pretty sure 3.2% means that they just watered down a real IPA. I think I'm setting myself up for disappointment.
The pale yellow beer is quite hazy, and it occurs to me that I don't think I've seen a beer this pale also bring haziness to the table. The head is ferocious and unrestrained as it froths forth from the can in an unrepentant swelling of large and medium bubbles. The bubbles reliably leave lacing on the side of the glass, and an unmoving pillow grows thick around the walls of the glass. The aroma is citrus fruit rind and a bit of a tropical funk.First sip is spiky and tart with a bitter backend that seems to smooth out a bit. I can't say I particularly like the sip, but it's not objectively offending. It seems like this is going to go the route of the beers that try way too hard to seem like they are regular beers and consequently would not easily be confused with a regular beer.
Tip-in is carbonation fury with lemon zest and ... not much else. The middle is watery and vaguely acidic with tartness and an increase in carbonation rage. It is at this stage than I would hasten to point out that, ordinarily, an increase in the amount of head means a decrease in the carbonation buzz during drinking; that does not appear to be the case here. The finish is where the burning ceases and a bitterness seeps in.
Bottom Line: I can think of better ways to enjoy 90 cal.
1.0/5