Loch Lomond - Alcohol Free Southern Summit APA

Not to be confused with the brewery's 4% ABV version, this Scottish beer arrives in a 440ml can and the ABV is just 0.5%. There is a light floral character to the aroma. The Citra and Summit hops combine to give a citrussy flavour, with also a touch of herb and tropical fruit; all held in place by the malted barley and wheat. Low carbonation means that the beer has a light mouthfeel, whilst the finish is both clean and slightly sweet. Southern Summit is certainly an ascent worth making in order to quench a thirst. 

3 / 5

Mash Gang / Northern Monk - American Pale Ale

This 0.5% ABV collaboration arrives in a 440 ml can, a very shiny can in fact, making the verbiage quite difficult to read. The listed ingredients are New World hops, malted barley, wheat, oats and maltodextrin. The head is lost soon after pouring. Grapefruit is the main aroma from the APA and which continues on into the taste with an added zing of lemon. The body is slight and there is a little too much fizz going on. It has a bitter finish, but not excessively so. For me, it lacks the character that I would expect in an APA. 

2 / 5

Wookey Brewing Co - Elixir American IPA

Based in Wells in Somerset, Wookey Brewing Co offer up this 0.5% ABV American IPA (an APA?) in a 440ml can. It is vegan and contains Citra, Cascade and Columbus hops - fairly typical of American Pale Ales. The slightly hazy beer creates a big foaming head upon pouring but it soon tempers itself. There is a keen tropical fruits aroma, as one might expect given that combination of hops. On the tongue the malty base gives a smooth and well-rounded mouthfeel with only slight carbonation.  As to the taste, there is an impressive mix of bitter citrus, sweet lychee and fresh herbs together with that signature APA piney character. The finish is quite bitter but not in an overbearing manner. Overall, Elixir is a punchy addition to the AF market. 

4 / 5

Maryensztadt - Freeky APA

Maryensztadt brewery is based in Poland and this particular 0.5% ABV beer comes in a 440ml can and is pasteurised but unfiltered. Ingredients listed are essentially malts, hops and yeast. The nose is strongly of tropical fruits, which then translates into a very fruity beer on the palate, particularly perhaps pineapple and mango. There is a thick and sugary mouthfeel that leads to a particularly sweet finish. I'm not sure that I would call this an American Pale Ale. It certainly has the fruitiness associated with an APA, but there's no real bitter, pine or resinous notes, whilst the sweetness seems overly to the fore. 

2 / 5

Big Drop - Wildtrack APA

Out of the 330 ml can comes this 0.5 % ABV vegan American Pale Ale from Big Drop and boasting Chinook, Centennial and Columbus hops, together with oats, barley and maltodextrin. On the nose there are floral and earthy aromas but nothing too prominent. Tastewise, Wildtrack has the citrus profile that one would expect from an APA as well as the pine resin base. The beer looks rather gassy and indeed the mouthfeel is somewhat too effervescent and decidedly watery. There is a slight liquorice note to the finish. Wildtrack is drinkable enough but it is let down by the very thin body. Not one of the best from the East Anglian brewer. 

2 / 5

C'84 Brew Co - 24 Hour IPA

C'84 is a long-established traditional brewer that is also involved with the AF side of the brewing industry. They recently collaborated with Lowtide to produce the excellent Who Let The Bees Stout. 24 Hour IPA (apparently Project 6) comes in a 330 ml can, has an ABV of 0.5 % and has a rich golden colour with a good sustaining head. The aroma is decidedly piney and resinous, mixed in with mango and guava. The use of Amarillo, Simcoe and Cascade hops gives the beer a well-rounded citrussy and piney taste (not that I've ever eaten any pine) supported on a malty base. It is a medium-bodied beer and the finish is hoppy but not harsh. Much as I enjoyed this I would, in a blind tasting, call it an American Pale Ale (APA) rather than an IPA given its overall character. Trivial point, but there you go. A definite score of 5 for Project 6.

5 / 5

Shipyard - Low Tide APA

Although Shipyard is an American brewery, Low Tide APA is brewed for the UK market under licence by Marston's. The beer has a bright golden appearance and possibly the worst excuse for a head ever seen. Expect low carbonation. The aroma is sufficient to declare that this is an American Pale Ale, being about as hop-forward as it is possible to get. The fruitiness is quite sweet so maybe mango or papaya? In the mouth, there is indeed a lack of carbonation, making it a rather thin and watery brew. However the taste is excellent. Sitting on a smooth caramel base, Low Tide is a veritable tropical fruit salad. The aftertaste is a little bitter, attended by some moderate sweetness.

4/5

Infinite Session - Pale

This is an American Pale Ale (APA) straight outta London, England. The body is a deep orange colour and with a modest white head that soon subsides. The first sniff gives a malty hit and a hint of the hops ahead. There are several American (naturally!) hops in this Pale, which burst into fruity bloom on the palate, softened by a slight caramel undertone. As expected, the aftertaste is quite dry. A very refreshing brew.

4/5