Bell's Light Hearted Ale 19.2OZ

Bell's Light Hearted Ale 19.2OZ is a 3.7% ABV lo-cal session IPA from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, sold here in a 19.2oz single-serve can. Inspired by the legendary Two Hearted Ale, Light Hearted earns an 85 on BeerAdvocate and delivers real IPA character at a fraction of the calories and alcohol.

Quick Facts: ABV: 3.7%  |  Origin: Comstock, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Lo-Cal Session IPA  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery, founded in 1985 by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is one of the oldest craft breweries in the Midwest and now operates under the New Belgium / Kirin umbrella. Light Hearted was developed as a lower-ABV, lower-calorie companion to Two Hearted Ale, but the brewers deliberately avoided the shortcuts common in light beer—no corn and no rice appear in the grain bill. The malt bill features Two Row, Pale Ale, C-40, and Munich malt, the last of which was added specifically for Light Hearted to build a stronger malt foundation necessary in a lighter-bodied beer. Centennial and Galaxy hops drive the hop profile, bridging the citrus-forward American IPA tradition with tropical aromatics.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus peel—mostly orange—leads into pine resin and fresh-cut grass. A light bready malt sweetness and subtle floral hop notes round out the nose.

Taste: The entry is crisp and dry, almost lager-like in its snappiness, before a smooth, near-creamy mid-palate of piney hops and light caramel malt emerges. Zesty orange peel and juicy citrus punch through at peak, balanced by moderate bitterness that never overwhelms the lean body.

Finish: Clean, dry, and refreshingly short, with lingering pine resin and a subtle grain crispness. There is no cloying sweetness or heavy aftertaste—just a quick, encouraging nudge toward the next sip.

How to Drink Light Hearted Ale

Drink it cold, straight from the 19.2oz can or poured into a shaker pint glass to let the hop aromatics open up. This session IPA is built for volume drinking where standard-strength IPAs would slow you down. Try a Michelada riff using Light Hearted's citrus notes against lime juice, hot sauce, and Clamato for a low-ABV brunch drink. A Beer-garita—an upended Light Hearted can in a frozen margarita—works thanks to the orange peel character. It also makes an excellent Shandy when mixed half-and-half with fresh lemonade on hot afternoons.

Best For

• All-day tailgating or backyard cookouts where pacing matters
• IPA lovers tracking calories without sacrificing hop flavor
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to session-strength IPAs
• Post-workout or post-yard-work reward beers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Light Hearted Ale taste like? Light Hearted delivers pronounced citrus and pine hop character with a crisp, dry body and moderate bitterness, finishing clean without residual sweetness. It drinks closer to a well-hopped lager than a full-strength IPA.

How does Light Hearted Ale compare to Founders All Day IPA? Founders All Day IPA sits at 4.7% ABV—a full percentage point higher—and carries a heavier malt body, while Light Hearted is drier, leaner, and more citrus-forward at 3.7% ABV. Both are respected session IPAs from Michigan, but Light Hearted leans further into the low-calorie space.

Is Light Hearted Ale good for beginners? Its low bitterness relative to standard IPAs and light, approachable body make it an excellent gateway into hop-forward beer for newer craft drinkers. The 3.7% ABV also keeps the experience manageable.

Where is Light Hearted Ale made? Light Hearted Ale is brewed by Bell's Brewery in Comstock, Michigan, just outside Kalamazoo. Bell's has been a cornerstone of Michigan's craft beer scene since 1985.

What foods pair well with Light Hearted Ale? Grilled chicken or fish tacos benefit from the citrus hop character. A classic burger and fries finds balance against the dry, crisp finish. Fresh summer salads with citrus vinaigrette echo the orange peel notes. Mild cheddar or Monterey Jack cheeses complement the light malt sweetness. Spicy Thai noodle dishes are tempered by the beer's clean, refreshing body.

What sizes does Light Hearted Ale come in? Light Hearted Ale is available in this 19.2oz single-serve stovepipe can, as well as standard 12oz cans typically sold in six-packs and twelve-packs.

Is Light Hearted Ale worth the price? Light Hearted positions as an accessible, everyday session IPA and is priced in line with other mainstream craft session beers. For drinkers who want genuine IPA hop flavor with significantly reduced alcohol and calories, it represents strong value in the lo-cal craft category.

Why Light Hearted Ale?

What separates Light Hearted from the growing crowd of low-calorie beers is Bell's refusal to cut corners on ingredients—no corn, no rice, just a thoughtfully engineered malt bill anchored by the addition of Munich malt to compensate for the lighter body. The Centennial and Galaxy hop combination delivers aromatic complexity that most sub-4% beers simply cannot match. An 85-point BeerAdvocate score and nearly 40,000 ratings on Untappd confirm that this is not a novelty release but a proven, year-round staple. For anyone who has ever wished Two Hearted came in a version they could drink all afternoon, Light Hearted is exactly that beer.