Bell's Light Hearted Ale 6Pk

Bell's Light Hearted Ale 6Pk is a lo-cal IPA from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, available in six-packs of 12 oz cans at 3.7% ABV. Conceived as a sessionable riff on the iconic Two Hearted Ale, Light Hearted maintains serious hop intensity while cutting the alcohol nearly in half — earning a 3.62 on BeerAdvocate and over 39,700 ratings on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 3.7%  |  Origin: Comstock/Kalamazoo, Michigan  |  Style: Lo-Cal 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. Light Hearted is brewed with a malt bill of Two Row, Munich, C-40, and Pale Ale malts, hopped with both Centennial and Galaxy varieties, and fermented with Bell's proprietary house ale yeast. The brewing team discovered that Light Hearted fermented significantly faster than their other beers, which forced them to rethink the dry-hopping schedule — moving it earlier in fermentation to capture the full aromatic potential of the hops. That adjustment proved pivotal, producing a cleaner, more expressive hop character in the finished beer.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus leads immediately, with zesty orange peel and fresh grapefruit zest giving way to dank, green notes of pine and freshly cut grass. The hop bouquet is remarkably full for such a light-bodied beer.

Taste: The entry is juicy and citrus-forward, bursting with orange sections and grapefruit. Mid-palate, a smooth, almost creamy pine character develops alongside moderate bitterness. The malt backbone is lean and restrained, providing just enough structure to frame the hops without adding sweetness.

Finish: Extremely dry and crisp, with high bitterness that lingers cleanly. A subtle grittiness — reminiscent of a well-made lager — rounds out the close, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for another sip.

How to Drink Light Hearted Ale

Serve cold, ideally between 40–45°F, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to open up the hop aromatics. Light Hearted's low ABV and high drinkability make it a natural fit for extended sessions.

• Michelada: The dry, bitter profile stands up to hot sauce, lime, and Clamato without getting lost.
• Beer Shandy: Mix with fresh lemonade — the citrus hops amplify the lemon notes beautifully.
• Hop Skip (beer cocktail): Combine with a splash of grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt for a low-ABV poolside drink that highlights the existing citrus character.

Best For

• IPA lovers looking for full hop flavor without the higher ABV
• Backyard cookouts and long afternoon sessions in warm weather
• Stocking a fridge for game-day crowds who want craft quality over mass-market light beer
• Weeknight drinking when you want one or two flavorful beers without the heaviness

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Light Hearted Ale taste like? Light Hearted delivers bold citrus — orange peel, grapefruit zest — alongside pine and fresh grass, finishing extremely dry and crisp with pronounced bitterness for its weight class.

How does Light Hearted Ale compare to Founders All Day IPA? Both are session IPAs, but Light Hearted runs slightly lower in ABV (3.7% vs. 4.7%) and leans drier and more bitter, while Founders All Day IPA carries a touch more malt sweetness and a rounder body. Light Hearted also uses Galaxy hops alongside Centennial, giving it a more tropical and dank hop profile compared to All Day's more straightforward citrus-and-pine character.

Is Light Hearted Ale good for beginners? Its low alcohol and approachable body make it sessionable, but the high bitterness and extreme dryness may challenge drinkers unfamiliar with IPAs. Those comfortable with hop-forward beers will find it very easy-drinking.

Where is Light Hearted Ale made? Light Hearted Ale is brewed by Bell's Brewery in Comstock, Michigan, just outside Kalamazoo. Bell's has operated in the Kalamazoo area since its founding in 1985.

What foods pair well with Light Hearted Ale? Grilled chicken or fish tacos benefit from the citrus hop character. Spicy Thai noodles are tempered by the beer's dry, palate-cleansing finish. A sharp cheddar or aged gouda echoes the malt's subtle nuttiness. Fresh ceviche mirrors the bright citrus aromatics. Classic pub burgers hold up well against the assertive bitterness.

What sizes does Light Hearted Ale come in? Light Hearted Ale is widely available in six-packs of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format.

Is Light Hearted Ale worth the price? Light Hearted positions as an accessible craft session IPA, priced competitively within the lo-cal and session IPA segment. For drinkers who want genuine craft hop character at under 4% ABV, it represents strong value — delivering complexity that most light beers in this calorie range simply cannot match.

Why Light Hearted Ale?

What separates Light Hearted from the growing field of low-calorie IPAs is the brewing pedigree behind it. Bell's didn't simply water down an existing recipe — they engineered a new malt bill and recalibrated their dry-hopping schedule after discovering the beer's unusually fast fermentation, a process adjustment that directly improved hop expression in the final product. The result is a 3.7% ABV beer that punches well above its weight in aroma and bitterness, carrying a genuine family resemblance to Two Hearted Ale. In a category crowded with compromise, Light Hearted proves that low-alcohol craft beer doesn't have to mean low-flavor craft beer.