Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing 19.2OZ

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing 19.2OZ is a hazy imperial IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. at 9.5% ABV in a 19.2 oz single-serve can. Built on the foundation of the wildly popular Hazy Little Thing, this bigger sibling amplifies everything — more hop intensity, more tropical character, and a higher gravity that pushes into imperial territory while remaining dangerously drinkable. With over 76,000 ratings on Untappd and a solid 3.7 out of 5 score, it has quickly found a devoted audience among hop-forward beer drinkers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.5%  |  Origin: California, United States  |  Style: Hazy Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., founded in 1980 by Ken Grossman in Chico, California, is one of the most influential craft breweries in American history. Big Little Thing uses a grain bill of Pale, Wheat, and Munich malts with Two-row Pale malt, hopped generously with Mosaic, El Dorado, Comet, and Citra varieties. What sets the brewing process apart is Sierra Nevada's aggressive mashing technique, which yields a higher ratio of fermentable to unfermentable sugars — allowing yeast to metabolize nearly all available sugar, boosting ABV while cutting residual malt sweetness. Dry hopping during active fermentation triggers biotransformation, a process in which yeast cells chemically alter hop compounds to unlock entirely new tropical and fruity aromas that define the beer's character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A wave of tropical fruit hits immediately — ripe pineapple, candied orange peel, and a subtle white-grape sweetness. Behind the fruit, there is a soft berry undertone and a faint honeydew melon quality that adds complexity.

Taste: The entry is juicy and citrus-forward, with prominent orange and grapefruit flavors meeting a touch of lime. At mid-palate, pineapple and maraschino-like sweetness emerge, balanced by the wheat malt's pillowy softness. Despite the 9.5% ABV, the finish of the mashing process keeps residual sweetness in check, letting the hops dominate without cloying malt weight.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering tropical citrus and a hint of yuzu-like bitterness that dries the palate gently. A soft berry sweetness fades last, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Big Little Thing

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint to fully release the aromatic hop oils; drinking temperature around 45–50°F keeps the tropical notes vibrant without letting the alcohol heat dominate. For a straight-from-the-can experience, the 19.2 oz stovepipe format is designed for exactly that. While hazy imperials are best enjoyed on their own, Big Little Thing can anchor a few creative serves: a Hoppy Michelada with lime, hot sauce, and Tajín, where the citrus hops amplify the classic Mexican beer cocktail format; a Tropical IPA Shandy blended with fresh mango or guava juice to lean further into the fruit character; or a Beer-a-Rita, where a splash of Big Little Thing replaces the standard lager in a beer margarita, adding haze and hop bitterness as a counterpoint to the lime and salt.

Best For

• Tailgating or game-day drinking where a single high-ABV can replaces multiple beers
• Sharing with hop-obsessed friends who already know and love Hazy Little Thing
• Backyard barbecues where bold, tropical flavors stand up to smoky, grilled food
• Exploring the imperial hazy IPA category from a trusted, widely available craft brewer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Big Little Thing taste like? Big Little Thing delivers a juicy, tropical-citrus flavor profile dominated by orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and honeydew melon, with a soft malt backbone and restrained bitterness that keeps it smooth despite its 9.5% ABV.

How does Big Little Thing compare to Hazy Little Thing? Big Little Thing is the imperial-strength version of Hazy Little Thing, jumping from 6.7% ABV to 9.5% ABV with a more intense hop character and deeper tropical fruit complexity, while Hazy Little Thing remains lighter, more sessionable, and lower in alcohol.

Is Big Little Thing good for sipping? Yes — the biotransformation dry-hopping process and clean fermentation make this imperial IPA remarkably smooth for its strength, rewarding slow sipping from a glass where the aromatic complexity can fully develop.

Where is Big Little Thing made? Big Little Thing is brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., headquartered in Chico, California, with additional brewing operations at its Mills River, North Carolina facility; the beer is distributed nationally across the United States.

What foods pair well with Big Little Thing? Spicy fish tacos work well because the citrus hops mirror the lime and cut through the heat. Smoked pulled pork complements the beer's tropical sweetness. Thai green curry finds balance against the juicy hop bitterness. Sharp cheddar cheese contrasts the soft, hazy mouthfeel. Grilled pineapple or mango desserts echo the fruit-forward hop character.

What sizes does Big Little Thing come in? Big Little Thing is available in this 19.2 oz single-serve stovepipe can, as well as in 6-pack 12 oz can formats.

Is Big Little Thing worth the price? Big Little Thing positions as a premium single-serve craft beer, and the 19.2 oz format at 9.5% ABV delivers substantial volume and strength for the price point — competitive within the imperial hazy IPA category from a nationally recognized craft brewery.

Why Big Little Thing?

The biotransformation dry-hopping technique is the defining production detail here: by introducing Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado, and Comet hops during active fermentation rather than after, Sierra Nevada coaxes out tropical aromas and flavors that conventional dry hopping simply cannot achieve. Combined with an aggressive mashing process that strips away residual sweetness, the result is an imperial IPA that drinks cleaner and more fruit-forward than many peers at similar ABV. Sierra Nevada's four-decade brewing pedigree and consistent quality control give Big Little Thing a reliability that smaller-batch hazy imperials often lack. For drinkers who love Hazy Little Thing and want a bolder, more concentrated expression of that same hop-driven philosophy, this is the logical next step.