Originally, IPAs (India pale ales) were apparently brewed to a medium strength (6% or more) to survive the arduous journey from British Isles to the UK.
Nowadays though, while many brewers are still producing IPAs to similar strength, there are quite a few brewing session IPAs too.
London brewery Nirvana has taken the concept of a low-strength IPA a step – well, several steps – further with “Sutra”.
This ale breaks all the previous IPA rules at just 0.5% ABV – ironic seeing as sutra loosely translates to “rules” in Sanskrit literature.
Sutra has a cracking aroma when you pop it open, with mango and grapefruit and a smidgen of floral hoppiness.
It’s pretty lively straight from the bottle, but loses its head quickly with only a little lacing. It pours a clear golden colour.
Sutra is quite watery, which makes it a thirst-quenching drink. However, its consistency means it gives itself away as a low-ABV beer before taste comes into play. Which is a shame as there’s some good flavours there – peach, grapefruit and hops – complemented by a hint of bitterness.
The finish is quite abrupt though. I also detected a minor chemical aftertaste. But this was oddly not unpleasant and not really a flaw.
Verdict
At just 0.5% ABV, this IPA wouldn’t have survived a long trip around the Cape of Good Hope. And it probably won’t survive long in your fridge either.
That said, I much prefer Nirvana’s “Karma” pale ale – “Sutra” was a little too bland for me.
Still, it’s way better than a soft drink and a great option as a low alcohol beer. And at just 33 calories a bottle, a great option as a healthy drink too.
Key info
- Name: Sutra
- Brewery: Nirvana Brewery
- Style: IPA
- Alcohol content: 0.5%
- Calories: 33 (per 300ml)
- Carbohydrates: 5.6g (per 330ml)
- Sugar: 0.3g (per 330ml)
- Ingredients: water, barley, hops, yeast
- Country: UK
- Dispense: bottle (330ml)
- Stockists (UK): Amazon*, Dry Drinker and selected M&S stores
"Sutra" (0.5%) by Nirvana Brewery
Pros
- Low calorie
- Great aroma
- Refreshing
Cons
- A little watery