The best lower-ABV summer beers in St. Louis

Schlafly’s latest innovation, Shorty’s Small IPA, is a full-flavored brew clocking in at just 3.0% ABV. Head brewer Jared Williamson says it’s all about balance: “We wanted to make something you can enjoy more than one of without sacrificing taste.” That mindset is catching on across the St. Louis region, with craft brewers embracing the trend of beers that deliver complexity and character at a lower ABV. Whether to beat the summer heat or sip more responsibly, the appeal is clear: Lagers, kölsches, English milds, and fruited sours (often naturally lower in alcohol) are being reimagined by local brewers eager to deliver flavor-forward, drinkable options for any occasion. Even IPAs are joining the party, with session versions packing hop character into a smaller ABV package. The following list is a snapshot of what’s currently on tap across the metro area, including local beers brewed at 4.5% ABV or less.

4 Hands Brewing Company

• Single Speed / 4.0% / American blonde ale
• Full Life Lager / 4.5% / American lager
• Field Day / 4.5% / Blonde ale with Alora hops
• On Cue / 4.5% / Gose with hibiscus and cucumber

Arch Nemesis Brewing

• Unsolicited / 4.5% / ESB

Bluewood Brewing

• Lemp Lager / 4.0% / American lager with German Perle hops
• 1821 Mild / 3.9% / English dark mild ale

Busch Family Brewing & Distilling

• Kraftig Light / 4.2% / German-style Helles lager

Charleville Brewery & Winery

• Basic Blonde Ale / 4.5% / Blonde ale
• Strawberry Blonde Ale / 4.5% / Fruited blonde ale with strawberry
• Peach Blonde Ale / 4.5% / Fruited blonde ale with peach
• Pineapple Mango Habanero Blonde / 4.5% / Fruited blonde with heat
• Half Wit Wheat / 4.5% / Belgian/American wheat hybrid

Crossroads Brewery

• Plaid Shorts / 4.4% / Lager – clean, crisp, and sessionable

Deep Sleep Brewing

• Helles Half-Life / 4.4% / Munich Helles lager

Ferguson Brewing Company

• Golden Blonde / 4.5% / Golden ale

Good News Brewing

• Pub Ale / 4.2% / English-style pub ale
• No Pomegranates! / 3.9% / Fruited Berliner Weisse

Goodwood Brewing

• Louisville Lager / 4.2% / American lager

Hopskeller Brewing Company

• Hang Glider Light Lager / 3.7% / Light lager
• Breath of Heather / 3.7% / Scottish-style ale

Logboat Brewing

• Lite Logger / 4.0% / American light lager
• Giraffe / 3.8% / Fruited tropical ale

Main & Mill Brewing Co.

• Green Chile Ale / 4.0% / Spiced ale
• Blood Orange Blonde / 4.0% / Fruited blonde ale

Millpond Brewing

• Old Millstadt / 4.5% / Light lager
• ·Old Millstadt Apple / 4.5% / Light lager with apples

Modern Brewery

• Crush Puppy / 4.5% / Kölsch-style ale
• Matadora / 4.2% / Vienna lager

Narrow Gauge Brewing

• Dark Mild / 3.0% / British-style mild ale
• Kitters / 4.1% / American light lager
• Raspberry Meersalz / 4.2% / Fruited Gose
• Saft / 3.8% / Berliner Weisse with tropical fruit

Old BridgeView Brewing

• Love You Long Time / 4.2% / Japanese-style rice lager
• It’s Gose Time – Margarita Style / 4.3% / Gose with citrus peel

Rock Horse Brewing

• O.G. Jones Welsh Pale Ale / 4.5% / Welsh-style pale ale

Schlafly Beer

• Raspberry Hefeweizen / 4.1% / Fruited wheat beer
• Pale Ale / 4.4% / British-style pale ale

Urban Chestnut

• Tangerine Radler / 4.0% / Radler with tangerine
• Li’l Fritz / 4.0% / Citrus wheat beer
• Zwickel Light / 4.0% / Light lager
• Ku’damm / 4.2% / Berliner Weisse