Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Goose Island So-Lo IPA (Review)

If you’ve been following along on mybeerbuzz.com, you’ll recognize a new trend we’ve been covering since Fall 2019.  Quite simply, I’m calling that trend “healthy beer.”  It makes perfect sense, and with the overwhelming popularity nationwide of Light (and Lite) beers, it only makes sense that this is already a huge category.  If you’re also following along on our weekly live terrestrial radio show the WILK Friday BeerBuzz, you’ll also note that we’ve been featuring these beers in Jan 2020.
Today I’m really excited to get my hands on a new beer coming to the category, and this one comes from Goose Island in Chicago, IL.  The beer will be called So-Lo IPA and it is a great example of a healthy beer.  This beer combines the popularity of the IPA category with the the growing “healthy” category and creates one brew that I suspect will become very popular.
Goose Island So-Lo IPA will hit 98 calories and 9g carbs per 12oz serving, and at 3%-AbV it has to be one of the most sessionable beers I’ve encountered.  But don’t let these stats fool you, So-Lo IPA is loaded with hop flavor and it has a really satisfying mouthfeel.  In other words, if you didn’t read the can, you’d never know that this beer is low-calorie and low AbV.
So-Lo IPA pours a light golden color with loads of citrus and a bit of passion fruit in the aromas.  The flavors lead with a bright tangerine citrus presence and just a touch of earthy and grassy hop notes; and finishes with a well-balanced citrus hop profile.  The mouthfeel is soft and welcoming and I was really surprised to find that So-Lo only hits 23 IBU.  The beer definitely tastes and feels much hoppier and it even finishes a bit bitter and dry as well.
Overall I think Goose Island So-Lo IPA is a really well-balanced and drinkable beer that just happens to be an IPA and just happens to be “healthy.”  The finish is crisp and clean and the mouthfeel and low AbV make for a really drinkable beer.  This is perhaps one of my favorite beers so far in the “healthy” category and I suspect it will become very popular in 2020.
Goose Island So-Lo will be available nationwide in 2020 in 12oz cans so get out there and try this one for yourself.  And when you do try it, be sure to let us know what YOU think.