Pelican Lite Kiwanda Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale Coming To Cans

Pelican Lite Kiwanda Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale Coming To Cans

Pelican Brewing Company is taking one of its best-known beers in a lighter direction, and this one looks like it could be an interesting addition to the brewery’s lineup. The Oregon coast brewery is getting ready to bring Pelican Lite Kiwanda Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale to 12-ounce cans, offering a lighter version of its flagship Kiwanda beer with just 99 calories and a sessionable 4.3% ABV.

That’s a pretty interesting move.

The new Pelican Lite Kiwanda is being introduced as a pre-prohibition cream ale, a style that brings some traditional American brewing history into a modern package. Cream ales have been around for generations, and while the name might suggest something heavy or overly sweet, the style is generally known for its approachable character, clean finish and easy drinkability. Pelican appears to be taking that familiar foundation and giving it a lighter modern approach.

The brewery is keeping Mt. Hood hops in the picture, which is an important connection to the original Kiwanda beer. Those hops are known for their floral character and work well in traditional American beer styles where the goal is balance rather than overwhelming bitterness. The label describes the new beer as crisp and balanced, with brilliant gold color, floral aroma and a clean finish. That sounds like a pretty straightforward drinking experience, and honestly, that’s exactly what a beer like this should deliver.

Pelican Lite Kiwanda also arrives with numbers that will get the attention of people looking for lighter beer options. The new cream ale checks in at 4.3% ABV and contains just 99 calories per 12-ounce serving. Carbohydrates are listed at 2.5 grams per serving, making this a particularly interesting option for drinkers who pay attention to nutritional information when choosing a beer.

Not a bad package.

What makes this release worth watching is the connection to Kiwanda, which has been part of the Pelican Brewing story since the brewery opened in 1996. The original Kiwanda Cream Ale helped establish the company’s identity, and the beer remains one of its recognizable offerings. Rather than simply introducing another unrelated light beer, Pelican is taking an established name and building a different drinking experience around it.

That is a smart way to approach a new product, especially in a beer market where consumers have plenty of choices and breweries are competing for attention from drinkers who may not necessarily want a higher-alcohol IPA or a heavily flavored seasonal release.

The pre-prohibition description is another interesting part of this beer. American cream ales have roots in the period before Prohibition, when regional breweries were producing approachable ales that could compete with the increasingly popular lagers. The style eventually became a familiar part of American brewing, with a light body, restrained bitterness and refreshing finish. Pelican’s version appears to be leaning into those characteristics while keeping the calorie count low.

The can artwork also makes the product’s identity pretty clear. The bright orange design, prominent Pelican Brewing logo and large Kiwanda branding give this beer a different look while retaining the familiar coastal brewery identity. It is a 12-ounce can, and the packaging puts the 99-calorie and 2.5-carb information front and center.

Pelican Brewing has built much of its reputation around beers that connect with the Oregon Coast, and Kiwanda is a natural place to experiment with a lighter offering. The original beer has a long history with the brewery, so there is already some recognition behind the name before this new version even reaches store shelves.

I also like that Pelican isn’t trying to turn this into something complicated. A lighter cream ale, familiar Mt. Hood hops, a clean finish and a reasonable alcohol level are enough to give this release its own identity.

Now we need to see it on shelves.

Pelican Lite Kiwanda Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale is coming to 12-ounce cans from Pelican Brewing Company in Tillamook, Oregon. The beer is listed at 4.3% ABV, 99 calories and 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving. Pelican has not provided a specific retail release date in the information accompanying this can, so stay tuned for additional availability details.

Label Text Pelican Lite Kiwanda::

PELICAN BREWING

KIWANDA
PRE-PROHIBITION CREAM ALE

BORN AT THE BEACH

Our home is the beach, where in 1996 the original Pelican Brewing Company was born. Today we have taken our breweries and our values to other Oregon coastal towns where we wake up each day in a place that reminds us that amazing is possible. Cheers fellow fanatics. This is as good as it gets.

99 CALORIES
2.5 CARBS

Stay light and keep it classic with Pelican Lite Kiwanda Cream Ale – a new spin on Pelican Brewing’s flagship beer. Kiwanda’s signature character meets a lighter approach, with only 2.5 carbs and 99 calories. With each sip enjoy the timeless satisfaction of Mt. Hood Hops paired with a clean, snappy finish. Ensure you’re ready for adventure with Pelican Lite Kiwanda.

CRISP AND BALANCED

• Brilliant Gold Color
• Floral Aroma
• Clean Finish
• Excellent Drinkability

PER 12 FL. OZ. AVERAGE ANALYSIS:
Calories: 99
Carbohydrates: 2.5 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Fat: 0.0 g

BREWED AND CANNED BY PELICAN BREWING COMPANY

Tillamook, Oregon
503.842.7007
www.pelicanbrewing.com

4.3% ALC. BY VOL.
CONTENTS 12 FLUID OUNCES

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

Related Pelican news from mybeerbuzz.com:
Pelican Brewing has a long history with Kiwanda Cream Ale, and MyBeerBuzz previously covered the brewery’s expansion of its flagship beer into larger retail packaging. Readers can revisit our earlier coverage, Pelican Brewing Releasing Kiwanda Cream Ale in 12-Packs, for more background on the original Kiwanda beer, its pre-Prohibition cream ale roots and Pelican’s Oregon brewing history. The new Pelican Lite Kiwanda brings that familiar beer identity into a lighter 99-calorie, 4.3% ABV package.

About Pelican Brewing Company

Pelican Brewing Company is an Oregon craft brewery with deep roots on the Pacific Coast, a history that began in 1996 when the company opened its original brewery and beachfront brewpub in Pacific City, Oregon. Built around the idea of bringing great beer and coastal living together, Pelican Brewing has grown from a small beachside operation into one of the recognizable names in Oregon craft beer, developing a portfolio of traditional ales, modern IPAs, lagers, seasonal releases and specialty beers.

The brewery’s identity has always been closely connected to the Oregon Coast. Its original location near Cape Kiwanda gave the company a distinctive setting and helped establish the personality behind the Pelican Brewing name. The coastal environment, local community and outdoor lifestyle remain important parts of the brewery’s approach, reflected in its Born at the Beach identity and the beers it produces.

One of Pelican Brewing’s most recognizable beers is Kiwanda Cream Ale, a flagship release inspired by traditional American pre-Prohibition brewing. The beer was developed around a classic American style that became popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when ale breweries were competing with the growing popularity of lager. Cream ales offered drinkers a refreshing alternative, combining ale fermentation with a lighter, cleaner drinking character.

Pelican’s original Kiwanda Cream Ale became an important part of the company’s identity. Brewed with Mt. Hood hops, the beer is known for its golden color, floral hop aroma, refreshing body and clean, snappy finish. The brewery’s approach to Kiwanda demonstrates an interest in traditional American beer styles while maintaining the drinkability expected from a modern craft beer.

That brewing philosophy extends across the company’s portfolio. Pelican produces a wide range of beers, including Beak Breaker Double IPA, Tsunami Export Stout, Sea’N Red Irish-style Red Ale, Raspberried at Sea Ale, Head Out Hefeweizen and several rotating seasonal and specialty releases. The lineup gives Pelican room to work across traditional brewing styles while also introducing new flavors and experimenting with different ingredients and brewing approaches.

Hops are an important part of the brewery’s identity, particularly in its American ales and India pale ales. Mt. Hood hops have a longstanding connection to Kiwanda, while other releases explore different hop varieties and combinations to produce distinct aroma, bitterness and flavor profiles. Pelican’s beers range from approachable everyday offerings to stronger, more assertive releases intended for drinkers looking for bigger flavors.

Pelican Brewing has also expanded its physical presence along the Oregon Coast. Its locations include Pacific City, Tillamook, Cannon Beach, Rockaway Beach, Siletz Bay and Yachats. These brewpubs and taproom locations provide opportunities for visitors and local customers to experience Pelican beers alongside food and the coastal atmosphere that helped establish the brewery.

The Tillamook facility is particularly important to the company’s brewing operation. The production brewery includes canning and bottling capabilities that support distribution of Pelican beers to retail accounts and customers throughout its regional markets. This production capacity has allowed the company to develop a broader packaged beer lineup while maintaining its connection to the original Oregon Coast brewery.

Pelican has continued to build on its established brands with new interpretations of familiar beers. Releases such as Pelican Lite Kiwanda demonstrate how the brewery can take an established product and explore a different direction without abandoning the character that made the original popular. The lighter cream ale concept brings together traditional American brewing history, Mt. Hood hops and modern interest in lower-calorie beer options.

The brewery’s approach also reflects the changing craft beer market, where consumers increasingly look for variety, recognizable brands and beers that fit different occasions. By maintaining traditional offerings while introducing new releases, Pelican continues to serve both longtime fans and drinkers discovering the brewery for the first time.

For more information about the brewery, its beer lineup, locations and upcoming releases, visit the official Pelican Brewing Company website.

From its original beachfront beginnings in 1996 to its expanding collection of Oregon Coast brewing locations, Pelican Brewing Company remains closely connected to the place where its story began: the beach, the beer and the people who enjoy both.

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