Pelican Lite IPA, a New Take on a Favorite Style

Pelican Lite IPA: Low-Calorie IPA With Full Flavor

Pelican Lite IPA arrives at an interesting time for craft beer, when drinkers still want the hop character, citrus notes and piney finish of a good IPA but are paying closer attention to calories and carbohydrates, and Pelican Brewing Company is betting there is room for a beer that checks both boxes without turning into another thin, forgettable light lager. The new Pelican Lite IPA delivers 122 calories and three grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving, while holding onto a 5.4% ABV that gives this low-calorie IPA more presence than many drinkers might expect from a lighter beer.

That is a pretty good place to start. The Pacific Northwest has a long relationship with hop-forward craft beer, and IPA drinkers in Oregon and Washington have plenty of options already, so simply putting the words lite and IPA on a can is not going to do much on its own. Pelican Lite IPA has to deliver the citrus, pine and clean, dry finish that people expect from the style while offering a genuine reduction in calories and carbs, and the brewery says it worked through several recipe variations before settling on the version now reaching retailers. It’s a balancing act, and one worth watching.

The timing also gives this launch a little more weight because Pelican Brewing Company is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, three decades after establishing its identity on the Oregon coast, where the brewery built a following around coastal brewing, destination brewpubs and award-winning craft beer.

Pelican Lite IPA represents the brewery’s first low-calorie, low-carb offering, and rather than moving into the category with a beer that barely resembles an IPA, Pelican has kept the familiar hop profile and a relatively substantial alcohol content. That could make it appealing to people who want a lighter beer after hiking, spending time at the beach or simply settling in for dinner without giving up the character that made them IPA drinkers in the first place.

No small change. Pelican Lite IPA is now available in six-packs, 12-ounce cans and draft formats at Pelican Brewing locations and select retailers across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California, with additional light versions of Pelican favorites planned for 2027. The new release puts a clear number behind the brewery’s approach to lighter craft beer, and the details on its flavor, nutrition, availability and next steps are laid out in the company’s announcement below.

First low-calorie, low-carb offering from award-winning coastal brewery centers on popular IPA style, available throughout the Pacific Northwest

PACIFIC CITY, Ore. (Oct. 15, 2026) — Pelican Brewing Company is wading into the light beer category by tackling a high-stakes beer style in the Pacific Northwest: IPA. The new Pelican Lite IPA, a full-flavored, low-carb and low-calorie brew for beer lovers, is crafted specially for the region’s active lifestyle. With three grams of carbs and 122 calories in one 12-ounce serving, this is a feel-good IPA that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. 

Featuring notes of crisp citrus and pine, with a clean, dry finish and vibrant hop character, Pelican Lite IPA is flavorful without being filling. With just a fraction of the carbs and roughly half the calories of traditional IPAs, Pelican Lite IPA could be expected to be light on taste and drinkability. However, the brew’s ABV of 5.4%, an anomaly in the light beer category, gives the beverage its body and allows it to stand up well on its own or paired with a meal. 

As Pelican celebrates 30 years in business, this new release proves the brewery’s passion for craft innovation continues to define the brand and shows no signs of slowing down. IPAs have consistently been a favorite style among the Pacific Northwest’s discerning craft brew drinkers, and formulating a recipe for a light version that would live up to PNW expectations could have a been a daunting process for some. Pelican, however, embraced the journey and experimented with several variations until finding the right recipe. 

“We set out to craft a light beer that would hit all the marks of a traditional IPA, from the first sip to the last,” said Darron Welch, Pelican’s Founding Brewmaster. “Cutting carbs and calories didn’t mean we had to scale back on the flavor experience, and as a result, beer lovers now have a wider choice in how to cap off their latest Pacific Northwest adventure.” 

Pelican Lite IPA is brewed and packaged in Pelican’s Tillamook production brewery and is available in six-packs, 12-ounce cans, 50-liter kegs and 1/6 barrels at all Pelican Brewing locations and select retailers throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California. The new low-cal, low-carb IPA is already hitting store shelves. Find a local retailer by visiting pelicanbrewing.com/beer-finder/. 

Light versions of other Pelican favorites will join the lineup in 2027. 

Related Pelican Brewing news from mybeerbuzz.com:
Pelican Brewing Company has been busy during its 30th anniversary year, and Pelican Lite IPA fits into a wider story of new beer releases, returning fan favorites and continued growth along the Oregon coast.

Read more in our previous coverage of Pelican Brewing Adding Pelican Lite IPA, Pelican Brewing Company Celebrates 30 Years Since “Born at the Beach”, Pelican Brewing Unveils Two New Spring Beer Releases, Pelican Brewing’s New Rotating Bottle Series Featuring Flock Favorite Brews, and Pelican Brewing Yachats Neighborhood Pub Opens. These stories cover the brewery’s expanding lineup, its anniversary celebrations, its IPA releases and its growing presence along the Pacific Northwest coast.

About Pelican Brewing Company

Born at the beach in 1996, Pelican Brewing Company is celebrating 30 years as Oregon’s only beachfront brewpub and one of the state’s most-decorated breweries (450+ awards). Playful but not frivolous, Pelican brews with purpose, passion and deep respect for the craft.

The brewery operates coastal restaurants in Pacific City, Cannon Beach, Siletz Bay, Rockaway and Yachats; a production facility and taproom in Tillamook. Pelican beers can be found at Pelican locations and in stores across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California. Learn more on the Pelican Brewing website or Instagram.

Pelican Brewing Company has spent three decades building a reputation for award-winning craft beer, coastal hospitality and a brewing identity closely connected to Oregon’s Pacific coastline. Founded in Pacific City, Oregon, in May 1996, Pelican began as a beachfront brewpub and grew into one of the state’s most recognized craft breweries. Its history combines independent brewing, destination restaurants, adventurous beer styles and a commitment to producing beer that reflects the character of the Oregon coast.

The brewery’s original Pacific City location helped establish Pelican Brewing as a destination for craft beer drinkers, travelers and locals looking for good food and fresh beer beside the Pacific Ocean. That connection to the coast remains central to the company’s identity. Pelican has developed its business around the idea that a brewery can be more than a place to make beer; it can also be a gathering place where the surrounding community, regional food and craft brewing come together.

Pelican Brewing Company is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, marking a major milestone for the Oregon brewery. Over the years, the company has earned more than 450 awards, establishing a strong record of recognition across its diverse portfolio of craft beers. Pelican’s approach combines traditional brewing knowledge with a willingness to explore new recipes, seasonal releases and distinctive interpretations of familiar beer styles.

India pale ale remains an important part of the craft beer conversation throughout the Pacific Northwest, where drinkers have developed a longstanding appreciation for hop-forward beers featuring citrus, pine, tropical fruit and balanced bitterness. Pelican Brewing has continued to work within that tradition while giving its brewers room to experiment. Its beer lineup has included a broad range of ales and lagers, along with specialty releases that reflect changing tastes and the brewery’s own history.

The launch of Pelican Lite IPA in October 2026 adds another dimension to that portfolio. As the company’s first low-calorie, low-carb offering, Pelican Lite IPA addresses drinkers looking for a lighter nutritional profile without leaving behind the character of an IPA. The beer contains 122 calories and three grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving, with an alcohol content of 5.4% ABV. Its advertised flavor profile includes crisp citrus, pine and a clean, dry finish. The release demonstrates how Pelican is applying its experience with craft beer to a category that puts greater emphasis on calories, carbohydrates and everyday drinkability.

Pelican Brewing has also expanded beyond its original beachfront brewpub, developing a network of coastal restaurant locations and production operations. Its locations include Pacific City, Cannon Beach, Siletz Bay, Rockaway Beach and Yachats, alongside its production brewery and taproom in Tillamook, Oregon. These locations give visitors opportunities to experience Pelican beer alongside food and coastal hospitality, while the production facility supports distribution to a broader regional market.

The brewery’s reach extends beyond its restaurants, with Pelican beers available through retailers across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Northern California. This distribution allows the company to serve both customers visiting the Oregon coast and craft beer drinkers who want to find its products closer to home.

Pelican Brewing Company’s 30th anniversary year also provides an opportunity to revisit established favorites and introduce new products. The brewery has continued to explore returning beers, new releases and variations on familiar styles, including plans for additional light versions of Pelican favorites in 2027. These projects connect the company’s history with its effort to respond to evolving consumer preferences.

Three decades after opening in Pacific City, Pelican Brewing Company remains closely associated with Oregon coastal craft beer. Its combination of award-winning brewing, destination locations and ongoing recipe development has helped establish a recognizable place in the Pacific Northwest beer community. With Pelican Lite IPA, the brewery is adding a lighter option to its lineup while retaining the hop character and full-flavored approach that have long been part of its identity.

For more information about the brewery, its beer lineup and current availability, visit the official Pelican Brewing Company website

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