Have you joined us at The Brewer’s Lounge or Socibowl to try Damp yet? If not – there’s no time like the present!
Damp, first released for our 10th anniversary celebrations, is a refreshing and delicious low alcohol IPA. Clocking in at 2.5% ABV, yet chocked full of flavor and not lacking in mouthfeel, Damp represents our passion for innovation and our dedication to crafting beers that everyone can enjoy (and enjoy more than one of!).
After a recent production meeting where we discussed our planned tweaks to Damp – and the potential future of the beer – we thought we should share some background on our low alcohol IPA, and why we hope you’ll be just as excited about it as we are.
The journey of Damp began in late February of 2020 when Michael, one of the three amigos here, first tried a low alcohol IPA at Arizona Wilderness Brewing. It was love at first sip… and through the second stein worth! A delicious beer that you can drink – and drink – and drink – without getting sloppy? With just enough alcohol to add body and flavor, and perhaps the slightest “buzz,” this first experience with low-alcohol IPAs led Michael to begin pestering the brewers immediately for a Pigeon Hill IPA that came in under 3% ABV. Unfortunately, things were shaken up a bit industry-wide in March of 2020, and the idea of a low-alcohol IPA fell by the wayside…. Until the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Conference in January of 2024.
At the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Conference, renowned beer expert Charlie Bamforth spoke about his passion for low alcohol beers. He highlighted that for him, these beers make just as much—if not more—sense than their non-alcoholic counterparts. As an Englishman who knows a thing or two about “session drinking,” Charlie’s wisdom truly resonated with the entire Pigeon Hill crew. We agreed that, for us, it wasn’t necessary to drink alcohol free beer, but the ability to enjoy a great beer with all the flavor and less alcohol… that’s a winning combination!
As beer enthusiasts, we understand the joy of savoring multiple beers with friends and family. However, high alcohol content can sometimes limit the fun – not to mention bring about potential health concerns as we all find ourselves getting older. For us, drinking is not typically about getting “drunk” – it’s about enjoying the flavors we love, relaxing, and socializing. That’s where Damp comes in. With a lower alcohol content, you can enjoy more of what you love without the worry of overindulgence. It’s the perfect choice for those long, leisurely afternoons spent with good company – or the occasional pint at lunch! You can certainly enjoy just one, but if you’re like us and frequently enjoy an afternoon with friends and a few pints – Damp allows you to have those pints without the guilt (or concern).
And, speaking of “guilt,” an added benefit of lower alcohol – at least in the case of Damp – is that it also contains significantly fewer calories than a typical pint! While we have not had Damp laboratory tested (and therefore cannot advertise a specific calorie count), we’re quite confident that it contains 50% fewer calories than a pint of a typical IPA.
In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion in the popularity, availability, and quality of non-alcoholic beers. They provide a great option for those who are not able to drink alcohol (and almost all of us keep non-alcoholic beers in the fridge at home for those nights when we “want a beer” but have no need for the alcohol). However, for those who enjoy the taste of beer but wish to temper their alcohol intake, a low alcohol IPA like Damp is an excellent alternative. It bridges the gap by offering a truly genuine and satisfying beer experience with a moderated alcohol content. As we’ve seen, almost all NAs – even the ones we truly enjoy – can leave something to be desired. There are definable traits in the flavor profile and mouthfeel of beer that come from the alcohol itself. By limiting, but not eliminating, the alcohol content, we’re able to strike a balance between the reasons we choose to grab an NA beer and the flavors that made us fall in love with beer in the first place.
Of course, creating the perfect low alcohol IPA is a meticulous process, and Damp is currently in the research and development phase. We’re now on our third batch, making incremental improvements to the flavor and mouthfeel with each batch. If you do join us to sample it, be sure to use the QR code to provide feedback – we’re taking all of your feedback into account as we hone Damp into the perfect balance. In the long run, Damp might be our go-to IPA (it already is for many of us), but we want to ensure that all of you enjoy it just as much as we do!
