Little Beer V: A Celebration Of Lower Gravity Brews

Named one of USA Today’s 10 Best Beer Festivals, the fifth installment of this craft beer institution didn’t disappoint.

An annual ode to low-gravity beers, Little Beer V took place on Saturday, March 29th, in its usual festive spot on the town green of Duluth, Georgia. Offering a departure from the typical beer festival experience, this brewer-led event, recognized by USA Today as one of the nation's top ten, distinguishes itself by its intimate atmosphere and emphasis on quality over (ABV) strength. Instead of the usual volunteer-staffed booths, festival-goers at the invitation-only Little Beer engage directly with brewers from across the country, giving the event an authenticity lacking from other cookie-cutter beer festivals.

Attending the event (hosted by Duluth’s Good Word Brewing & Public House) for our second consecutive year, we sought out a few of those attending brewers who are at the forefront of not just lower ABV beer, but beverage programs that foster inclusivity with options for everyone. Perhaps no brewery embodies this philosophy quite like Asheville’s iconic Burial Beer, which has slowly expanded its liquid choices beyond beer into coffees, wines, spirits, non-alcoholic brews, and more recently, THC waters. Just a couple of hours down state is Charlotte-based Resident Culture, which carries an award-winning selection of NA brews under their ‘NARC’ series, as well as a line of THC beverages called Cumulo. Finally, while a relative newcomer to the NA world, Atlanta-based Halfway Crooks last year released their first NA beer, Brevet Pils, after a long period of experimentation. Their taproom also includes a variety of NA options that include Ish and Parch.

For our full interviews with each of the above breweries, find our U.S. of N/A “bonus” podcast episode below. Also available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you podcast-imbibe.