New Holland Lightpoint
New Holland Lightpoint
White Ale / New Holland Low / 3.7%
Lightpoint is a functional white ale that offers a low-calorie option without compromising full craft flavor. Brewed with coconut water, raw honey and orange peel, this refreshing brew is best enjoyed with friends after a day of hard work and exercise.
There was a time, not all that long ago, when most craft breweries were still churning out flagship beers that had just a moderate amount of alcohol within – somewhere in the 5-6 percent abv range. This can seem like a long-forgotten past, as the industry boom has resulted in beer makers on every corner attempting to stand out from the pack by being experimental and oftentimes releasing high-abv stouts, imperial IPAs, and the like. Recently, though, there has been a bit of a bounceback effect from those boozy brews, and many of the larger breweries are crafting at least one option that is lower in both calories and alcohol content. These offerings are marketed both towards health-conscious consumers and towards those who want something easier to take down during day-drinking activities.
New Holland Brewing Company, operating out of the great state of Michigan, is one of those established brands in the beer world whose beer you have likely sampled at one time or another, even if you can’t place a brew of theirs off the top of your head. In order to please the subset of drinkers looking for something lighter on the palette, New Holland has released Lightpoint, which they are classifying as a functional white ale. This ale comes in at just 86 calories per 12-ounce can and 3.7 percent abv. Through this New Holland Lightpoint review, I will let you know if this option is worth picking up for those occasion when you want something refreshing that won’t fill the belly.
New Holland Lightpoint Review
The label design that New Holland went with here is not exactly original, but it is still pleasant. Sunsets are a common sight on beers like this, which I refer to as day drinkers. This can is dominated by orange, with some other shades in a modern line design implying that you might enjoy this beer while hanging out near a body of water around dusk. There is a note underneath the front logo telling us that the recipe includes raw honey, orange peel, and interestingly, coconut water. I am curious to see how that last one affects not only the flavor but also the texture.
There isn’t a whole lot else to the label, which is a welcome sight considering how many NA and low-abv beers feel the need to use any empty space as marketing material. I am slightly surprised by the light tint of this beer when poured into a glass, however. It is a much brighter shade than that of the can, and contains just a little bit of haze. What this suggests to me is that perhaps the orange citrus notes won’t be quite as strong as I anticipated. There is a very nice fluffy head on the pour, but it dissipates rather quickly.
The aroma immediately lets me know that this beer is going to be an interesting one if nothing else. Any ideas that the coconut water would be a minor ingredient for hydration purposes only is out the window, as the scent is quite present. Other than that, the major note on the nose is citrus. This, to me, doesn’t exactly follow the appearance, but it comes in at a very tolerable level.
This is my favorite type of beer to rate, on that doesn’t exactly let me know what to expect as I heading into the tasting. It makes me excited to get on with it and answer the question, “Is New Holland Lightpoint good?”
Is New Holland Lightpoint Good?
It is extremely apparent very quickly after the liquid hits my lips what the main talking point about this functional white ale will be. This beer tastes eerily similar to a heavier version of an alcoholic seltzer. I know the intention is for this to be light, but I am really taken aback by the extent of that quality.
This isn’t to say that it doesn’t taste good. There is a reason that the alcoholic seltzer industry has exploded recently and may even be outpacing craft beer in certain areas. The citrus flavors play quite well with the coconut water, but I assume the latter is the major reason for the extreme lightness and refreshing body. The honey is a nice touch but doesn’t come in as heavy as you might expect and instead just adds a sweetness that settles in comfortably on the tongue.
Personally, I could absolutely see myself knocking back a few of these on a hot day at a cookout or out on a boat. But if it was beer that I was craving, I don’t think I would go with this option. There is essentially nothing to speak of in terms of malt, wort, or hops. The finish is clean, which is very important to me. And I can’t deny that it’s both drinkable and refreshing.
Coming up with a New Holland Lightpoint rating is going to be a real challenge for me. I’ll have to give some deep thought as to what is truly most important in a beer of this sort. Finish reading below to find out where I end up.
New Holland Lightpoint Rating
Among all of the factors that I weigh when coming up with my final grade for any drink there are two that stand above the rest – overall taste and fulfilled intentions. Obviously I can’t know exactly what the beer maker was going for when they brewed this ale, but it does matter to consumers if the product ends up being as advertised. While this offering is quite tasty, going in expecting a Blue Moon-esque white ale and ending up with what I got was a bit startling. It isn’t entirely off base, as there are some toned down elements of a white ale. They simply get overshadowed by coconut and honey qualities.
So while this brew scores rather well in the basic taste department, I could absolutely see it throwing people off who were expecting a light-bodies ale. I enjoy coconut water, but I understand that it isn’t for everybody, and since that isn’t vociferously marketed it could ruin the purchase for many. Where this lands me at the end of this New Holland Lightpoint review is at a score of 3 out of 5 stars. Tasty to me but maybe not to all.
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