Drop Bear Tropical IPA
By Drop Bear Beer Co · UK
Drop Bear’s IPA: a 0.5% West Coast-style IPA that, in Drop Bear’s words, showcases “the very best of US hops”. It promises citrus and tropical fruit with a balanced bitter finish, and has just 15 kcal per 100ml. Vegan and labelled gluten-free.
At 0.5% ABV, this isn’t alcohol-free under UK guidance, which keeps the term for 0.05% or less. We list it with alcohol-free beers, as UK shops do. How UK labels work
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What is Tropical IPA?
Tropical IPA is the hoppiest of Drop Bear’s four core beers. Drop Bear describes it as a West Coast-style IPA with “the very best of US hops”, though it doesn’t name the varieties, brewed on malted barley with wheat and oats.
Drop Bear sums it up as “Hoppy, tropical, punchy”: citrus and tropical fruit, stone fruit and a bright, clean, balanced bitter finish. Dry Drinker describes it as hazy golden, with tropical fruit, citrus and pine.
It has 15 kcal per 100ml (49 kcal a can) and 0.1g of sugar; compare it with other IPAs in our calorie comparison tool. Drop Bear says every batch tests under 20ppm of gluten and that it uses no animal products.
Dry Drinker had it in stock when we checked, and Drop Bear sells it direct; Wise Bartender lists it but was sold out. For more hoppy options, see our ranking of the best alcohol-free IPAs.
Flavour Profile
A guide based on the style and Drop Bear’s description (hoppy, tropical, punchy, a balanced bitter finish) and its label (0.1g of sugar per 100ml), to help you compare at a glance — not a definitive tasting.
Nutrition
| Typical values | Per 100ml | Per 330ml can |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 64 kJ / 15 kcal | 49 kcal / 210 kJ |
| Fat | 0.2g | 0.7g |
| of which saturates | 0.1g | 0.4g |
| Carbohydrate | 1.9g | 6.3g |
| of which sugars | 0.1g | 0.33g |
| Protein | 0.2g | 0.8g |
| Sodium | 3.7mg | 12.2mg |
Figures from Drop Bear’s product page, checked October 2026. Drop Bear gives sodium rather than salt.
Key facts
| Official name | Tropical IPA (Drop Bear calls it a West Coast-style IPA) |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Drop Bear Beer Co, UK |
| Style | West Coast-style IPA |
| ABV | 0.5% |
| Pack | 330ml can (4, 12 and 24 packs) |
| Calories | 15 kcal per 100ml; 49 kcal / 210 kJ per 330ml can |
| Carbohydrate | 1.9g per 100ml |
| Sugar | 0.1g per 100ml |
| Ingredients | Water, malted barley, wheat, oats, hops, yeast |
| Hops | US hops (varieties not named) |
| Allergens | Barley, wheat and oats |
| Vegan | Yes: Drop Bear says it uses no lactose or animal products |
| Gluten | Labelled gluten-free: Drop Bear says each batch tests under 20ppm, though it’s brewed with barley, wheat and oats |
| How it’s made | Drop Bear says its own process brews and ferments the beer to 0.5% ABV, “and nothing more”; it gives no more detail |
| Brewed | Drop Bear’s brewery in Llansamlet, Swansea |
| UK availability | In stock online |
Sources: Drop Bear’s product page, Dry Drinker and Ocado, checked October 2026. The label on the can is always the final word.
How Tropical IPA sits in the Drop Bear range
| Beer | Style | Per 100ml | Unhopped score | UK status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzu Pale Ale | American-style pale ale with yuzu | 11 kcal | 8.5 | In stock online |
| Tropical IPA (this beer) | West Coast-style IPA | 15 kcal | 8.3 | In stock online |
| Bonfire Stout | Stout with smoked malt | 17 kcal | 8.3 | In stock online |
| New World Lager | Lager hopped with New Zealand hops | 14 kcal | 7.9 | In stock online |
| Guava Cut Lager | Lager cut with guava | 16 kcal | 8.0 | From the brewery’s own shop |
| Peach Cut Lager | Lager cut with peach | 18 kcal | 7.9 | At Morrisons and the brewery’s shop |
| Pink Grapefruit Cut Lager | Lager cut with pink grapefruit | 22 kcal | 8.0 | Sold out when we checked |
All 0.5% ABV. Checked October 2026; scores are Unhopped ratings out of 10. Drop Bear’s Raspberry Cut Lager isn’t in our directory yet.
About Drop Bear
Drop Bear was founded in Swansea in 2019 by Joelle and Sarah Drummond, who started brewing alcohol-free beer in their kitchen. It brews in its own brewery in Llansamlet, Swansea, the former Tomos Watkin site, which it took over in 2023, officially opened in January 2024 and calls the UK’s largest alcohol-free brewery. Every beer is 0.5%, vegan and labelled gluten-free (under 20ppm), and Drop Bear has been a certified B Corp since 2021.
See all Drop Bear beers →Read our Drop Bear review →Track every beer, discover your taste archetype, join the community.
Door 11 of our alcohol-free advent calendar. Drop Bear Tropical IPA is one of the 24 beers in the calendar you can build yourself, chosen from the highest scorers in our reviews. Our alcohol-free advent calendar guide has the other 23, and the ready-made calendars on sale this year.
