Craft beer lovers jumping on the Soul Tone beer train

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Craft beers can be full of flavor, but they can also be full of alcohol. Some of the top craft brews can boast ABVs of more than 5%, with some even higher than 10%. 

Even light beers, like Coors Light or Miller light, can have an ABV of above 4%. 

So, what does a person do when they want to extend a night out with friends, or stay refreshed on the golf course without overdoing it? 

A group of local brewers have come up with an answer that not only answers that question but has proved to be a solid business decision as Americans seek to drink less alcohol. 

Pottstown‘s Sly Fox Brewing Company and Pivo Nova Brewing, a Lehigh Valley beverage innovation company, have launched Soul Tone beer, a craft brew that has a very low ABV of 2.5%. 

Julie Kester of Pivo Nova said they were inspired by their own personal preferences. She said she and her husband, Tom, love craft beer, “but we just couldn’t do the 8% beers anymore.” 

Tom Kester said developing a craft brew that was naturally low in alcohol was a process that took more than a decade. 

He said other similar products like light beers or non-alcoholic beers reduce or eliminate the alcohol content by watering down the beer or filtering out the alcohol. 

But, he said, that changes the taste. 

“N/As have a flavor component because the alcohol has been removed,” Kester said. “I wanted to brew a flavorful beer with no artificial process.” 

And it seems like the brewers have tapped into a market trend. 

According to a 2025 report from data analytics company Circana, nearly half of adults aged 21+ aim to reduce their alcohol consumption. 

It’s a trend that already has been brewing in Europe. 

Kester pointed to a 2025 study from the United Kingdom that showed 50% of consumers prefer two mid-strength drinks over one full-strength option, and 13% are choosing to extend their evenings by only drinking mid-strength beverages. 

Back in 2019 some lower alcohol beers were introduced to market, but Peter Giannopoulos, president of brewery operations at Sly Fox, said they really didn’t take off. 

But the market is changing, and he now said he sees low-alcohol beers taking a bigger chunk of the market as regular craft beer sales stagnate. 

“I think this will take off in a big way,” Giannopoulos said, pointing to non-alcoholic beers as an example. “Non-alcoholic beer is bigger than anyone would have thought five years ago.” 

And Soul Tone is making a splash in the market. 

It’s currently available in nine counties in Pennsylvania including spots in Allentown, Reading and Lancaster. 

“For people who’ve tried it, it’s been truly mind-blowing,” said Giannopoulos. “It has 2.5% alcohol, but it tastes like a beer that’s closer to 5%. You’d expect it to be diluted, but you’re not sacrificing anything.” 

Giannopoulos said at the recent Sly Fox Bock Fest and Goat Race he got to see firsthand how people were enjoying the lower-alcohol beer. 

He had one customer come to his beer tent six times (over the seven-hour event) to buy Soul Tone. 

The man said he was thrilled to be able to enjoy a good tasting craft brew without having to worry about a high alcohol content and his wife was happy “she wouldn’t have to go home with a drunk.” 

The response has been so good that some of the bars who stocked kegs of the beer have already run out and many distributers of the canned beer have also run out of the first delivery. 

Soul Tone currently comes in two varieties, a hoppy West Coast–style IPA and a crisp German–style pilsner. 

While there are no concrete plans to expand the offerings, Giannopoulos said with the success of the initial launch they are looking into developing other craft brew styles. 

Giannopoulos said the brews are really aimed at a broad audience. There is a cross over market, he said. Nine out of 10 non-alcoholic beer drinkers also drink lower-alcohol beer,” he said. 
“They’re having a beer, but they’re controlling their alcohol consumption,” Giannopoulos said. 

Greg Kester of Pivo Nova said he expects now that Soul Tone is on the market it will grow in popularity. 

“There are so many occasions when Sole Tone is the perfect option,” he said, noting that beer lovers can enjoy a couple of craft brews without worrying about a hangover. 

He said Soul Tone Beer‘s 2.5% ABV ushers in a new era of responsible enjoyment and thinks it is ideal for workplace events, family gatherings, and situations where traditional ABV levels may be a concern.