BEER REVIEW: 442

BREWER: Greene King, Suffolk, England

STYLE: Session IPA

ABV: 3.4%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE OF POST: 27th March 2026

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m glad that once the tin is turned Greene King have explained what the name Prior Life is all about. If they hadn’t I think I would have thrown the beer at the wall, but they have, so I haven’t…

As explained by GK, Prior Life is a nod to their original master brewers, the Benedictine monks. These cats threw down low ABV beer by the gallon back then as basically, it was safer to drink than water. Fair enough!

And although I’m not really a fan of Greene King beer normally, I have to say that Prior Life is not at all bad. And for a 3.4% offering that could easily have fallen on its face out the traps, I was pleasantly surprised.

The big plus for me here is that for such a low strength brew, there is body and there is a linger in the aftertaste with no suggestion of falling off of a cliff. Impressive I have to say.

Taste is predicably simple with flecks of citrus but I’m ok with that, as this is a perfectly pleasant drop.

In one word… affordable fridge filler that would suit many an off the cuff situation.

Jymi’s Rating: 59%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Greene King and “craft” don’t usually sit together naturally in my mind. They tend to dabble in what feels like macro‑craft, polished, safe, and rarely memorable. So I cracked open this 3.4% all‑day IPA with expectations firmly in check. And then… it surprised me.

The nose is the first hint that something different is going on. A bright citrus lift leans toward lime, and for such a low‑ABV beer it’s genuinely impressive. It looks the part too: clean in the glass with a solid, confident head. The can information is actually interesting, and you get the sense they’ve thought about how to present this beer rather than just ticking boxes.

Flavour-wise, it keeps things simple but effective. There are some subtle tropical notes in the body, nothing showy, but enough to keep it from feeling thin. The lime returns on the finish, giving a refreshing snap that works well at this strength. The mouthfeel is better than expected for 3.4%, avoiding that watery hollowness that plagues many low‑ABV attempts.

What stands out most is how inoffensive it is in the best possible way. It doesn’t try to be a hazy juice bomb or a hop grenade. It just delivers a clean, easy, genuinely enjoyable light IPA. And honestly? I’d happily have it again as a low‑impact option. Suddenly that 2024 World Beer Award (England) makes sense.

It’s not complicated, it’s not groundbreaking, but for a 3.4% beer from Greene King, it’s quite the pleasant surprise.

Sammy’s Rating: 70%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 64.5%

MOB review next weekend: STEADY ROLLING MAN by DEYA

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2026