There's no such thing as a session IPA.

[Jsbeckton]

I don't think beers need 6-8% + abv to taste good or have body. That said, I do love a good DIPA, Imperial, etc. but it's also nice to have a lower abv beer on some nights during the week, while mowing or doing yard work, and really hot days out in the sun.

That's what blonde, wheat and kolsch ales are for...

 

[MBasile]

Thank you! A) They're all too thin for an IPA experience, B) An IPA is a Pale Ale on steroids, tone it down and you're back at a Pale Ale

 

[thunderwagn]

That's what blonde, wheat and kolsch ales are for...

...and session IPA's

 

[Gameface]

I wish that every hoppy beer didn't have to be called an IPA.

And there's already a separate style that pretty much covers what a session IPA is trying to be, it's called an Ordinary Bitter.

Now for British beer lovers, like me, you'll generally be using UK ingredients. But you don't have to. You can use 2-row and American hops and it's still an Ordinary Bitter.

I like IPAs, I just wish every hoppy beer didn't have to be called some sort of IPA. I feel like just when BMC isn't the only kind of beer out there we're all painting ourselves into a corner calling everything a damn IPA.

 

[Jsbeckton]

...and session IPA's

I guess my point is that in my IMO it's all about balance. For me at least, you can't have that big bold flavor with a thin beer finish because it's out of balance. It's just an extension of the IPA craze and I suspect it will soon be gone.

 

[murphyslaw]

I guess my point is that in my IMO it's all about balance. For me at least, you can't have that big bold flavor with a thin beer finish because it's out of balance. It's just an extension of the IPA craze and I suspect it will soon be gone.

But if balance is really a ratio, then you can make it lighter and keep the same balance by cutting back on bitterness proportionally. You can get down to 4 or 5% without going "thin" by Increasing the mash temp and using body enhancing adjuncts. Its going to feel lighter, but thats not a flaw, its the whole purpose.

 

[murphyslaw]

I wish that every hoppy beer didn't have to be called an IPA.

And there's already a separate style that pretty much covers what a session IPA is trying to be, it's called an Ordinary Bitter.

Now for British beer lovers, like me, you'll generally be using UK ingredients. But you don't have to. You can use 2-row and American hops and it's still an Ordinary Bitter.

I like IPAs, I just wish every hoppy beer didn't have to be called some sort of IPA. I feel like just when BMC isn't the only kind of beer out there we're all painting ourselves into a corner calling everything a damn IPA.

An ordinary bitter is nothing at all like an session merican ipa. Different hop profile, different yeast profile, different color, different balance, etc.

 

[olotti]

Just try or brew braufessors NE style IPA. I've had a couple of his via trade and their solid. Taste much bigger than a 5% beer and that's session to me, it can be done but yes balance is key.

 

[b-boy]

PM me your address and I'l send you a Fat Heads Sunshine Daydream. This will change your mind.

Hmm...If anyone could do it, Fat Heads probably could. They know their way around hops.

 

[hopbrad]

ive had a bunch and have been a bit disappointed by almost all of them. Easy Jack was nice.
The best light hoppy ale ive had is Cigar City Invasion. it blows all the session ipas out of the water. stones go to i thought was terrible, bitter, but lacked flavor hops. maybe i got an old bottle.
i havent had carton boat beer yet tho. heard its legit. next trip home to NJ/PA ill seek it out

 

[specharka]

I'm calling shenanigans on this one. Prime example:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=568046

The aroma and flavor place it with Heady Topper and the like, but the ABV screams yes I'll have another.

 

[schematix]

A session IPA to me is about 6%.

 

[govner1]

I love the beer that comes packaged as a "Session IPA", but it's just hoppy pale ale.

Founders' All Day = 42 IBUs, well within the style range of an American Pale Ale (30-45). I'm sure they know full well that they're selling pale ale under a name that will move more units.

BJCP lists IBU's for English IPA @ 40-60 & American IPA @ 40-70 so the Founders is well within the style standards.

 

[m1k3]

A session IPA to me is about 6%.

The beer that I am currently passing off as a "Session IPA" is 5.5%.

94% Pilsner
6% Dextrose
Mosaic at 60 and Flameout
4oz Citra Dry Hop (per 5 gallons)
US-05 yeast

I know... it's not an IPA but "Session IPA" fits on the Tap List and it's easier to explain to people.

 

[schematix]

94% Pilsner
6% Dextrose

Wow that's a dry grain bill. Is that the session part or you just like it dry?

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

My go-to session IPA recipe uses 2-row, pils and victory. Warrior bittering, citra/cascade hop stand and dry hop - 4.5% ABV, 50 IBU. It balances well with good aroma and flavor and is light without being thin. I don't always want to be knocked on my a$$ with bitterness. Sometimes I just want a reasonable suggestion of it. Especially when I can enjoy it over several beers and still be able to stand

 

[ong]

I really love the Session IPA. To me it's what a pale ale ought to be, dripping with juicy hops flavor and aroma. I never seem to enjoy pale ales anymore -- I want them to have some damn flavor!

I brew a lot of hoppy pale/SIPA beers, but the only commercial one I've had recently is Fort George Big Guns. That's a great beer!

I typically brew them almost as SMaSH recipes, just base malt, low mash temp (~150), sometimes even an overnight mash to really dry them out. Generally a smallish bittering charge and a big ok hop steep.

 

[schematix]

How much does everyone use in their "session" hop steep & dry hop?

 

[Gameface]

The beer that I am currently passing off as a "Session IPA" is 5.5%.

94% Pilsner
6% Dextrose
Mosaic at 60 and Flameout
4oz Citra Dry Hop (per 5 gallons)
US-05 yeast

I know... it's not an IPA but "Session IPA" fits on the Tap List and it's easier to explain to people.

I'd call that a British Golden Ale (12A), just a tad higher abv than guidelines, but not so much that you'd get points taken off for it.

Overall Impression: A hop-forward, average-strength to
moderately-strong pale bitter. Drinkability and a refreshing
quality are critical components of the style.

Vital Statistics: OG: 1.038 – 1.053
IBUs: 20 – 45 FG: 1.006 – 1.012
SRM: 2 – 6 ABV: 3.8 – 5.0%

 

[murphyslaw]

I'd call that a British Golden Ale (12A), just a tad higher abv than guidelines, but not so much that you'd get points taken off for it.

With us05?

I think that fits the session ipa category perdectly.

I dont think us05 gives you the right profile for a british golden ale, nor would citra give the typical hop profile.

 

[Gameface]

With us05?

I think that fits the session ipa category perdectly.

I dont think us05 gives you the right profile for a british golden ale, nor would citra give the typical hop profile.

A British Golden Ale doesn't have the caramel or ester profile of most British ales. And it specifically mentions that American citrus flavored hops are common.

Flavor: Medium to medium-high bitterness. Hop flavor is
moderate to moderately high of any hop variety, although
citrus flavors are increasingly common. Medium-low to low
malt character, generally bready with perhaps a little biscuity
flavor. Caramel flavors are typically absent. Little to no
diacetyl. Hop bitterness and flavor should be pronounced.
Moderately-low to low esters. Medium-dry to dry finish.
Bitterness increases with alcohol level, but is always balanced.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Absolutely can't stand it but I know its marketing more than anything. Ive had people ask if we have any IPAs then straight up walk out instead of even trying the APA. But they'd buy the same beer all day if it was a "session IPA." Drives me nuts. Especially when Ive always brewed my APAs hoppy, like hop bursted and dry hopped to nearly a # per barrel sort of hoppy.

 

[oljimmy]

BJCP lists IBU's for English IPA @ 40-60 & American IPA @ 40-70 so the Founders is well within the style standards.

Yeah, you're forgetting about OG.

IPA: OG: 1.056 – 1.075
Pale: OG: 1.045 – 1.060

Apparently, Founders All Day = 1.046-ish. So on SRM, OG, FG and IBU it's within the pale range. That's a pale.

 

[Snubnoze707]

Am I one of the few that doesn't understand the need for massive bitterness? Hop flavor yes! Massively bitter? BLECH!

No, most people figured that out in the last 2-3 years when that trend started to die off. "Session IPA" is a sign of that, so is the controversial "New England IPA".

Personally, I can care less about style guidelines or the BJCP...

 

[Jsbeckton]

Double post

 

[Jsbeckton]

But if balance is really a ratio, then you can make it lighter and keep the same balance by cutting back on bitterness proportionally. You can get down to 4 or 5% without going "thin" by Increasing the mash temp and using body enhancing adjuncts. Its going to feel lighter, but thats not a flaw, its the whole purpose.

You mean an APA? Yeah, I am saying that a session IPA is usually an APA that's too thin and/or too hoppy. There is no imperial blonde so why a session IPA? Marketing...

 

[Gameface]

IPA can apparently be any kind of beer and it's still an IPA, yet all the other beer styles are constrained to a small little box and if you go outside of that box you probably just made one of the millions of subtypes of IPA.

 

[tagz]

Other way around actually. A typical PA/APA/IPA has more malt back bone to balance the hops so can get away with little to no caramel malt.



A session beer doesn't have the same amount of residual sweetness to balance the hops so you need more crystal and/or a higher mash temp.

Gonna have to agree to disagree on that one. Pale Ales almost always have some caramel, IPAs tend to have almost none. If you're going to call it a session IPA it should resemble the later. There are many ways to build body without using caramel.

 

[thunderwagn]

You mean an APA? Yeah, I am saying that a session IPA is usually an APA that's too thin and/or too hoppy. There is no imperial blonde so why a session IPA? Marketing...

There are imperial blonde ales, you just haven't looked hard enough. There are session blondes also I had a session porter last night!

 

[filthyastronaut]

To me, and I think most people, when you have something described as a session IPA, you expect a certain thing. Described as a Pale Ale, you expect another thing. The differences are subtle and overlapping, but same thing with Stouts and Porters. Honestly, why bother worrying about it? Categories and guidelines are useful, but they are only tools.