What is a Session IPA?

[brewerJase]

Its hop dominant and muted malts, like an IPA. Calling it a hoppy ape is just wrong. Adding more hops to an apa is not going to give you a good example of a session IPA. A good example of a session IPA is:



lower gravity than most pale ales (Sierra Nevada pale ale is 5.6%, Stone Go To and Fat Heads Sunshine Daydream are <4.5%),



the classic examples of Pale Ales are nicely balanced with moderate bitterness and balanced hop and malt flavor, IPAs and Session IPAs have bite up front and muted malts flavor at the finish



A hoppy pale ale....is....a hoppy pale ale



I love me a good balanced APA, and. Good IPA with a kick, and a sharp, light and little session IPA.

^
Nailed it!


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[JustLooking]

It shouldn't taste like hop water. That's just bad brewing

From every one I've tasted, it not bad brewing. It's simply a bad idea.

For me, there's a balance of hop, malt and alcohol that define an IPA. You can mess with the color and yeast character and still maintain that balance. Without the alcohol it becomes a poor attempt to make it into something it will never be.

 

[Weezy]

It's all preference. If someone doesn't like it, it doesn't mean it shouldn't exist. Dictating what should be brewed and drank is a worse idea.

I enjoy a balanced IPA as well, even if the trend is very much towards a very hop dominant effect on them now. The idea is a muted, dry beer lets the layered flavors and aromas of different types of hops to show through. You don't want all of those late hop additions competing with malt. but give me a sharply bitter and malty IPA with just a bunch of Cascade and i'll drunk the snot out of that as well.

 

[yeahfairly]

Founder's "All Day IPA" is a session. It rings in at 4.7% ABV. I drink a boat load of it every chance I get. Great Grapefruit bite that morphs into Cascade as it slides to the back of your throat!

 

[hio3791]

If a session IPA is a hoppier Pale Ale, wouldn't that make it an Imperial Pale Ale?

 

[dnslater]

If a session IPA is a hoppier Pale Ale, wouldn't that make it an Imperial Pale Ale?

Generally they have more hops, but not more malt/alcohol.

Founder's "All Day IPA" is a session. It rings in at 4.7% ABV. I drink a boat load of it every chance I get. Great Grapefruit bite that morphs into Cascade as it slides to the back of your throat!

I agree. Perfect example. Sierra Nevada Pale is also a good example, although not dry hopped and a little stronger than Founders. It is still a good hoppy pale that isn't as strong as most craft IPA's..... which seem to fall at 6.5 or higher.

 

[Kealia]

From every one I've tasted, it not bad brewing. It's simply a bad idea.

For me, there's a balance of hop, malt and alcohol that define an IPA. You can mess with the color and yeast character and still maintain that balance. Without the alcohol it becomes a poor attempt to make it into something it will never be.

It's not a bad idea, you just have to accept it for what it is.
And you're right, an IPA has a balance of hops, malt and to some extent alcohol (or maybe better stated - mouthfeel). BUT, a session IPA isn't supposed to have that. It's focused on the hop aroma and flavor with a lighter body so they are sessionable.

Of course, some drink IPAs like they are water already so for them it is a moot point :cross:

Point being - this discussion could be IPAs vs session IPAs (liek it is) or East Coast IPAs vs West Coast IPAs, etc.
As always, it comes down to personal preference and there's enough styles for everybody to enjoy what they like.

Cheers.

 

[Lgaddy44]

As your typical West Coast hophead who still sometimes likes to get stuff done in the evening after a beer with dinner, or, gawd forbid, drive home from the brewery, these perhaps-subtle distinctions make all the difference; trendy though they may be, the session IPA is a trend I'm happy to see and hope to see continue.

I'm in agreement here. Usually if I have things to do but want to have a few beers while I'm working (and continue to be productive), I'm stuck buying some BMC. It really serves no purpose other than quenching my thirst if I don't want water.

Having something like a Session IPA available is a big plus in my book. You get to enjoy most of the qualities an IPA provides, without having to settle for drinking a flavorless light lager. I'm not bashing BMC, as I feel it has its own special place, but I don't reach for it when i crave a beer.