Session IPA

The Session IPA is the craft beer movement’s answer to the demand for hoppy yet lower-alcohol beers, designed for long sessions. It emerged in the U.S. around 2010 and quickly became one of the most popular styles in the craft world, as it offers all the aromatic character and bitterness of a standard IPA but with a much lighter profile, ideal for pairing with food or drinking several glasses without palate fatigue.

In the glass, it displays a golden yellow to deep gold color, with a creamy, off-white head and, depending on the recipe, slight turbidity. On the nose, fresh and juicy aromas of American or modern hops dominate: grapefruit, orange, mango, peach, pineapple, fresh grass, and a slightly resinous background. The malt base is very light to maintain a refreshing feel. On the palate, it has a low to medium body, with minimal sweetness, present and well-integrated bitterness (30-50 IBU), lively carbonation, and a very dry, clean finish. The alcohol content ranges between 3.2% and 5%.

It is brewed using pilsner and pale malts as a base, a small proportion of oat or wheat flakes to provide mouthfeel, a significant load of modern hops during the boil and dry hopping to compensate for the low density with aroma, and neutral or slightly fruity ale yeasts.

It is a perfect beer for long afternoons, picnics, events, terraces, after-work drinks, games, or meals. It pairs with Asian cuisine, tacos, sushi, fish, light burgers, or salads. It is served between 5 °C and 8 °C in a tulip or pint glass.