Hop Session India Pale Ale
White Birch Brewing

Hop Session India Pale AleHop Session India Pale Ale
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From:
White Birch Brewing
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 12.6%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
276
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 06, 2020
Added:
Mar 26, 2011
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  37
Hop Session is in. Starting with a blend of west coast hops for a balanced, bitter effect. We close the session out by late hopping the beer for a nice resiny mouth feel.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gpblackgt:
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Rated by gpblackgt from Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -17.8%

May 30, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.49 by Kgoldsbe from Colorado

Apr 06, 2020
Photo of nealien
Reviewed by nealien from Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great west coast style session IPA. Had this on tap (fresh keg) at the brewery. Strong taste of piney, resin-y hops for a session IPA.

Update: found this at a Wegmans in Medford MA and picked up a 6 pack of cans. Was just as delicious as it was fresh in draft. Love this beer, it’s a solid west coast style.
Jan 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.6 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Nov 28, 2018
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Rated by nhdjinn from New Hampshire

2.96/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
wow wow wow
its a 5% hop as though its a 9%
tastes like licking pine resin
im not kidding
dial it back
Nov 02, 2018
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sampling a cellar temp 12 oz can poured into a snifter. The beer pours a slightly cloudy golden color with a little bit of white sediment and a bright bleached white fluffy head of 4 cm foaming up. The foam fades slowly to a sturdy a sticky edge layer and some surface fluff. Aroma is a bit of grainy malt but then decent amounts of pine sap and a bit of grass and lemon. The nose isnt overpowering and isnt amazing but good enough. The first sip reveals a light body with fine tingly carbonation and a silky texture. Flavor is some rindy and pine sap hops with a bit of grainy malt buried but the finish is back to grapefruit rind. As expected in a session IPA I dont get any hints of booze on this beer.
Its a very drinkable brew and leaves a lingering bite. A nice session brew even if its not amazingingly complex.
Oct 07, 2017
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.57/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
I just closed out my entries for New Beer Sunday (Week 657), but I am on a bit of a roll so I am CANtinuing with this beer. The CANQuest (tm) is back in action and New CANpshire is now in the crosshairs!

From the CAN: "Our ales are unfiltered, unpasteurized and traditionally made, Best served fresh at 50 - 55 [deg. F]"; "At White Birch Brewing, our goal is to create great beer for the enthusiast. Each batch is brewed and bottled by hand at our brewery in Hooksett, New Hampshire."; "Hop Session is in. Starting with a blend of west coast hops for a balanced, bitter effect. We close the session out by late hopping the beer for a nice resiny mouth feel. Best when fresh, this beer is not intended for cellaring."; "Crafted in small quantities to be savored for any occasion. We hope you enjoy this unique beer. [undersigned] Bill Herlicka, Founder".

The Crack! revealed a brimful craft CAN, so I went with a very gentle Glug in response. It is getting late, I am getting tired & the last thing that I want to have to be involved with is cleaning up a spill. Once properly deCANted, a vigorous in-glass swirl raised two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, tawny head with decent retention. Color was Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, prompting a visit from The Gelt Gang of Midas, Croesus & Mammon. Nose had a grapefruit-citrus quality, but I have been led astray by aroma hops in the past. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Mouthfeel was thin & light, not exactly watery, but not much beyond it, either. The taste was lightly bitter, grapefruity, but not very intense. It is another victim of being lumped in with the AIPA style where it would fare better, IMHO, as a Session IPA. To put this up against some of the great AIPAs that I have CANsumed is to do it an injustice, but such I must. Finish was semi-dry & refreshing, but it lacked the hoppy Ooomph! that the better examples of the style bring. Not bad, per se, but just not my cuppa tea. YMMV.
Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by GravityKills from Massachusetts

Jun 12, 2017
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Reviewed by Lonborgski from Maine

3.41/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From 12oz can to tulip glass
Unfiltered, cloudy light caramel color
Smell of sour hops
Taste follows nose. Slightly sour, funky, hoppy, IPA
Feel is unremarkable
Overall, the sourness is not to my taste. I generally look for lower alcohol beers, but this one is too funky for me.
Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.48 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Dec 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by williahd from Maine

Nov 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Furley80 from Pennsylvania

Aug 03, 2016
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Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

2.96/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A thanks goes out to the creator of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, light hops. Taste is also mild. Light malts, some lemon, hints of pine, damn near no bitterness. Feels light bodied in the mouth and overall is mediocre at best.
Jul 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by zekeman17 from Pennsylvania

Jun 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.86 by ChrisBouchard81 from New Hampshire

Jun 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by StonewallSipper from Pennsylvania

Jun 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.03 by bfitzge2 from Massachusetts

May 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.42 by Matthowland from New Hampshire

Apr 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by woodchipper from Connecticut

Mar 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by TedStrosser from Pennsylvania

Feb 14, 2016
Hop Session India Pale Ale from White Birch Brewing
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 276 ratings