Session Houblon - India Session Ale
Microbrasserie Le Castor
- From:
- Microbrasserie Le Castor
- Quebec, Canada
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #1,000 - ABV:
- 4.3%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #12,631 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 8.64%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 14
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 26, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 01, 2014
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.86/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
well put together session ipa, delivering clean and significant hop flavour.
Aug 10, 2022
Reviewed by TheBierdimpfe from Canada (QC)
4.38/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Clear golden color with low activity. A bit veiled with the yeast pour. Thick foamy and rocky white 3 finger head, lasting around 15 minutes, with strong legs and swirl reaction. Flavors of pineapples, grapefruits, orange, tangerines, light caramel, and herbal hops. Silky and smooth medium to full body with crispy carbonation. Strong strength finish, dominantly zesty and tropical, citrusy while a bit juicy. Very well balanced and intensified. Highly fresh and drinkable with much complexity. Overall superb quality craft.
May 04, 2018
Reviewed by kylesobrien from Canada (QC)
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Golden ale, slight haze, nice white cap of head. Slight whiff of fresh grain and scent of herbal/citrusy hops.
This is a delicious pale ale -- tastes like it may be made with some Centennial or Cascade hops, a hint of something spicy/herbal. Very easy drinking and tasty for a sub-5% brew. Fine when fresh in the bottle, but absolutely fantastic when sampled early on draft.
Overall, one of the best session pales I've tried, and another winner from Le Castor.
Apr 22, 2018This is a delicious pale ale -- tastes like it may be made with some Centennial or Cascade hops, a hint of something spicy/herbal. Very easy drinking and tasty for a sub-5% brew. Fine when fresh in the bottle, but absolutely fantastic when sampled early on draft.
Overall, one of the best session pales I've tried, and another winner from Le Castor.
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.96/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Microbrasserie Le Castor "Session Houblon"
on tap at Le Saint-Bock, Montreal, QC on 7 Octobre 2014
$4.57 / verre
Notes: Slightly hazy gold-orange body beneath a short head of bright white. The head retention and lacing are both good. Hoppy nose with grapefruit, citrus pith, tropical fruit, hop resins, and mild pine. The flavor follows over a delicate, lightly biscuity, honey-drizzled malt base. Light-medium to medium-light in body and crisp. Stiffly bitter with a dry finish, the balance barely holds, and yet it does.
Feb 07, 2017on tap at Le Saint-Bock, Montreal, QC on 7 Octobre 2014
$4.57 / verre
Notes: Slightly hazy gold-orange body beneath a short head of bright white. The head retention and lacing are both good. Hoppy nose with grapefruit, citrus pith, tropical fruit, hop resins, and mild pine. The flavor follows over a delicate, lightly biscuity, honey-drizzled malt base. Light-medium to medium-light in body and crisp. Stiffly bitter with a dry finish, the balance barely holds, and yet it does.
Rated by Havasu_Hank from Canada (QC)
3.94/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Good, but not as pronounced flavour and hopsy as the Yakima standard (green bottle) by this brewer.
Jun 11, 2016
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased at Dapanneur AS in Montreal for $5.99 for a 650ml bottle. Served at 6deg C in a draught glass
A- Opens well and pours a 1" high white head that is gone in a minute or so. Medium gold colour and filtered clear.
S- Oodles of hops here. Super dry hopping. Light and airy
T- Again the hops are here in spades. Very light and fruity. Nice change to see an IPA that is not super sweet or bitter. Very nice blend.
M- Dry and tart
O- Very nice blend. Not your typical IPA. Definitely suited for a hot summer's day as it is not heavy at all
Food Pairing
This nice little brew went well with........ Grill chicken breast in a salad. I prefer a Caesar salad with extra parmesan cheese and garlic.
Enjoy
Apr 06, 2016A- Opens well and pours a 1" high white head that is gone in a minute or so. Medium gold colour and filtered clear.
S- Oodles of hops here. Super dry hopping. Light and airy
T- Again the hops are here in spades. Very light and fruity. Nice change to see an IPA that is not super sweet or bitter. Very nice blend.
M- Dry and tart
O- Very nice blend. Not your typical IPA. Definitely suited for a hot summer's day as it is not heavy at all
Food Pairing
This nice little brew went well with........ Grill chicken breast in a salad. I prefer a Caesar salad with extra parmesan cheese and garlic.
Enjoy
Rated by ledjip from Canada (QC)
3.28/5 rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Really dissapointed by this product. Strong carton taste. Not sure if it was a wrong batch but definitely not the kind of session I was expecting.
Mar 05, 2016Reviewed by bylerteck from Canada (ON)
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A - Bright and golden. Two finger thick, white head. Strong carbonation, good finger of retention and a nice ring of lace.
S - Nice citrus, some grass, light sweet citrus, zippy fruit.
T - Awesome citrus character with aggressive hop notes and a nice but balanced malt character. Strong grapefruit note.
Good carbonation, medium body, mild but pleasant bitterness.
O/D - A very nice session IPA. Well crafted and very drinkable with great hop character.
Feb 27, 2016S - Nice citrus, some grass, light sweet citrus, zippy fruit.
T - Awesome citrus character with aggressive hop notes and a nice but balanced malt character. Strong grapefruit note.
Good carbonation, medium body, mild but pleasant bitterness.
O/D - A very nice session IPA. Well crafted and very drinkable with great hop character.
Reviewed by papat444 from Canada (QC)
4.28/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled Jan. 8, 2016.
Gorgeous honey gold & hazy body; huge, healthy head that froths. Smell and flavor are a bit soapy with citrus zest and a mineral bitterness. Refreshing and just hoppy enough. This could be my go-to in summer.
Feb 11, 2016Gorgeous honey gold & hazy body; huge, healthy head that froths. Smell and flavor are a bit soapy with citrus zest and a mineral bitterness. Refreshing and just hoppy enough. This could be my go-to in summer.
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts
4.05/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dirty gold with a slight haze. Moderate head which lasts with fine bubbles on the surface. Some streaks and spots on the glass.
Fresh floral hop aroma right away.
Very smooth mouthfeel. The malt base is solid, making this a very nicely balanced beer. The hop is subtle at first, but the swallow draws out more bitterness. The finish is predominantly straight up hop bitterness. The net effect works well. The body is neutral and the carbonation leans high.
Dec 24, 2015Fresh floral hop aroma right away.
Very smooth mouthfeel. The malt base is solid, making this a very nicely balanced beer. The hop is subtle at first, but the swallow draws out more bitterness. The finish is predominantly straight up hop bitterness. The net effect works well. The body is neutral and the carbonation leans high.
Reviewed by FrankBrewbody from Canada (ON)
3.46/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.46/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Purchased from a trip to Gatineau, consumed on date of writing the review.
Look - upon opening, beer was very active and has to let it settle in the sink at it was overflowing rather aggressively. Poured with a good head at first, but reduced quickly thereafter. Unfiltered, golden/light caramel colouring.
Smell - nothing too over the top. Citrus/grassy smell.
Taste - Grapefruit upfront, lingering bitterness. Not too much of a punch, as expected from the style.
Feel - Creamy, well carbonated.
Dec 19, 2015Look - upon opening, beer was very active and has to let it settle in the sink at it was overflowing rather aggressively. Poured with a good head at first, but reduced quickly thereafter. Unfiltered, golden/light caramel colouring.
Smell - nothing too over the top. Citrus/grassy smell.
Taste - Grapefruit upfront, lingering bitterness. Not too much of a punch, as expected from the style.
Feel - Creamy, well carbonated.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!