Session India Pale Ale
Big Rig Brewery

 

 

So-called "Session" IPAs are supposed to be lighter variations of the style but Big Rig's looks no different from standard-strength examples; it shares the same deep golden colour, hazy, coppered complexion and soapy lather for a top. Nothing about its appearance suggests it's less substantial.

Ditto for the aroma - it's like wedging your nose between two halves of an orange, mango, and pineapple all simultaneously. It's tropical stuff that makes me want to sport shorts and sandals, even as I write this in the middle of December in Canada. There's also a 'greenness' to the smell, like chlorophyll on steroids.

The taste is marked with that same earthy, herbal note and has a bit of an onion skin flavour to it. A more orchard fruit driven profile emerges featuring apricot and pear, even roses. The citrus flavours drop off, especially in the aftertaste; there's little zest or acidity and the finish is dry and featureless.

The ultimate test for a 'session' IPA is whether it matches the enjoyment and gratification of the real deal. This one does not. The maltiness lacks depth and the hops simply don't brim like they should. And at 4.8% alcohol this is normal level potency anyhow - what's the point in making it?!

Big Rig's Session IPA is a difficult one to get excited about. No one outside the Ottawa area aught to seek it out and even those within it shouldn't be upset to miss it. As much of an improvement as this is over what was available even five years ago, it's a reminder we're still a ways off from where the US is.

 

Bottle: Poured a light yellow color ale with a medium size white head with OK retention and slight lacing. Aroma of light grainy notes with powerful bitter hops is OK. Taste is dominated by bitter hops notes with light unrefined grainy notes. Body is about average for style with good carbonation. I would have preferred less bitterness and more floral notes which would have improved the drinkability of this beer.