Inherent Flaw In Session IPA's

Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

Seriously, if someone offered me a "session" tripel or quad I'd slap that shit to the ground and salt the earth where it fell.

 

Try Pinner.

 

The only session IPA I've had so far has been New Belgium's Slow Ride, which I picked up as part of a mixed six-pack once and liked well enough to consider buying more in the future. But yeah, there was a bit of an odd "wateriness" to it that I haven't noticed with any of the full-strength IPAs (or regular pale ales) that I've had.

Sounds like that "wateriness" to some degree is pretty common for session IPAs. I don't think I'd mind the watery feel too much if the flavors are good, assuming it's not too bad (it was only a minor issue with Slow Ride for me, though from some of the descriptions above -- bitter, metallic, watery finish? yikes -- it sounds like there must be quite a few out there that don't pull it off quite as well)... though all things considered I'd probably rather have a standard pale ale with similar hop flavors.

...wouldn't a "session quad" just be a dubbel? I mean, from my understanding (which, admittedly, is just from reading stuff here and not experience since I've not had a quad so far) the main difference is that a quad is "bigger" and has a higher ABV... "session" beers are lighter with lower ABV... so they'd just cancel each other out? XD

 

I realize I'm in the 1% minority here of people who prefer low ABV beers, but I seriously have not had a bad session IPA yet. And the ones Ive had are as flavorful as any other IPA in my opinion. Oskar Blues Pinner is the latest.

 

There are a couple I like, but to be honest if I want a lighter session beer I will take a Vienna or a pils over a SIPA any time, and if I want more hops in a session able format I just go for an APA or a lower ABV IPA.

That said I will continue to try new ones from breweries I like as they come out, but my expectations aren't as high as for other styles.

 

Thin and unbalanced. I wish they would all just go away.

 

Perhaps some pale ales have been labeled as session IPAs for the crowd that can't seem to get enough IPAs.

Nice Ghostbusters reference. I wonder what the best beer to have while watching that movie is?

 

Session quad! Session quad! Session quad!

 

I'm not a session beer purist asshole, but Hop Hunter is 6.2% and definitely not a session beer.

 

Haha. You'd really want that? I hear Ommegang is brewing a session quad. It is call 3 Deep Thinkers. Sort of the same. But crap.

 

If you have to wait in line for hours or hunt from store to store to find a beer, then it's not a session beer.

 

3 Deep Thinkers! 3 Deep Thinkers! 3 Deep Thinkers!

lol Hell, no...

 

So you're one of those people

 

I totally agree with this.

 

The only good suggestion I have read here is "try Pinner". Not one person is endorsing the session IPA with any enthusiasm. Who then is drinking them?

 

Hey asshole. ;-). I'm 200LBS and in good shape Im happy to add. I said it is MY new session IPA. Taking a Sixer to the dome and still functioning rationally (somewhat) is a session IPA for myself.

Cheers my brother.

 

There has to be a pretty sizable demographic for them with as many of them that have been appearing on the market. I'm more of a mild, bitter, or hefe guy when it comes to session-able beers, but that just personal preference.

 

Another "bash session IPAs" thread------yawn.

Funny how many threads get canned but this one allowed to come again and again and again.

 

I agree with you. I love to drink Hefeweizens all summer. But there isn't one strong endorsement for the session IPA here. I thought I might see a few because they are popular. Perhaps they are popular with people who don't really like IPAs to begin with.