Inherent Flaw In Session IPA's

My thoughts exactly. I know at least a few quality IPAs in the 5.5% - 6% range, which is pretty low by today's standards and thus inherently "sessionable" in my view. Why not shoot for that sweet spot instead of trying to create something below 5% which doesn't seem to really work.

 

Why not just create a great sub 5% pale ale and call it a "Session IPA" for marketing reasons?

Works for me!

 

I think that's the crux of the problem. A pale ale at 5% isn't an IPA, but an IPA at 5% or below just seems to be missing something. You still have to put the same or similar amount of hops into it to call it an IPA, which they've been doing and which is why these session IPAs are around the same price as regular IPAs. The trend in IPAs has been to go bigger and bolder so you rarely see any IPAs below 6.5% these days. So why not shoot for that sweet spot of around 5.5% - 6%, which we know can produce a great IPA, and just label it as a session IPA since most IPA drinkers have adjusted to higher ABVs and therefore will be able to drink more at that lower ABV without losing any flavor.

 

Because it won't be hoppy enough. Some of the session IPAs I've seen are as high as 70 IBUs. A few of my favorite pale ales are around usually less than 40.

 

Yeah see I find Boat and Over Easy very similar, but Over Easy has a stronger citrus to it that masks the hop wateriness a bit.

As hard as I've been on sessions in this thread, I still buy them and like some of them. Sometimes it's just nice to have a beer where I can drink a couple and not have to worry about if I'm driving or going somewhere after. I typically get a session for my kegerator which also helps for when I have company over and most people don't want to pound a bunch of 8% IPAs.

All that said, no session can ever replace a good IPA/DIPA.

 

mikkeller makes a great session IPA which uses oats to improve the mouthfeel. Still I like session beers as I get less hungover and stay hydrated (great for bike rides). Slow ride is good for me at $13 a twelver and I drink it slower than a hamms. When you have to get up at the crack of dawn and go to school but you still want to hang out it is a tastier option. Maybe people are just soo used to a heavy malt build in their IPA's that they consider a lighter one "unbalanced" but that really is up to the person. IPA's are unbalanced to a lot of people too who want a lighter hop load and a maltier profile. Its a style of beer which is supposed to be very hoppy and have a light profile.