What's your favorite Session IPA?

I was of the understanding that the "Session IPA" moniker was entirely a marketing creation. Anyway, Lawson's Super Session #2 was quite good, but Founder's All Day is widely available with a clear born-on date (and quite tasty) so they get my vote.

 

Stone Go To IPA and Keegan Bine Climber.

 

Absolutely, bfitzge2. There is already a sessionable version of the IPA... it's called a PALE ALE! But people don't want to buy a pale ale... they want to be cool and have an IPA. But how can we market an extra hoppy pale ale and reach those people who would rather eat the menu instead of dinner?* Let's make just make some shit up and call it a session IPA. Now, there have been some interesting beers made under the auspices of this newly-formed style, but come on.

*a reference to Alan Watts

 

Yeah, that won't taste like stagnate bong water...

 

The only session IPA I even like is Upland Campside. Go To, All Day, etc all taste like watery lite beers to me.

 

It's probably brewed with 1% bong water (by accident of course).

 

Always the same answer: Carton Boat Beer. But I enjoy several, such as All Day, Go To, Pinner, etc. There's a place for them.

 

Not deliberately trying to be contrary but session IPAs are a waste. If I want something with low ABV, there are good APAs, reds and browns out there. That's what I'll go for.

 

What if you want something really hoppy and low ABV? How is that a waste? You used to have to be in the know to pick out the exceptionally hoppy, low ABV pale ales out, but now there is a convenient name that immediately lets you now when you find one. Thats a clear win to the drinker in my book. Like them or not, the session IPA trend has been a huge positive for the industry and beer lovers.

 

It's great, but even still--isn't that 6%, 6.2%, somewhere in there?

 

Odd Side Simcoe Sensation, Lagunitas Daytime, Short's Ale La Reverend.

 

Tree House Eureka
Jack's Abby Calyptra
Founders All Day.

 

Good point, but I am stubborn about trying new brew and a few recs were given here, so why not try!

 

For me, there is All Day--and then there is everything else...

 

Not so funny story (at least for me): I was drinking with friends one night in a camper outside one of their parent's houses and we were playing sink the sub. They asked me to go into the house to get some CDs and when I returned (unbeknownst to me in my drunken state) they had filled the cap so that it would sink even if a single drop hit it. On top of that they had poured bong water in the cup. In my sorry state I didn't even notice, sunk the "sub" and proceeded to down the entire glass. Afterwards I wretched for nearly ten minutes straight but managed to keep my stomach contents. I'm not sure if those were good or bad times but surely a memory of friends from the past!

 

^
Hilarious.

And also sad. I feel for ya buddy. Sometimes friends come with a funny admixture of dickishness and creative genius.

 

OK... I consumed my Pinner and have to say that it is top notch as far as "session" IPA's go.

Big nose, big flavor, a bit thin in feel, but an enjoyable brew none-the-less. I'd have another, but I only bought one to try, and a third of that one ended up spilled into one of my laptops because I got too excited by the UFC fights I'm watching.

< punches self in head >

 

Pizza Port Ponto

 

I'm not at all sure what is positive about session IPAs. I've tried a bunch and they are pretty much the same - thin body, bland with a bitter hoppy finish. AALs for hop lovers is all they are when you come down to it.

One low ABV beer that I liked better than any session IPA was Stone's Levitation. At such a low ABV, that beer had some substance to it. Sadly, Stone has retired Levitation - probably to make room for a series of session IPAs that will all taste the same.

 

Pinner and my lawnmower are going to be great friends......