Session IPAs. I don't get it

I don't dislike the style but don't put it on my shopping list.

 

I'm in agreement with you so far, but I've really only had a handful of Session IPAs.

I'd like to try Wolf Pup, which I've heard is quite good for a Session. Would love to see recommendations from the community.

 

I thought the title "session IPA" caught some flak here a little ways back since a less hoppy IPA is really more of a pale ale, and a hopped up pale ale is really a misnamed IPA.

Personally, I'm not really a fan. I'll add one to a mix-six just to try, but that's usually the extent. Perhaps someone, someday will figure it out and make the style tasty, so for that reason I haven't given up. Yet.

 

15-packs of Founders All-Day IPA find their way into my summer rotation

 

The pejorative "hop water" gets thrown around a lot, but I think it's pretty accurate for a lot of these "session" IPAs. A hoppy pale ale typically tastes more rounded. I'm not sure what FW is calling their Luponic Distortion series but at 5.9% this checks a lot of boxes that most sessions don't for me.

 

Not really a session IPA (even though the can does say, "an IPA for every day drinking"), but I'll drink Carton Boat anytime and over many other beers.

 

All day is the only one I've enjoyed, I won't give up on them though because I really want to find session able beers for summer. There's a local brewery that'll be doing one in cans soon, I'll give it a shot.

 

There are only two I actually enjoy.

 

Founders All Day IPA is delicious. Great for the Summer, especially when I want something really light.

 

Agreed. Almost all of the "Session IPA" beers I've had have no body and taste watery. I'm not a fan.

 

You are not alone. I'd think this is one "style" that would die out after awhile but since its a session IPA - brewers aren't going to change it to a Pale Ale and lose sales.

 

When I first tried the style I thought this would be much better with some malt. Now some of them are not so light that they taste like hop water and those are the ones that impress me.

 

For the price, which typically aren't much less than a full strength ipa, there are just so many better options

 

I like Hoppy Birthday from Alpine. One of the better "session" Ipas although at 5.25%. In the summer I like a gose actually.

 

Right. There is a huge difference between a session IPA and a pale ale. The main reason has been mentioned, that session IPAs are malt-devoid hop water. Another distinction is that a lot of session IPAs are sub 4% ABV. I don't think a 3.5% pale ale would fly with most folks.

That said, I agree with the sentiment of the style. I drink almost exclusively hop-forward beers. I like to drink beer every day, but don't want to get blasted (or even buzzed) every day. The session IPA should fill that void. All of the commercial examples are pretty unfulfilling, though.

My first attempt at a homebrewed IPA I accidentally mashed too high, so it ended up less than 5%, and it was delicious. It can be done, I'm sure, but I don't think "low alcohol IPA" is what these breweries are going for. I think "hop water" is the goal. I wish breweries would dial back alcohol in IPAs: The standard 7% is unnecessary most of the time.

 

Most of them taste thin, like watered down IPA. I second @HopsDubosc - Hoppy Pale Ales somehow seem more satisfying.

 

Lawson's Super Session #2 is my go-to in the summer. Obviously can't get it outside of Vermont/CT (and now Mass I believe) but it's the best session IPA I've had.

 

If I desire to drink a lower ABV hoppy beer I reach for an APA.

All of the Session IPAs that I have had so far (a half-dozen or so) have been too thin and watery for my palate.

Cheers!