Session IPAs. I don't get it

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by pro45, Feb 21, 2017.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. pro45

    pro45 Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2016 New York

    Never had one I enjoyed. Whether one and done, or having several during fishing, etc. I've tried five of the one's recommended, or with respectable scores. I'd much rather have Yeungling, or SNPA, or Ballentine XXX. Do any of you actually like this style?? Or have no issues with the price tag??
     
  2. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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

    zizouandyuki Initiate (0) Nov 26, 2015 Texas

    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.
     
  4. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    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.
     
    lester619 likes this.
  5. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

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

    HopsDubosc Pundit (803) Apr 24, 2015 Vermont

    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.
     
  7. Ieatlambfries

    Ieatlambfries Maven (1,344) Dec 5, 2003 New Jersey

    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.
     
    dgstrat, HopBomb515, JrGtr and 2 others like this.
  8. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    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.
     
    ebin6, foundersasap and TonyLema1 like this.
  9. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina

    There are only two I actually enjoy.
     
    pinyin and Badfish like this.
  10. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

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

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

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

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    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.
     
  13. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    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.
     
    19etz55, VABA and Pantalones like this.
  14. dripa8

    dripa8 Zealot (647) Sep 19, 2014 Kansas

    For the price, which typically aren't much less than a full strength ipa, there are just so many better options
     
  15. pro45

    pro45 Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2016 New York

    Too watery... Not enough hop presence. Give me Ballentine or SNPA. 12 pack is cheap. I'd even take the blonde ale style over the over hyped session IPA.

    Pilsners, like Jever or another inexpensive variant would be better choices. Price-wise, and flavor-wise.
     
  16. Jnashed

    Jnashed Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Virginia

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

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    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.
     
  18. aquabears

    aquabears Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2016 Connecticut

    Most of them taste thin, like watered down IPA. I second @HopsDubosc - Hoppy Pale Ales somehow seem more satisfying.
     
    Whey2Hoppy likes this.
  19. johnsofats

    johnsofats Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2016 Connecticut

    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.
     
  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    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!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.