Session IPAs

I think if you want Session NEIPA, we need a general Session IPA category first. I could go for both, but I think, as I stated in the Imperial NEIPA conversation, these are newer styles that aren't going away.

 

This seems like a slippery slope. We could easily balloon the number of styles. Maybe just add a qualifier, so the like beers can be culled out for comparison.

Unless there is a significant difference in multiple criteria (primarily Aroma/Flavor), then some of these distinctions can be academic, with only the true geeks really concerned.

 

I'd definitely be in for a Session IPA category, as to me they have always been distinctly different. Not as strong as your average IPAs. Not as balanced as pale ales. (Can watery be used as an official descriptor? Asking for a friend.)

 

I would not mind a Session IPA listing. To me it's the abv difference, and I guess the watered down body I call it. Hopefully the ABV is listed on the label. Still out on this one.

Cheers!

 

Agree on session IPA being a separate category, yes.

Agree with RyanK252 above...watery usually, not as balanced as a pale ale, not as strong as an IPA...

Don't agree with breaking it down to NE-style session IPA, etc. A little too much over-categorization there, if you ask me.

 

Yes, watery is the descriptor in common for most that I have tried. Not generally a fan.

I think most of these should really be considered (crappy) pale ales, but the real issue is the names being used by the brewers. Hard to have people put them in that category when the word "IPA" is on the label.

 

What's the ABV for one there? Used 5% here which to me is high...

 

I think we've needed Session IPA as a style for quite awhile.

 

This is a good point.

What is the real difference between a Session IPA and a Pale Ale? Many Pale Ales are really quite hoppy, going back to some of the originals.

 

To me Pale Ales are hoppier, more body, citrusy. I think the ABV is what makes the difference, but what do I know. Everyone's palate is different.

Cheers!

 

The defined range for American Pale Ale is pretty broad:

 

I also would not have expected you to say that you expect Pale Ale to be hoppier than "Session IPA!"

I think that says more than anything...session IPAs are Pale Ales

*prove me wrong meme*

 

Are you saying Session IPAs are Pale Ales?

Cheers!

 

And IPAs are Pale Ales.

 

As a style yes, as for the beer itself, not so much. It is difficult for me to like them.

Edit: It figures, 2 of the ones that I liked the most are from Sierra Nevada and it looks like both are retired.

 

If to name them is to end them, then I'm all for a Session IPA category.

 

Okay, okay, okay hold on...

There hasn't really been a good answer to my question.

If it's a good idea to name Session IPAs as separate from Pale Ales, why?

I mean, they're around the same ABV range that I can tell, yes?

Neither are really hoppier than the other, yes? I mean, I can't agree that they are...

While I've had "Session IPAs" at around the same ABV that were less hoppy than the old fogey in the room SNPA, most I've had were made with the intention to be hoppier, particularly in a DDH sort of direction.

IPAs differentiate themselves from Pale Ales by being hoppier, more bitter, often at higher ABV, etc. Naming an IPA a "Session" for being either less hoppy or having less ABV is trying to go back in time and pretend that IPA wasn't an ABV or hop progression branching up from the Pale Ale in the first place.

 

This won't be a good answer to your questions, but maybe not a bad one either.

I'm not for a Session IPA category, because I think those beers are not going to last, and I would prefer they didn't. (Yes, I know the former opinion is contrary to a lot of evidence otherwise.)

I do think session IPAs are generally around the lower end of the ABV range for pales.

While session IPAs may not technically be hoppier than pales, I think they are often perceived that way, due to lack of balance. They definitely seem less malty, which I assume is usually due to malt choice rather than malt quantity.

Perhaps less useful, and probably not even really true, I often think of session IPAs as just bad pales.