Canadian Session IPAs

Down here in Toronto we've got a lot of breweries making great IPA's. To name a few that I really have been enjoying lately Great Lakes Brewery My Bitter Wife or Thrust two of my favourites from them. Bellwoods Brewery makes probably some of my favourites Cat Lady or Witchshark. I also love Indie Ale House Cockpuncher. That's just speaking for some of City's IPA's but a lot of Ontario Breweries are making some wicked IPA's.

Having had Red Racer I would have to agree with that being one of the best IPA's around the country and would also go up there with one of my favourites. Also 2.50 for a 473 ML can is a steal!!

Cheers!!

 

Although I prefer the taste and mouthfeel of a "standard" 6 to 7% ABV, on a Sunday afternoon I'd rather have several "session" IPAs than have a big head at work the next day. Founder's "All Day IPA" remains a classic, but for me in Ontario right now Nickel Brook's Naughty Neighbour (4.9%) and Muskoka's Detour (4.3%) are both widely available, decent choices. Great Lakes' Miami Weiss (4.5%) is nicely hopped seasonal release. Bellwood's Stay Classy (2.3%) is harder to find, but worth the ~2 hour drive to Toronto...

 

Muskoka's Detour and Bellwood's Stay Classy come about as close as you can to a "session IPA." I'd prefer the latter however, brilliant hop flavour.

 

Bomber's got a good option now for Vancouver too with the 'Bike Route Best Bitter' which is really just an ISA in another outfit. I am all for lower ABV options, partly for parties but also for when I just don't want to consume much alcohol. However I tend to like a bit more body to my IPA than the session ones provide, so for me it's the 7-8% range that I find best for IPA's and would rather do an APA or PA at the 5% range

 

^Ditto!

If I am looking for a nice low alcohol, easy drinking, thirst-quencher, then I would probably turn to a berliner weisse or saison rather than a thin IPA. Two-cents added ;-)

 

Well Stratford sucks, so not much here. I was really impressed with Rhyme and Reason though. I could drink that all day if its fresh. The Bellwoods ipas and pales are the best and quite sessionable. Just don't get my hands on them too often sadly.

 

Spinnakers Swiftsure and Nelson Hop Good come to mind.

 

Speaking of Spinnakers, anyone else notice a complete quality 180 from these guys? The last few release have been quite good, Hopscotch Scottish IPA in particular was quite complex and layered

 

Also not a session IPA but Tofino Tuff Session Ale is worth a mention.

 

Really? Maybe I should buy some of their again than. Or pay a visit.

 

Just tried Jolly Hopper today too, a very unique imperial ipa... super malt driven, and some rummy notes. Though i'm not sure of the 100ibu claim; it has a lingering bitter finish for sure, but 100ibu seems like a false claim. Then again IMO the scale has some faults.

 

Phillips Bottle Rocket is pretty good and in cans. I did like the Van Isle Sabotage as it is actually the first release from from them to use enough hops for the style.

 

I hate this marketing...

 

It's a niche that needs filling (niche marketing, you know like marketing 101..) .. if local breweries bridge the gap then bravo. "Session Ale" is situational, and for a lot of beer drinkers, beer is only consumed in a social setting. I'm sorry but if you're at a social gathering guzzling 9% double ipa's it doesn't make you a beer enthusiast it makes you an irresponsible asshole, no matter your tolerance for alcohol. Alot of "craft beer people" use their enthusiasm for good beer as a scapegoat for near alcoholism and I'm sick of seeing it. Low gravity DOES NOT mean low grade. A beer is NOT better than another based on abv. Fuck me for wanting something flavorful and well made that won't get me shitfaced... So needless to say I'm very open to the hopefully blossoming trend of session ales, and encourage their growth in the local craft community. Would love to see more traditional uk styles represented as well, with some cascadian flair.

 

Muskoka Detour is goooooood.

I'd venture to say it's better than Stone Go To and Founder's All Day.

 

Not IPAs, but I love Les Trois Mousquetaires Gose (3.8%) and have had a few Jester Kings (Texas) that were under 4% with one that was I believe 2 something.

Would love to see more of those in BC - see saisons as a style this works great for.

 

Had a few Lagunitas Day-Time on recent trip down south. My new standard for Session IPA. Naughty Neighbour tends to find its way to my fridge rather often.

 

Agree with every word of this.
Stay Classy is brilliantly executed.

I haven't had the Go To yet but would agree that its on the same level as All Day.