Firestone Walker - Easy Jack Summer Session IPA

jdaddy · Jan 3, 2014

kdb150 said: ↑

I'm not sure what of my post you are actually responding to, as I never said anything remotely like that. I'm just merely stating what I thought was obvious - we already have a style of hoppy beers that are lower in alcohol. It's called American Pale Ale, and many examples of the style are quite nice. "Session IPA" just strikes me as a gimmicky marketing ploy, although if more beers come out that are labeled like this and they are all a mess like All Day IPA is, then perhaps the name will have some value after all.
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Well, see, in this example Firestone already has an APA, thus the need to differentiate this new product from the other a bit. Or maybe they could just call it "Easy Jack APA Which Is More Hop Forward Than Our Other APA". Then again, they could call it a session IPA which even a big dummy like me can figure out.

But carry on. I understand it is really cool to hate everything IPA right now.

robieobie1 · Feb 5, 2014

tabascosigned said: ↑

two things I take from this thread:
1. someone described a session IPA as a sessionable IPA.
2. the Firestone bear has abs.

creative on both counts.
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I'm pretty sure the lion has some weird boobs and nipples....

jncastillo87 · Apr 15, 2014

I dont buy session ales regardless. Just sayin.

Harnkus · Apr 15, 2014

jncastillo87 said: ↑

I dont buy session ales regardless. Just sayin.
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Spoken like a true American (fool)

jncastillo87 · Apr 15, 2014

Harnkus said: ↑

Spoken like a true American (fool)
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How so ? I dont pay 9.99 for 4.5 ABV when the 6.5 ABV beer is also 9.99. Whats foolish about liking higher ABV beer ? I dont want a weaker IPA version, if I get a lower ABV beer it would be something totally different not a watered down version of some of my favorite beers. I love STONE IPA but im not interested in STONE GOTO IPA.

jncastillo87 · Apr 15, 2014

MrDave said: ↑

Very well said.

Also worth noting is that most of these "session IPAs" are below 5%, which most pales (and especially the hoppier ones) are above 5%.

APAs
Drake's 1500 5.5%
Row 2 / Hill 56 5.8%
Alpha King 6.6%
Red Chair 6.2%
SNPA 5.6%
Lagunitas Dogtown 6.2% (same as their IPA)
(ZD 7%)
(Citra Extra Pale Ale 7%)
"Session IPAs"
Lagunitas Daytime 4.65%
Evil Twin Bikini 2.7%
Lawson's Spring Fever 3.8%
Citra Session 4.5%
FW Easy Jack 4.5%
Founders All Day 4.7%

Finally, while APAs might have a stronger malt presence, that has yet to be the case with the "Session IPA".

There's more than a slight nuance between the styles: ABV typically below 5, loudly hopped, little malt presence. That's not how any of would describe APAs as a whole, so why people need to shit bricks about the newer term's emergence is beyond me. Probably the same folks that get upset about the abundance of terms for musical genres and sub-genres.
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Well said .. my feelings as well.

JackHorzempa · Apr 15, 2014

bulletrain76 said: ↑

My personal take is that yes there were always a small amount of APAs hopped more like IPAs, but you had to really know what you were looking for to find them. Not all APAs are very hoppy and as a less-informed consumer, it can be difficult to know if the APA you are buying is a hop bomb are a mildly hoppy example. IPA is now associated with big hop aroma and putting it on a label instantly tells you what to expect. Couple that with "session" and most people expect a lighter, easier-drinking hoppy beer. You see "session IPA" and you know exactly what you are getting. Sure, it's a sub-style of APA but I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

On another note, this beer is going to blow people's minds. Lots of cool hops that few people have even heard of going into it.
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Sam, one aspect that I have been noting in Session IPAs that have already been released is that they typically have a thin mouthfeel, which I have never perceived an any APA that I have had (and I have had a lot of APAs).

Does the Firestone Walker Session IPA have a thin mouthfeel? Do you consider a thin mouthfeel to be a characteristic of the Session IPA sub-style?

Cheers!

Jack

mafourni · Apr 17, 2014

This arrived in Chicago today.

Firestone Walker - Easy Jack Summer Session IPA

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Firestone Walker - Easy Jack Summer Session IPA

jdaddy Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2010 Pennsylvania

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