Session IPA

The little brother of the IPA. A Session India Pale Ale convinces like its big brother, the India Pale Ale, by the fruity hop aroma, but has a significantly lower alcohol content. The bitterness is matched by the light body, so the beer still tastes like a true IPA.

Beer Style Facts: Session IPA

• Appearance: Golden to light or straw yellow. Partially hazy.
• Aroma: Fruity, due to the large amounts of hops added. At best, as intense as a regular IPA. Leaner body due to the low alcohol content.
• Alcohol: 3-5%.
• Classic Beer: Founders All Day IPA

What is a Session IPA?

A Session IPA is the lighter version of an IPA, which is why it is slightly different. The body and residual sweetness of a session are usually milder or lower than its big brother. Nevertheless, the aroma of the hops used is similar in intensity to that of an IPA. This beer style is confusingly similar to the Pale Ale. But here, too, a clear distinction can be made, because the higher bitterness goes more in the direction of India Pale Ale. Modern Pale Ales have an alcohol content of 5%-6%. A Session IPA is usually in the same range, sometimes even lower.

The perfect summer beer

Due to the characteristics of the style, a Session IPA is excellent as a refreshing summer drink, of which one would like to drink more than one glass. The mostly North American hop varieties used in a Session IPA help create a certain summer feeling: tropical fruit and citrus are the most common aromas a Session IPA exudes.

Just imagine a warm summer day by the pool with a cool, tangy Session IPA. There's hardly anything better. Of course, the beer style is also great for the balcony, park, or grilling out with friends.

I'm hungry - what goes with a Session IPA?

Here the recommendations for Session IPA and IPA differ less. Spicy dishes, Indian or Thai curries go perfectly with the hop-accented beer styles. But a hearty BBQ with or without meat will also make the taste buds blossom with a Session.

Let's have a Session IPA!

We offer you the best Session IPAs from Europe. Not only rating platforms like Untappd say so. Let us inspire you and browse through the wide world of IPAs.

You need inspiration? Beyond Beer recommends you:

Põhjala Suvila: A session IPA in the highly acclaimed New England style. Juicy and with great drinkability. Hardly bitter. Aromatics go in the direction of ripe sweet apricots, honeydew melon and mango.

Mikkeller Evergreen: Hoppy citrus notes are combined with a grassy bitterness in this beer. Super easy and very approachable.