What is a Session IPA?
Want an ultra-refreshing thirst quencher on a sunny day? Session IPA is your answer. Session IPAs sit slap bang in the middle of IPAs and pale ales as a less bitter beer with lower alcohol content. Take our very own Neck Oil, which is a light and zingy session IPA and the perfect balance of hops and upbeat tropical flavours. Shameless self-promotion aside, sit back and drink in some info about session IPAs.
What is a session IPA beer?
How can you tell if you're drinking a session IPA? Well, it’ll almost always be served in a glass. It'll be not too bitter, not too hoppy and not too malty. Basically, session IPAs strike the perfect balance of light and flavourful. They’re designed for sipping pretty slowly, probably with a good amount of conversation thrown in. They’re also usually pretty pale in appearance – a bit like your mate’s legs after a winter stuck indoors playing FIFA – and are smooth and easy to drink – unlike your mate’s legs.
What is a super session IPA beer?
You've heard of IPAs. You've heard of session IPAs. Now get ready for…super session IPAs! It just never ends. Super session IPAs have even fewer hops, which means – you guessed – an even lower alcohol content (our Satellite super session IPA has an ABV of just 2.8%). These beers usually have a fruitier flavour, too. Just all the tropical, citrusy goodness in a glass.
Why is it called session IPA?
Session IPAs were named after the British tradition of spending long “sessions” at the pub. The lower alcohol content meant punters could sip their beer for longer without the inevitable negative effects. We don’t really recommend long sessions like that anymore. But it doesn’t mean Neck Oil isn’t still a great option when you’re down the pub with your mates.
Session IPA vs IPA
To truly get the difference, you’ll first have to know what an IPA beer is. We won’t bore you with all the details (click on the link for a history lesson. It’s fun, we promise). But IPA stands for India Pale Ale. It’s basically a really hoppy type of beer. It’s fruity. It’s juicy. It’s a sunny day’s best friend. A session IPA is kind of like their younger sibling. Less hoppy. Less bitter. A bit sweeter. But still totally crushable at any BBQ.
Beavertown Session IPAs
Well, since you asked, we’d like to direct your attention back to Neck Oil, our OG session IPA beer. It's famous both on our planet and also on other, less successful versions of the Earth, like Earth v. 5948b, where gravity doesn’t exist and every day’s a Wednesday. People just can't get enough of its light and zesty flavour. Stressful work day? Neck Oil. Hosting a BBQ? Case of Neck Oil. Accidentally stepped on the cat’s tail? Neck Oil! There's never a bad time to enjoy our favourite session IPA (responsibly, of course).
Now you know the ins and outs of session IPA, you can go drop some facts on your mates over a pint. They’ll be really impressed (probably). Or they’ll just tell you to pack it in and make you get the next round. Better luck next time. Check out some more Beavertown blogs, like What is Light Beer?, to see if you can impress them next weekend instead.
