Session IPA

IPA beer has gained a lot of ground in the world of craft beers the past years. And what happened to many other popular beers, more and more types of IPA beers are brewed nowadays. For the beer lover who doesn’t want to be brought home by his friends at the end of a hot summer day, we have the session IPA. At Beer Republic we are happy to take you into the wonderful world of the session IPA. The next time you order one at our webshop, you will know everything about this beer type. 

What is a session IPA?

The session IPA is the little brother of the India Pale Ale. With little we mean a lower alcohol percentage, so not that strong (sorry). Usually, the session IPA contains an alcohol percentage of less than 5.0%. The goal of the session IPA is to drink beer with a lower alcohol percentage without compromising the taste of this specific type of beer. The session IPA therefore resembles a normal IPA in taste and smell. Despite the lower alcohol percentage, the session IPA is definitely full of flavour. 

The history of the session IPA

The session IPA can be scaled under the IPA beers, also called the India Pale Ales. The IPA was first brewed in England during the 17th century. This had everything to do with the seafaring of that time. Ships were often at sea for a long time. The beer they brought with them had to remain good during an extended period of time. Therefore, more hop was added to the beer. The bitters from the hops ensured the beer remained in good quality. And then, there was the IPA! Thank God for those people who thought about adding extra hop. 

Why they brewed the session IPA

The IPA gained popularity in recent years. It became popular and very quickly this type of beer saw increasing fame in 2010. The IPA is now one of the most widely consumed craft beers, not only in the Netherlands but all over the world. The session IPA was subsequently created. Because of the lower alcohol percentage, you can drink the session IPA carefree on a hot summer day without getting too tipsy. The session IPA is therefore a very suitable summer beer. 

What does a session IPA taste like?

You can taste the characteristic and recognizable taste of an IPA beer in the session IPA. This is due to the amount of hops added to this beer during the brewing process, which is more than with other craft beers. The amount of hops gives the session IPA an extra bitter taste. To make the session IPA suitable for the hot summer days, a fruity flavor is often added to the beer. The flavors soften the bitterness of the beer. Some hops have a fruity taste in their own right, which gives the session IPA a naturally fresh character. 

IPA beer with a lower alcohol percentage

The big advantage of a session IPA: you can drink this beer all day long. The word ‘session’ is derived from the English term ‘go to a session’. This refers to a drinking session, which can last all day. Although drinking beer all day long is not recommended, you can drink the session IPA without getting too drunk. However, you still have to drink in moderation. The session IPA is not an alcohol-free beer, but usually contains less alcohol, namely up to a maximum of 5.0%. 

The session IPA: for a hot summer day

Due to the lower alcohol percentage and the fresh taste of the session IPA, this is a suitable type of beer to drink on a hot summer day. The Americans also call the session IPA ‘Lawnmower beer’: according to them, the beer tastes best on a warm Saturday afternoon, right after you have mowed the grass in your garden. Picture yourself in your garden, with a fresh, bitter, and ice cold session IPA. Delicious!

Order your session IPA online

As a true beer lover, the session IPA should be on your list of favorites. The next time you see all your friends again, you will definitely have something to say about this beer. You now know what the session IPA is, where this beer comes from and when it is the best time to put this delicious beer on the table. Have you gotten thirsty by now and do you like a nice light beer? At Beer Republic we have an extensive selection of the tastiest session IPAs from all over the world.