IPA Session, the new face of hoppy beers

IPA has redefined the taste of hops. Powerful, bitter, aromatic… a style that hits the mouth and has won over craft beer lovers. But sometimes, you want that intensity without going over the top on the alcohol. That’s where Session IPA comes in.

With its ultra-hoppy profile and low alcohol content, it has become a choice alternative for those who want to enjoy the flavors of hops without the heaviness of a classic IPA. More than just a fad, it is a technical balance that pushes brewers to surpass themselves: how to keep a maximum of aromas with a lighter malt base?

Far from being a cheap IPA, Session IPA stands out as a style in its own right. And if it has earned a place among the most popular beers, it's because it has more than one trick up its sleeve.

the IPA that plays the balance card

What is an IPA Session?

A few years ago, an IPA with 6 or 7% alcohol was still considered a light beer. With the explosion of Double and Triple IPAs, a new trend has emerged: retaining all the hoppy character of the style, but with a more reasonable alcohol content.

Session IPAs are generally between 3.5 and 4.5% alcohol. Their name comes from "session beers": light beers designed to be drunk over a long period of time without saturating or weighing down. But beware of preconceived ideas: this is not a watered-down IPA. It must retain a powerful aroma, generous hopping and balanced bitterness.

The aromatic DNA of a Session IPA

Alcohol plays a role in mouthfeel, but it’s the hops that define an IPA’s identity . In a Session IPA, it’s even more crucial, providing depth and complexity to offset a lighter body.

The hop varieties used are often those that explode with fruity and resinous aromas. Cascade, Citra, Mosaic or Mandarina Bavaria are among the most popular. But to prevent a Session IPA from turning into raw bitterness, brewing is essential.

Precise dry hopping maximizes aromas without extracting too much bitterness. A balanced choice of malts brings body without weighing down the beer. Well-controlled fermentation develops subtle esters. This finesse of execution makes it possible to create an expressive beer.

Brewing a Session IPA: Less alcohol, same intensity?

The technical challenge: preserving the taste without weighing down the beer

Brewing a Session IPA is like trying to make a strong espresso… but with less coffee. The challenge is to find the balance between aromatic intensity and lightness.

If the malt base is too light, the beer seems flat. If the bitterness is too strong, it becomes abrupt. Light malts such as Pilsner or Carapils are preferred, sometimes with a touch of wheat or oats to improve the texture. Fermentation must be precise to avoid any impression of a beer that is too fluid.

Hopping is a key element. A Session IPA can’t rely on alcohol to carry its flavors, so it must maximize the extraction of hop compounds without excess bitterness . Dry hopping, which involves adding hops late in fermentation, is often used to intensify fruity and floral flavors.

A successful Session IPA is a beer where each sip remains intense in flavor, without heaviness or saturation.

The Speakeasy: The Example of a Well-Balanced Session IPA

In the world of light IPAs, some do this balance particularly well, and the speakeasy is a good example . At 4.0% ABV, it combines a light but structured body with a punchy aromatic.

Its hopping relies on Herkules for a clean bitter base, Cascade for its floral notes and Mandarina Bavaria for a touch of citrus. The result is a fresh beer, where the intensity of the hops never overwhelms the drinkability.

Each sip prolongs the pleasure without saturating the palate. This is precisely what defines a well-executed Session IPA: a beer that retains all the expressiveness of the hops without the saturation effect of a more alcoholic version.

Session IPA: a style in full mutation?

A diversity of interpretations in the brewing world

Session IPAs don't have a rigid specification. Some breweries go below 4% alcohol, seeking maximum drinkability, while others flirt with 5%, close to a hoppy Pale Ale.

The style sometimes blurs the lines. Some Session IPAs could almost be classified as American Pale Ales, so close are the hop intensity and alcohol content. Others are reminiscent of NEIPAs, but with a lighter texture and more controlled bitterness.

What makes the style so successful is the brewers' ability to find the perfect balance between aromatic power and lightness. Too light, it loses depth. Too bitter, it becomes abrupt.

The Future of Session IPAs: Where is the Style Headed?

Brewers are constantly innovating to refine their Session IPAs and push their limits. The evolution of hop varieties has a major impact on the style. New varieties like Strata, Sabro or HBC 586 offer even more explosive aromas of tropical fruits and citrus, allowing to intensify the flavors without increasing the alcohol content.

Fermentation also plays a key role. Some breweries are experimenting with more expressive yeasts, which develop fruity esters or spicy notes, adding complexity to low-alcohol beers.

With the rise of light and accessible craft beers, Session IPA is establishing itself as an essential alternative to classic IPAs.

An IPA that has it all figured out

Far from being a simple light version of the IPA, the Session IPA has established itself as a style in its own right. It embodies this desire to push the limits of hops while maintaining maximum drinkability.

It is so appealing because it ticks all the boxes: intense in aroma, refreshing, accessible and balanced. Its success is based on a subtle balance between a light body and a punchy aroma, a feat that brewers perfect by playing on the choice of hops, fermentation and cold hopping.

With the evolution of brewing techniques and the arrival of new, ever more expressive hop varieties, the Session IPA has not finished reinventing itself. More than just a trend, it seems set to become a must-have in the brewing landscape.