It’s easy to define session IPAs by what they’re not: hard-hitting hops delivery systems with soaring ABVs. But the category has complexity all its own, ranging from dry and piney refreshers to juicy numbers rich with tropical fruit, and more. This selection of widely distributed options spans West Coast, hazy, and American IPA styles. All clock in at less than 5 percent ABV, making them ideal for those moments when you want to sustain—not up end—a good time.
Two Roads Brewing Co. Lil’ Heaven Crushable IPA
It can be hard to deliver the hoppy bitterness of a traditional West Coast IPA in a lower-ABV package, but this offering from Connecticut-based Two Roads does just that. With 4.8 percent ABV, it has an earthy and malty character offset by resin and delicate fruit, including lemon zest, tangerine juice, and the slightest bit of fresh pineapple. Zesty hops balance but don’t overpower the palate, which is round, medium-bodied, and imminently enjoyable.
New Holland Brewing Little Piglet
At 4.6 percent ABV, this approachable beer from Michigan’s New Holland brewery sits well below mainstream IPAs’ 8 or even 9 percent ABV. Grassy hops and fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juices headline the nose, making way for a light-bodied, easy-drinking palate with soft, bready notes. It has less bitterness than hardcore hops heads might crave, but the dry finish is undeniably refreshing.
Many credit this Delaware-based brewery’s 2003 flagship 60 Minute IPA with amplifying U.S. appetites for the beer
This Article was originally published on IMBIBE Magazine
