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The Session

Blacks Brewery
Ireland·Session IPA
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A session IPA at 3.5 %, combining New World hops with a light malt base. The bouquet is delicate and floral, the hop character fruity. It is the lightest of the hop-forward Blacks beers.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter55 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityfloralhoppy
fruity
floral
hoppy
citrusy
Aroma
The bouquet opens with delicate floral notes from New World hop varieties, layered with subtle stone fruit and citrus aromatics.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Session

◎ Appearance

Pale golden in color with excellent clarity and bright, lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and holds with fine, persistent lacing that clings to the glass walls throughout the pour. The beer presents a clean, inviting appearance characteristic of well-crafted session ales.

pale goldencrisp carbonationfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The bouquet opens with delicate floral notes from New World hop varieties, layered with subtle stone fruit and citrus aromatics. A light, clean malt base provides gentle support without dominating the nose. The overall impression is refined and restrained, with hop character remaining the focal point without aggressive intensity.

floral hopsstone fruitdelicateclean malt backdrop

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with fruity hop flavors unfolding across the mid-palate without heaviness. The 55 IBU bitterness arrives in a measured, balanced manner, offering sufficient grip without becoming harsh or astringent. The light malt base remains subtle throughout, allowing hop expression to lead while maintaining structural integrity.

fruity hop characterbalanced bitternesslight-bodiedrefreshing

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering hop bitterness fading gradually into a pleasant, neutral aftertaste. Carbonation persists pleasantly on the palate without leaving any rough edges.

dry finishlingering hop notes
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with The Session

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About Session IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Session IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Session IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, floral, hoppy character as The Session will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Session IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse Ireland beers →