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O'Hara's Session IPA

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Light in body and alcohol at 3.8 %, with the hop character kept high. Irish malt with caramalt and oat malt gives a pale, crisp base; Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook go in late in the kettle, Citra and Amarillo in a double dry hop. Tropical fruit leads the aroma, with orange, grapefruit and a hint of lemongrass. The taste adds cherry, melon, lemon and lime, and the finish turns slightly herbal. Hazy and light golden.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 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
hoppytropicalcitrusy
hoppy
tropical
citrusy
fruity
orange
herbal
Aroma
Tropical fruit notes lead the profile—guava and mango give way to distinct citrus layers of orange peel and pink grapefruit.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for O'Hara's Session IPA

◎ Appearance

Light golden in color with a hazy, opaque quality that frames the beer's approachable character. The carbonation is crisp and visible, supporting a modest white head that settles into a thin collar with moderate retention. The overall presentation balances clarity and suspension in a way typical of modern Session IPA brewing.

light goldenhazyfine carbonationmoderate head

◌ Aroma

Tropical fruit notes lead the profile—guava and mango give way to distinct citrus layers of orange peel and pink grapefruit. Beneath the fruity top notes, a whisper of lemongrass and white pepper suggests the late-kettle and dry-hop additions. Irish malt provides a soft, pale cereal foundation that does not compete with the hop-driven aromatics.

tropical fruitcitrus zestlemongrassdry hop presence

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with the caramalt and oat malt establishing a light, slightly creamy body that resists heaviness despite the hop intensity. Mid-palate develops cherry, melon, and lemon notes that echo the aroma while adding stone-fruit depth. The finish turns gently herbal with a restrained bitterness (25 IBU), allowing the fruit to fade without sharpness.

cherrymelonherbal finishbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

Dry and measured, the herbal notes linger briefly as the tropical and citrus character dissipates. The low alcohol (3.8%) and restrained bitterness leave the palate refreshed rather than fatigued, inviting another sip.

herbal aftertastedryrefreshing
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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 O'Hara's Session IPA

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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 hoppy, tropical, hazy character as O'Hara's Session IPA 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 →