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Castle Rock Session

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Pale, naturally hazy session IPA: fresh grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit up front with a zesty hop, then a mellow, juicy, fruity palate and a soft bitterness. Simcoe and Amarillo go in after the boil and again after fermentation, oats and softer water add body, and the beer stays unfined and unfiltered. Born in 2017 in the experimental 2.0 range, it became one of the brewery's biggest sellers. Vegan, gluten free, 4.0 %.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
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
citrusyfruitytropical
citrusy
fruity
tropical
juicy
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with bright grapefruit and lemon zest, backed by a wave of tropical stone fruit—mango and passionfruit notes emerging clearly.
not found:piney,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Castle Rock Session

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with a natural haze that catches the light softly. A modest white head forms and holds with gentle persistence, leaving delicate trails of lacing down the glass. Fine carbonation creates a lively yet controlled effervescence throughout.

pale goldennaturally hazyfine carbonationdelicate lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright grapefruit and lemon zest, backed by a wave of tropical stone fruit—mango and passionfruit notes emerging clearly. Simcoe and Amarillo hops create a fresh, grassy layer beneath the fruit, with subtle floral undertones that invite repeated sniffs.

grapefruittropical fruitcitrus zestfloral hops

◐ Taste

Entry is juicy and soft-spoken, the citrus and tropical notes rolling onto the palate without aggression. Mid-palate brings a mellow fruitiness reinforced by oat-derived body and smooth mouthfeel from the softer water profile. Bitterness arrives restrained and clean, finishing dry without harshness.

juicysoft mouthfeelrestrained bitternessclean finish

◑ Finish

Medium-short finish with tropical and citrus notes fading gradually. A light, clean aftertaste lingers without residual harshness or astringency.

medium-short fadeclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
76
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 Castle Rock 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 hazy, citrusy, fruity character as Castle Rock 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 United Kingdom beers →