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Prior Life

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Prior Life is a session IPA of 3.4% that Greene King launched in 2024. It is fruity and refreshing, with mellow tropical notes on the palate and a citrus aroma, and it stays light and easy to drink. The name is a tribute to the Benedictine monks who were the first brewers of Bury St Edmunds and who drank low-strength beer every day because it was safer than the water of their time.

ABV
3.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2024
World Beer Awards
Session IPA
Country Winner · 2024
World Beer Awards
England
★Gold — World Beer Awards (Session IPA)
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards (England)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitytropicalcitrusy
fruity
tropical
citrusy
clean
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lime and grapefruit pith—layered beneath mellow tropical fruit character that suggests stone fruit and subtle pineapple.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Prior Life

◎ Appearance

Prior Life presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass sides with delicate lacing. The carbonation is lively but restrained, appropriate to the session strength, creating a bright and inviting presentation.

pale goldenclearfine head lacingcrisp carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lime and grapefruit pith—layered beneath mellow tropical fruit character that suggests stone fruit and subtle pineapple. A soft, clean malt base provides gentle support without intruding, while the overall aromatic profile remains refreshing and approachable rather than assertive.

citrus forwardtropical fruitclean maltlight and fresh

◐ Taste

On the palate, Prior Life opens light and dry with a crisp entry that emphasizes its tropical fruit character—particularly melon and papaya notes. The mid-palate remains delicate and sessionable, with moderate bitterness (40 IBU) arriving as a subtle, lingering dryness that encourages another sip rather than dominating the finish. The low ABV keeps the body lean and the overall impression easygoing.

tropical stone fruitmoderate bitternessdry palatelight-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively brief, fading into a gentle citrus dryness without any astringent harshness. A faint mineral quality lingers pleasantly in the aftertaste.

dry finishcitrus lingeringclean
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
76
Appearance
82
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 Prior Life

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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, refreshing, light character as Prior Life will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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