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Session IPA

Kitchen Brew
Switzerland·Session IPA
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Golden-pale and hop-spicy, with a refreshing, present bitterness over a surprisingly full, malty body for a light beer at 4.5 % ABV. Citra hops meet Vienna, Munich and caramel malt, brewed from an 11.0° Plato wort. Instead of a classic Christmas or winter beer, founder Fabian presented this light IPA in the days before Christmas 2014.

ABV
4.5%
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
hoppymaltycaramel
hoppy
malty
caramel
spicy hop
citrusy
Aroma
Citra hops dominate the nose with pronounced citrus and spicy-herbal notes, lending a distinctly fresh character.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Session IPA

◎ Appearance

A bright golden-pale body with excellent clarity and lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. The beer presents a clean, inviting appearance characteristic of well-executed pale ales.

golden-paleclearfine lacinglively carbonation

◌ Aroma

Citra hops dominate the nose with pronounced citrus and spicy-herbal notes, lending a distinctly fresh character. Beneath the hop-driven profile, Vienna and Munich malts contribute subtle caramel sweetness and a light, grainy backdrop. The overall aromatics are crisp and present, without any yeast-derived esters overwhelming the composition.

Citra citrusspicy-herbal hopscaramel maltclean nose

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a surprisingly full malty body for 4.5% ABV, supported by Vienna and Munich malts alongside caramel notes. Hop bitterness arrives cleanly in the mid-palate at 40 IBU, providing a refreshing counterpoint without harshness. The finish is dry and snappy, with lingering spicy-hop character that extends the drinking experience.

full bodyclean bitternesscaramel sweetnessdry finish

◑ Finish

A crisp, moderately long finish marked by persistent spicy-hop character and dry malt structure. The aftertaste remains refreshing and inviting, encouraging the next sip.

dryhop-forward aftertasterefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 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, refreshing, bitter character as 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 Switzerland beers →