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Hudson Bay ISA

Smithers Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · Session IPA · One of 50 Session IPAs in hopIQ

A hazy India Session Ale and the lightest of the four year-round beers. Tropical fruit and citrus lead, mango and orange peel over a soft, slightly sweet malt base, with a bitterness that stays gentle rather than cutting. The body is fuller than the strength suggests and the finish is soft and faintly juicy. Named for the mountain the taproom windows look out on.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
See all Session IPA alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Dry finish.

A clean close sets the character — an invitation to the next sip.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Session IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
tropical
orange
juicy
hoppy
Malt character
malty
Distinctive notes
hazy
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hudson Bay ISA

Appearance

A pale golden ale with pronounced haze from suspended yeast and hop material. The head rises quickly and clings to the glass with fine, adhesive retention. Carbonation is visible and lively, creating a fine bead throughout.

pale goldenhazy from yeastpersistent headbright carbonation

Aroma

Tropical fruit leads immediately—ripe mango and tangerine zest dominate the nose. A soft, slightly sweet Malz foundation sits beneath, allowing the citrus and stone-fruit esters to remain prominent. The hop character is delicate rather than assertive, suggesting careful use of noble cultivars.

mango, tangerinesoft Malz sweetnessnoble hop character

Taste

The palate entry is smooth and rounded, with orange peel and tropical fruit flavors continuing from the aroma. Mid-palate reveals a fuller body than the 4.4% strength would suggest, supported by a gently sweet Malz backbone. Bitterness arrives gradually and remains restrained, never cutting or harsh—it balances rather than dominates.

soft malt bodyorange, tropical fruitgentle bitternessfull-bodied for strength

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering, with a faintly juicy quality that mirrors the aroma. Bitterness fades gracefully, leaving a subtle sweetness and a refreshing, clean aftertaste.

soft, juicy finishclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Hudson Bay ISA

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Hudson Bay ISA

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, tropical, citrusy character as Hudson Bay ISA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Session IPAs in hopIQ

Explore all Session IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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