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RecreationAle

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The aroma of this 4.2% session IPA brings bright citrus fruit, and it is hopped with Galaxy, Citra, Centennial, Zythos and Amarillo and dry hopped with Galaxy and Citra. At 34 IBU and just under 100 calories, it is made for summits and trails. Brian Steely's label imagines a day off in Terrapinland, with the beer flowing through Hop Mountain.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter34 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusyhoppyclean
citrusy
hoppy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant citrus fruit—grapefruit and mandarin notes predominate, courtesy of Galaxy and Citra.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for RecreationAle

◎ Appearance

RecreationAle presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. The head forms quickly and holds with good retention, leaving delicate Schaumkleiden down the glass as it settles. Carbonation is lively and visible throughout, appropriate to the session style.

pale goldenclearfine carbonationgood head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus fruit—grapefruit and mandarin notes predominate, courtesy of Galaxy and Citra. A crisp, herbal undertone emerges from Centennial and Zythos, while Amarillo contributes subtle stone-fruit warmth. The malt base remains restrained and clean, allowing the hoppy character to shine without any yeasty or oxidative notes.

bright citrusgrapefruit pithherbal spicestone fruit

◐ Taste

The palate entry is light and refreshing, with citrus brightness immediately apparent. Mid-palate develops a balanced bitterness at 34 IBU—enough to define structure without overwhelming the clean malt foundation. The finish is dry and crisp, with lingering citrus zest and a subtle herbal bite that frames the modest alcohol warmth.

citrus-forwardbalanced bitternessclean maltdry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is short to medium, leaving the palate refreshed rather than weighted. A faint citrus pith dryness persists as the final note, inviting the next sip.

short-mediumrefreshing dryness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
74
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 RecreationAle

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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 citrusy, hoppy, light character as RecreationAle 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 States beers →