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Hobgoblin Session IPA

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A session-strength IPA at 3.4 %, pale yellow and light in body. Barley and wheat malt form the base; five New World hops – Ella, Cascade, Galaxy, Topaz and Citra – supply a fresh, zesty aroma and a flavour of tropical fruit and citrus. Sweetness and bitterness both stay low, so the hop fruit carries the beer from start to finish.

ABV
3.4%
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
tropicalcitrusyhoppy
tropical
citrusy
hoppy
fruity
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with vibrant New World hop character—tropical stone fruit, citrus zest, and pine notes that leap from the glass.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hobgoblin Session IPA

◎ Appearance

Pale yellow with excellent clarity and a bright, inviting hue that speaks to the beer's refreshing character. The head is modest but persistent, with fine bubbles that cling to the glass in delicate lacing. Carbonation is visible and lively, creating a crisp visual presentation.

pale yellowcrystal clearfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with vibrant New World hop character—tropical stone fruit, citrus zest, and pine notes that leap from the glass. There is a subtle floral undertone and a whisper of green herbal quality from the five hop varieties. The Malz base remains restrained, allowing the hops to dominate without any yeast-driven esters or phenolics.

tropical fruitcitrus zestfloral pineclean

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and approachable, with a light mouthfeel that belies the intensity of flavour. Tropical and citrus notes bloom across the mid-palate—guava, lemon, and grapefruit—balanced by a crisp, dry bitterness that arrives clean and defined. The finish is dry and refreshing, with no cloying sweetness or harsh edges.

tropical citrusdry bitterlight bodyeasy-drinking

◑ Finish

The finish is short to medium, with a lingering citrus and hop bitterness that fades gracefully into a clean, dry aftertaste. The lower alcohol allows the hops to fade without any warming sensation, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for another sip.

dry aftertastecitrus linger
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 Hobgoblin 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 tropical, citrusy, hoppy character as Hobgoblin 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 United Kingdom beers →