Session India Pale Ale

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Category:Hybrid
BJCP Comparable Category:21A - American IPA

Beer Style Description

This is the description of how the Session India Pale Ale style of beer should taste, feel and look. However, there may be perfectly fine beers in this style that fall outside of these ranges and descriptions. This information is just to show the most commonly accepted ranges for the Session India Pale Ale beer style.

Beers exceeding 5.0% abv are not considered Session India Pale Ales. Beers under 5.0% abv (4.0% abw) which meet the criteria for another classic or traditional style category are not considered Session India Pale Ales.

  • Color: Straw to copper
  • Body: Low to medium
  • Malt Flavors & Aromas: A low to medium maltiness should be present in aroma and flavor.
  • Hop Flavors & Aromas: Hop aroma and flavor are medium to high and can display qualities from a wide variety of hops from all over the world. Overall hop character is assertive.
  • IBUs/Bitterness: Medium to high
  • Fermentation Characteristics: Fruity esters are low to medium. Diacetyl should not be present.
  • Common Ingredients: Pale ale or 2-row brewers malt as the base, American or New World hops, American or English yeast with a clean or slightly fruity profile. Generally all-malt, but mashed at lower temperatures for high attenuation. Sugar additions to aid attenuation are acceptable. Restrained use of crystal malts, if any, as high amounts can lead to a sweet finish and clash with the hop character.

Brewing Properties of Session India Pale Ale

These are the functional brewing properties of Session India Pale Ale beers, as descided by the Brewers Association. These guidelines reflect, as accurately as possible, the historical significance, authenticity or a common profile in the current commercial beer market.

ABV
The alcohol by volume is shows the amount of alcohol this style of beer should have.
3.7 - 5.0%
Bitterness
The International Bittering Units (IBU) scale is used to approximately quantify the actual (not perceived) bitterness of beer.
40 - 55 IBUs
SRM
SRM is a scale for measuring the color intensity of a beer. Low SRM grains impart a pale straw color while higher values mean it will add a darker color to the wort. Learn more »
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3 - 12 SRM
(6 - 24 EBC)
Original Gravity
Original Gravity (OG) is a measure of the sugar content in the wort before alcoholic fermentation has started to produce the beer.
1.038 - 1.052
Final Gravity
The Final Gravity (FG) is how much sugar is left over in the beer when fermentation is complete.
1.008 - 1.014

If you see an error in our data, please let us know!

Based on Brewers Association 2020 Beer Style Guidelines with changes. Used with permission of Brewer's Association.