33 of the Best Session IPAs, Blind-Tasted and Ranked

Learn about how we rate & review beers with our BJCP blind panel here


Boulevard Brewing Co. Pop-Up Session IPA (82)

“Boulevard Pop-Up Session IPA is built for frequent excursions, with a very drinkable character and relatively low bitterness tucked behind a big, fruity hops aroma.”

Heavy Seas Beer Cross Bones (82)

“Bursting with floral and citrus notes, this has a strong malt backbone to support all of that hoppy goodness. With its big body, smooth nish, and lingering citrus avor, it’s hard to believe that it’s 4.5 percent ABV.”

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Baby Daddy Session IPA (83)

“Sunny straw in color and loaded with hops. The aroma and flavor yield citrus and tropical notes: grapefruit, melon, lime, passion fruit, and a touch of spice. It has a full balanced body, with a crisp nish and low bitterness.”

Samuel Adams / Boston Beer Company Rebel Rider IPA (83)

“Bursting with bright citrus and tropical fruit notes of apricot and tangerine, with hints of pine and a slight resinous character, this IPA finishes with just enough subtle bitterness to bring you back for another sip.”

Alpine Beer Company Hoppy Birthday (85)

“Made with six different hops, this bold brew is refreshing enough to enjoy again and again.”

Commonhouse Aleworks Local Lo Cal IPA (85)

“This low-calorie IPA is herbaceous with notes of pineapple and cantaloupe.”

Great Divide Brewing Company Lasso (86)

“Brewed with a robust roundup of Columbus, Centennial, and Cascade hops, its sessionable simplicity proves bigger isn’t always better.”

Left Hand Brewing Company Introvert IPA (86)

“Hops aromas of tropical papaya and kiwi with woodsy pine, balanced by honey malt and a clean bitter finish.”

Two Roads Brewing Company Lil Heaven Session IPA (87)

“Made with four exotic hops: Azacca, Calypso, Mosaic, and Equinox. Taste is of tropical fruits, speci cally passion fruit, grapefruit, and apricots. Finishes with just enough toasted malt character to balance.”

Stone Brewing Company Go To IPA (87)

“This session IPA delivers all the fruity, piney character of a much bigger IPA. To accomplish this, we employ ‘hop bursting’ to coax out extreme flavors and aromas while also imparting a burst of pleasant bitterness.”

Fort George Brewery Overdub Session IPA (88)

“Pouring a solid gold with a crisp white head, Overdub IPA is a sensory overload of mango and papaya hops aromas, dank grapefruit tones, and mellow citrus finishing notes.”

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Effortless IPA (88)

“Domestic and imported malts play the back seat to the loads of American-grown hops that were dumped into both the kettle and the fermentor. Dry hopped for a mouthwatering aroma with Mosaic and Palisade hops.”

Flying Dog Brewery Easy IPA (88)

"Aromas of grapefruit and subtle spice meld into lemon and pine hop notes balanced with crisp cracker malt."

Otter Creek Brewing Over Easy (88)

“Straight from our stash to your glass, we’ve created a chronically crushable ale that turns over easy without exhausting the palate.”

Tampa Bay Brewing Co Production Brewery Reef Donkey (88)

Our acclaimed dry-hopped American pale ale that drinks like a session IPA. Motueka, Ekuanot, and Citra hops give this beer a lemon/lime aroma with a citrus/tropical fruit flavor.

Lagunitas Daytime (88)

“Crisp and hop-forward. Sessionable. Perfect for when there’s still work to do or work to avoid.”

Reuben's Brews Crushable (88)

“An approachable, bright, and hazy pale ale that is easy drinking with lush tropical-fruit aromas.”

Two Brothers Brewing Company Sidekick (89)

“Sidekick extra pale ale is a golden colored ale that is loaded with juicy citrus and passion fruit hops aroma yet balanced with malt and hops character. A true companion.”

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Easy Jack (90)

“Brewed and dry hopped with a globe-trotting selection of newer hops varieties from Germany, New Zealand, and North America. This beer delivers massive hops aromas, surprising dimension, and a signature malt balance.”

Ballast Point Brewing Even Keel (90)

“Ten different malts and six different hops combine to create this full-flavored, small beer. This session ale is herbaceous with additional citrus aromas of lemon and grapefruit. The orange to copper hue draws you in.”

New Belgium Brewing Company Slow Ride (90)

“A pour of sheened gold and fluffy, white foam. A blend of eight hops varieties, led by Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin, twist together tropical scents of melon, peach, lime, and grapefruit. The flavor mirrors the aroma.”

Coronado Brewing Co. CoastWise (91)

“A collaboration between Coronado Brewing Company and the Surfrider Foundation, CoastWise is inspired by a shared love of the coastal lifestyle and a desire to protect the natural environment that inspires it.”

Great Divide Brewing Co Fastpack IPA (91)

“Fruit cocktail of citrus, peach, and other stone fruits with lively hints of white wine.”

Green Flash Brewing Company Jibe Session IPA (92)

“Well-balanced, floral, citrus, and vibrant hops character defines our idea of what a perfect session ale should be.”

To Øl Sur Simcoe (92)

“At 4.5 percent ABV, this is sure to be a winner, a low pH means the beer stays fresher longer and offers everyone the chance to knock back glass after glass of session sour IPA.”

Oskar Blues Brewery Pinner (92)

“Tropical fruits, citrus juices, pineapple, and spicy berry up front in the flavor and aroma.”

Oskar Blues Brewery Pinner Throwback IPA (93)

“With tropical fruits, citrus juices, pineapple, and spice berry up front in the aroma and flavor, the biscuit and toasted bread at the back balance out all the hops and make a great finish.”

21st Amendment Brewery Down To Earth (94)

“Whether you have a long mission behind you or a full afternoon ahead, this session IPA will help keep things real. More relaxed than an IPA, but with all the hops aroma and flavor.”

Hopewell Brewing Co Outside Voice (94)

“Notes of dank tropical fruit lead the way, followed by an undercurrent of citrus zest and piney bitterness.”

Broad Leaf Local Beer Chromatic Shatter (94)

“Everyday-drinking hazy pale ale with Talus, Mosaic, and Citra.”

Great Notion Brewing Juice Jr. (95)

Session IPA brewed with Mosaic hops.

Societe Brewing Company The Coachman (97)

“Intense peach and citrus hop aromas.”

AleSmith Brewing Co KickBackRelax (97)

“Packed with Mosaic and Citra, giving it notes of citrus and pineapple.”