If you’re a fan of IPAs but find yourself shying away from their often high alcohol content and intense bitterness, session IPAs might just become your new go-to. These beers blend the hoppiness and aromatic qualities of traditional IPAs with a lighter body and lower alcohol level, making them perfect for longer, more casual drinking sessions. Whether you’re relaxing at a backyard barbecue or unwinding after a long day, session IPAs offer the ultimate balance of refreshment and flavor. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best session IPA beers available in 2025, helping you discover flavorful brews that won’t overpower your palate or your evening.
What Makes a Session IPA Stand Out?
Session IPAs are a unique sub-style within the IPA family, designed specifically to emphasize drinkability without sacrificing the crucial hop character that IPA lovers crave. Typically, a session IPA has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of around 3-5%, significantly lower than standard IPAs which often exceed 6-7%. This lower ABV means you can enjoy multiple servings without that overwhelming buzz, making session IPAs ideal for social gatherings or any time you want a flavorful beer that won’t weigh you down.
Beyond the alcohol content, session IPAs tend to showcase moderate bitterness. The goal is to deliver a hop-forward profile that leans on citrus, tropical fruit, floral, or piney notes without the harsh, lingering bitterness common in double or imperial IPAs. Their lighter malt backbone helps create a crisp, clean finish that encourages another sip — perfect for extended drinking sessions. Session IPAs strike a delicate balance, offering complexity and depth but with an easygoing, approachable drinkability.
Criteria for Selecting Top Session IPAs
When curating a list of the best session IPAs, several factors come into play to ensure the beer delivers both quality and consistent enjoyment. Here’s what we focus on:
- Alcohol Content: Staying true to the style, we look for beers with an ABV of about 3-5%, providing the balance between flavor and drinkability.
- Hop Character: The presence of vibrant hop aromas and flavors — whether citrus, pine, floral, or tropical — is essential. We prioritize brews that showcase hops prominently but without excessive bitterness.
- Balance: The malt profile should complement the hops without overpowering them, ensuring a smooth finish and round mouthfeel that invites multiple sips.
- Availability: We focus on session IPAs that beer enthusiasts can find more easily in 2025, whether at local craft breweries, regional distributors, or online beer retailers.
- Consistency: Beers that receive positive feedback from the craft beer community year after year for maintaining quality.
Reviews of the Best Session IPAs Available in 2025
Now, let’s dive into the most exciting session IPAs you can find this year, each bringing a unique twist to the style.
1. Founders All Day IPA
Founders Brewing Co. sets the standard for session IPAs with their iconic All Day IPA. This beer features a well-rounded malt backbone balanced with four different hop varieties imparting bright citrus and pine aromas. At 4.7% ABV, it’s highly sessionable and widely available nationwide, making it a fantastic introduction to session IPAs for newcomers and a reliable classic for aficionados.
2. Lagunitas DayTime IPA
Lagunitas’ DayTime IPA is a light and refreshing choice with a clean, crisp body and a citrus-dominant hop profile. Clocking in at 4% ABV, this beer uses a blend of traditional and newer experimental hops to deliver floral and tropical notes without overwhelming bitterness, perfect for those sunny afternoons.
3. Ballast Point Easy Jack
Ballast Point’s Easy Jack balances bright grapefruit hop aromas with a slightly sweet malt character. At a modest 4% ABV, it’s an excellent example of a session IPA that maintains complexity through a good mix of American and Mosaic hops. It’s light and crisp with a refreshing finish.
4. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils
While technically a pilsner, Mama’s Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues features hops more commonly associated with session IPAs, including Perle and Saaz, lending subtle bitterness and floral notes. At 4.4% ABV, it hits that sessionable mark with a slightly spicy and crisp hop character that fans of session IPAs enjoy.
5. Firestone Walker Easy Jack
Another gem from Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Easy Jack is a low-calorie IPA with a 4% ABV, bursting with citrus and pine hop notes. It’s known for its smooth mouthfeel and balanced bitterness, making it a favorite especially in West Coast craft beer circles.
Regional Breweries Excelling in Session IPAs
Beyond the national brands, many regional breweries are leading the charge in crafting top-tier session IPAs. These local heroes often experiment with innovative hop combinations and unique brewing techniques, adding exciting variety to the scene.
- Trillium Brewing Company (Massachusetts): Trillium’s Congress Street is a great example of a flavorful, hazy session IPA with bright tropical hops and a creamy texture.
- Tree House Brewing Company (Massachusetts): Known for its juicy IPAs, Tree House offers sessionable options like Green, which showcases intense hop aromas balanced with drinkability.
- Modern Times Beer (California): Their City of the Sun Session IPA features tropical fruit hop aromas with a smooth and easy-drinking profile.
- Wicked Weed Brewing (North Carolina): Friction is a session IPA that offers a great balance of citrus and resinous hops perfect for those looking for regional craft excellence.
Tips on Where to Buy or Order These Beers
Finding the best session IPA beers is easier than ever thanks to the rise of craft beer distribution and online retailers. Here are some tips to help you get your hands on these flavorful brews:
- Visit Local Craft Beer Stores: Many specialty beer stores stock popular session IPAs and regional offerings. Chatting with knowledgeable staff can also lead to new recommendations.
- Check Brewery Websites: Many breweries sell beer online either for direct shipping or through local distributors. Signing up for newsletters often provides early access to special releases.
- Use Online Retailers: Platforms like Drizly, BeerAdvocate, and CraftShack allow you to search and order from a wide variety of session IPAs, often with delivery options.
- Attend Beer Festivals and Tap Takeovers: These events frequently showcase specific breweries’ latest session IPAs, offering tastings and the chance to buy fresh cans or bottles.
- Local Bars and Taprooms: Frequenting venues with strong craft beer selections increases the chance of sampling limited session IPA releases on tap.
Food Pairing Ideas With Session IPAs
Session IPAs’ bright acidity and moderate bitterness make them incredibly food-friendly, able to enhance a variety of dishes without overwhelming the palate. Here are some favorite pairings:
- Spicy Foods: The crisp, refreshing hop bitterness cuts through spicy heat, making session IPAs great companions to dishes like buffalo wings, spicy tacos, or Indian curry.
- Grilled Meats and Seafood: Session IPAs complement charred flavors beautifully, pairing well with grilled chicken, burgers, shrimp, and fish tacos.
- Salads and Light Fare: The citrus and floral hop notes brighten salads, especially those with vinaigrette dressings, goat cheese, or fruit elements.
- Cheese: Session IPAs balance well with mild cheeses such as mozzarella, havarti, or ricotta, and they can also handle sharper cheddar when tasted thoughtfully.
- Asian Cuisine: Their complex hop profiles complement the sweet and savory balance in teriyaki, sushi, and Vietnamese dishes.
Elevate Your Beer Tasting With These Picks
Session IPAs offer a fantastic gateway into flavorful, hop-forward beers that don’t come with the intense alcohol punch of their classic IPA cousins. By choosing session IPAs, you allow yourself the freedom to savor fresh, vibrant brews for longer periods — perfect for casual afternoons, social gatherings, or winding down after work.
Exploring the variety available in 2025 ensures you’ll find session IPAs that suit your personal tastes, from the clean and crisp to the hazy and juicy. Whether your preference leans towards nationally recognized brands or regionally crafted gems, the options abound and the enjoyment is guaranteed. So grab a can or bottle, pair it with some tasty food, and enjoy the refreshing, balanced hop experience that only a great session IPA can deliver.
