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I’m not going to beat you over the head again with why I think there is no such thing as a session IPA. Suffice it to say that classically, to be a session beer alcohol content should be 4% or less, and to be an IPA you’re usually in the 6% to 7% range. The one excludes the other, folks, so I don’t see how you can have it both ways.
Be that as it may, Sierra Nevada has its Nooner Session IPA. The interesting thing about this beer is that I’ve never seen it sold individually; instead you get 3 bottles in the Sierra Nevada 4-Way IPA sampler 12-pack. You’ll also get 3 bottles each of the following:
Sierra Nevada Blindfold Black IPA
I would think you would need more than 3 bottles to session, wouldn’t you? Be that as it may, here’s what Sierra Nevada says about the beer on the label:
There’s no better way to start a lazy afternoon than with a group of friends and a few beers. Nooner IPA is a session beer that’s light in body yet big in hop flavor. By using intense, whole-cone American hops in our Hop Torpedo we pack this small beer with a hefty hop punch.
Ingredients from the website:
Yeast Ale yeast
Bittering Hops Sterling
Finishing Hops Centennial, Chinook
Malts Two-row Pale, Wheat, Munich, Chocolate
Sierra Nevada Nooner Session IPA has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume and 40 IBUs. I paid $15.99 for the sampler 12-pack, which isn’t too bad really for 4 different beers.
Sierra Nevada Nooner Session IPA pours to a bright orange color with a thick rocky head formation and a vibrant citrus (lemony) and resin nose. Taking a sip, this one has some malt to it-a little more than most of the beers in this alleged style. That’s not surprising, since it has a little more gravity and alcohol, too. The beer has a very impressive herbal bitterness at the last that bites and lingers nicely. A cut above the average example of the style thanks to the greater malt presence that separates it from the pack. Flowery, very citrusy, grapefruit in the palate, these all add a delightful hop aroma and flavor without being thin in body as many so-called “session IPAs” are.
A very tasty American Pale Ale, and I like it a lot.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler