All Day IPAs

Full disclosure and in hopes of protecting my own arse, the above column title and byline are not of my own creation, they are actually names of relatively new beers in a comparatively new, or at least more modern sub-style of a classic beer category, the American IPA.
Now, one would not be at fault for asking, “Why do we need more versions of American IPA.” As the largest category of craft beer in this country, boasting the most different examples, our IPA is already well spoken-for from east coast to west coast. Yet going against the more, more, more trend may just prove a good thing.
Last year I reviewed Stone’s 4.4 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) Levitation ale, a hoppy red gem, and the recent trend returning toward sessionable yet flavorful beers. These are the delicious yet drinkable beers you might enjoy repeatedly and still be able to hold a conversation, possibly whilst manning a grill or keeping up with your chairs and towels at the beach.
But the last year has seen a jump in a specific offshoot of the tasty session beer. This new round should surprise no one, although the juicy bitterness in many of these brews will likely shock most drinkers when noticing the ABV, much less in comparing with your standard strength IPA options.
Call them what you like: session IPAs, low-gravity hopped out beers, flavorful yet light alcohol; these new India Pale Ales are high in taste, especially hoppy bitterness, but won’t knock you down after one pint.
Compared with the tendency toward making ordinary IPA into DIPA and the double variety into IIIPA or bigger, some hopheads have described these ‘smaller’ versions as a bit tame. I feel like the idea is lost on the folks who only want all the hops and won’t stop until their tastebuds are ripped off by increasing levels of bitterness.
No, the point here is to compare the fantastic flavors of these session IPAs with the bland beers that share similar alcohol strength. American light beers, adjunct lagers, and even those import yellow fizzy offerings. None will touch the mouth-watering and lip smacking results of the all day IPAs.
The majority of these session IPAs check in under 5 percent ABV while still bringing the bitter bite. Founder’s started the race with their All Day IPA, now available in cans. A combo of pine and grapefruit, this sticky ale is big but won’t bowl you over, 4.7 percent ABV.
All over town right now, Stone’s Go To IPA, 4.5 percent ABV is even hoppier if possible, leaning more toward citrus and tropical fruits with not a hint of malt base to blur the bitterness.
Possibly the most drinkable of the bunch is DayTime from Lagunitas. A touch more malt, but not much, to keep the spicy grass and lemon and orange hops notes in check, this “Fractional IPA” checks in at 4.65 percent ABV. If you want to hang around and play, go for the all days IPAs. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.