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10 of the Best Session IPAs to Drink in Summer 2021
Fill your fridge with these low ABV bevvies, ready for the weekend.
Whether your drinking habits have increased over the past few months, or are nearer to non-existent, a session IPA could be a great gateway brew to get you back to normality.
Lighter in alcohol than your standard India Pale Ale, session IPAs tend to be crisp and refreshing, while clocking in at under 5% ABV.
Designed for an all-day “session”, this class of beer won’t leave you with the same level of hangover as drinking something a whole lot stronger, leaving you clear headed enough for that early morning training session (or that’s the idea anyway). And because low-alcohol beer tends to have fewer calories, it can also help to reduce your calorie intake.
Never ones to advocate drinking on an empty stomach, a session IPA is the ideal accompaniment to this Men’s Health-approved BBQ spread. So once you’ve got your case on order, it’s just a matter of choosing who to invite over...
How We Test the Best Session IPA
To find the best session IPA, our Men’s Health panel of 10 taste testers were tasked with the tough job of trying 13 different session IPAs, all coming in at under 5% ABV. Looking for thirst-quenching bevvies, perfect for summer, these are the ones they recommend stocking up on, in time for the weekend...
Brick Brewery Peckham Session 330ml
Brick Brewery Peckham Session 330ml
From humble beginnings comes great things — Brick Brewery began life in a garden shed, and has now spread out to a railway arch behind Peckham Rye station in London. We’re glad they persisted, as this tropical brew, with notes of mango and lemon, is a proper thirst-quencher, perfect for a hot day.
Mondo Brewing Co. Little Victories Session IPA 330ml
Mondo Brewing Co. Little Victories Session IPA 330ml
Another independent London brewer (just round the corner from Battersea Power Station), but this time one that is taking inspo from the American craft beer scene. Light, bright and oh-so-zesty, it’s a full-bodied, lightly hopped brew hiding behind a session ABV of 4.3%.
Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA 24 x 330ml
Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA 24 x 330ml
More than just a banging label, Beavertown’s Neck Oil is legit delicious. It’s part of the brand’s core range, and is designed to be drunk at any time of day, or as they say, “even from 8am in the morning!”. In reality that means a light, crisp grapefruity drop that’s big on flavour. You can buy it as a one-off here, or just take the plunge on the 24-pack.
Fourpure Hemisphere Session IPA 12 x 330ml
Fourpure Hemisphere Session IPA 12 x 330ml
This brewing brother double act aims to keep things (four)pure and simple with this super drinkable session IPA. Tropical tart passionfruit and light grassy notes combine for a refreshing, lightly carbonated beverage. And if you really like it, Amazon allows you to set up a regular subscription — just saying.
Brewdog Clockwork Tangerine 4 x 330ml
Brewdog Clockwork Tangerine 4 x 330ml
Although well known for its headline-grabbing stunts, ultimately Brewdog is all about good craft beer, without any nasty preservatives or chemicals. This one’s a real thirst-quencher with notes of tangerine (obvs), mango and marmalade. In other words, liquid sunshine.
Brewdog Dead Pony Club 4 x 330ml
Brewdog Dead Pony Club 4 x 330ml
Also part of the Brewdog range, but at a nicely sessionable strength, Brewdog’s Dead Pony Club is a light pale ale with a little lime zest. Expect an aromatic floral touch and a bitter twist on the finish.
Pressure Drop Pale Fire Pale Ale 440ml
Pressure Drop Pale Fire Pale Ale 440ml
Pressure Drop makes all manner of crazy flavours (choco banana stout anyone?), but on hot sunny days, there’s nothing better than a six-pack of this hazy golden Fire Pale Ale, between pals. It’s one they’ve been making since the very beginning, and with ripe tropical fruit and sweet lemon, we can see why.
Magic Rock Saucery Session IPA 330ml
Magic Rock Saucery Session IPA 330ml
Following a gluten-free diet? Magic Rock’s citrusy session IPA is safe to chug back, even if you’re celiac. Our testers loved the well-balanced bitterness, mango and juicy orange.
Five Points XPA Pale Ale 330ml
Five Points XPA Pale Ale 330ml
Even paler and hoppier than the Five Points Pale, this extra pale ale is mega refreshing. It smells like freshly cut grass, with lemon cutting through the lot. In other words, a highly drinkable little drop.
Goose Island Midway Session IPA 12 x 330ml
Goose Island Midway Session IPA 12 x 330ml
Packing a strong peppery punch, this is a beer that will welcome rich meaty food, such as these Men’s Health-approved cajun kebabs. It’s a bit heavier than your standard session IPA, but still clocks in at a respectively light 4.1% ABV.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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